DSLR Noise vs. Megapixel Count

[bruce_t]

I'm just starting to think about trying a digital camera. It is my understanding

that, sensor sizes, iso ratings and software being equal, a dslr with a high

megapixel count will have more noise than one with a low mp count. However, if I

were to buy a dslr with, say, 10mp and then downsize the output to 6mp in

photoshop or gimp, how would the noise compare with the native output of a 6mp dslr?

[KenPapai]

You also have to take into cuont the most important aspect: sensor size and *photo site size*, and probably CMOS vs. CCD.

[jimstrutz]

And besides that: 1) Some sensors with nearly the same specs have differing amounts of noise. 2) Some cameras with exactly the same sensor have differing amounts of noise due to superior in camera processing. You have to compare specific cameras, because "sensor sizes, iso ratings and software being equal" means very little.

 

Down rezzing your image won't help. Using good noise removal software will.

[jimstrutz]

And another thing. They are getting better with noise control all the time. Canon's latest 10MP DSLR (40D) has less noise that Canon's older 6MP camera (10D), and even less than Canon's older 3MP camera (D30). All used a sensor that was virtually the same size.