>> Dell now has Cannon A590IS on sale for US$108.00 including a free
>> two days shipping.

>> http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Digital_Point_Shoot/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A1494439
>>
>> Funny N.
>> Au Group Electronics, http://www.AuElectronics.com
>
> The A590 IS has 8 MegaPixels.  How many megapixels are required to
> legibly photograph an 8.5 by 11 inch sheet of paper with 12 pt text ?

6 MP is fine for that. Or less.
MP are not the main issue and a good 6 MP camera will easily outperform a 
bad one of higher MP.

Sanity check.

6 MP camera with 2000 x 3000 image.
8.5 x 12.75 image (just fit width and let length adapt to suit).

2000 pixels / 8.5" =~ 235 dpi
Good enough for you?
ie, not up to a modern laser inkjet or laser printer but very useable.

I just uploaded this

    http://public.fotki.com/RussellMc/atw/aotw/textsample6mppict1566v1.html

Hand held, sunshine, lying on front deck (the paper, not me) - not optimised 
in any way.
Rotated and saved at JPG 85 compression so maybe the tiniest amount of 
quality loss over original - and half or less the file size.

I'd estimate the text as ~8 point.
Click link at bottom of screen for full size image.
Entirely readable.

The current rush to more and more MP in similar size sensors is 
approximately insane.

The Nikon D700 is a good example of trying not to do it, and the Sony A900 
is the best example so far of what happens when you do.
Fine in bright light, perhaps.

The half a face photo on the .../atw/ ... site above shows what a good 6MP 
camera can do.


 Russell


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