Megapixel

Was listening to a podcast when a debate over the megapixel war began.

I think not many people will agree with me, but the number of megapixels are really unimportant. When you go to any consumer-orientated electronic store and ask about a specific camera model, the salesperson will almost definitely say "This camera has xx.x megapixels".

So what? Does the number of megapixels really determine how great your photo is? In order to fit the same number of megapixels on a sensor of equal size, the manufacturers essentially increase the number of individual sensor pixels while at the same time, shrinking them. This leads the less light being captured, forcing the camera to increase the voltage to the sensor.

At the end, all you have is a noisy photo.

Why do people think that resolution and picture quality are the same thing? And honestly, you will only need high resolution images if you want to print them. Even if you were printing images, a 3MP camera would produce beautiful A4 sized prints.

I would buy a point-and-shoot with a 3-4MP sensor, RAW capture, a hotshoe mount and ISO up to 3200, maybe even 6400. Just so that I can get beautiful, noise free images in the day, and usable pictures taken in the dark.

Stop the megapixel war and focus on other things that matter more like reducing noise at high ISO and improving the optics of consumer cameras.

Litmus

I have been missing for a while. Reason being that I have been quite busy these couple of weeks. No cause for concern though. I'm fine and well.

Was reading and found out that litmus paper is just paper soaked in a litmus solution. Litmus is basically a weak acid that is red in colour. Its conjugate base is blue. So when hydrogen ions are added, by Le-Chateliers Principle, the position of equilibrium shifts and it turns red.

Cool huh?

Reflections

Happy New Year to all.

I really do not know how to describe my 2008. It started off with my enlistment into the SAF. My failure to get into command school and my disappointingly average A-Level grades. Then came my overseas posting which luckily, came attached with a 5-month long experience in HQ Armour.

It has been a good journey so far. No doubt, it came with its own share of heartbreaks and sorrows. Pain came and went, hardships have passed. But the happy memories of the year still remain.

I have to say that my decision to come here has been a very good one. It has taught me to value the simple things in life more. It taught me to be a lot more independent. I mean, I was independent to begin with, but this has brought the game to a whole new level.

However, the most important lesson that I have learnt is to look for the positives in life. This is something that everyone should try and inculcate. It changes ones whole outlook on life and on key events that may happen.

I hope 2009 will be a much better year for all. No resolutions for me. They are overrated and forces you to try and adhere to something that you do not enjoy, only for you to think back at the end of the year and realise that your resolutions were not kept.