MPs Vs Optical Zoom

[expertcbz]

Hello All,
Thanks a lot for the guidance on my previous question.

Now, I need to clear one thing while purchasing the SLR. Should I buy a high MPs + Lesser zoom OR less MPs + Higher Zoom OR High MPs + higher Zoom.
For beginners what is suitable if we dont think of cost and how will it matters while taking snaps?

[RichardTaylor]

Small jumps in MP don''t really matter all that much, like 15mp to 18mp

Re lenses.
It all depends on what you want to use it for your camera for.
Depending on what you want to shoot you may find yourself with a number of lenses.

You may find a re-read of this multi-part tutorial helpful.

Lenses #1 - Introduction to DSLR lenses.

For example a lens with a large zoom range (10x+) (super zooms) is very versatile in the area it can cover and reach,
However it may be slow to focus, poor to use hand held in low light (slow lens) and have relatively poor Image quality.

See my thoughts here on "superzooms"
Lenses #3 - Superzooms.

A good 24-70mm F2.8 lens (3x zoom range) may have very quick focusing, excellent IQ and being fast (for a zoom) good to use hand held in low light.

At the end of the day it is a decision only you can make.
My preference is for the better quality lenses (except when I have to travel very light)

If you are shooting slow moving subjects in good light, or using a tripod in low light - It doesn't matter that much.
Like:
(1)

However if you are shooting challenging subject or in challenging lighting then you will be very hard pushed to capture a decent image at all with a lens that doesn't perform well.
Like
(2) Challenging subject.


(3) Challenging light.


(4) Challenging light and subject.


Hope this helps.
.