More Megapix .Better Photos?

[Patrick 1945]

I currently have a D50 with 6.1 megap ix. If I were to get a Nikon with 10 or more megapix, would that allow me to enlarge photos larger than to 8x10 ?

Thanks very much.

[Shokinen]

I found a nice chart to resume it quickly.

Design215 megapixels comparison and maximum print size charts

Keep in mind noise and focus point affect the print quality as well.

[dcclark]

The "300 ppi" standard is really wrong. The larger the print, the farther away you will be viewing it from -- and so the lower the quality necessary. A 200 ppi print is virtually indistinguishable from a 300ppi print, especially if viewed from 1 foot away or more. Remember, you're viewing the prints, not smelling them!

I regularly print 10x20 photos from both a 7.1 mp and a 10.1 mp camera, but I'd happily do it with a 6 mp camera too. The quality of the image itself is FAR more important than the number of megapixels.

[Nicole]

I've printed at least 11x14" shots from the D50 without any problem. And I've had shots from the D50 printed on around A1-ish size canvas and they look good. Given how those look I would agree with David and say you can easily go larger than 8x10.

I guess the real question is how big are you trying to print?

[Patrick 1945]

11x14 would be just fine. I usually post and store many pics on flickr.com. When I try to order prints from them, it seems that 8x10 is the limit...at least with the shots that I've sent them.

Thanks to all for your helpful comments.

[vandergus]

Are you uploading full resolution files to flickr or reduced sizes?

[Patrick 1945]

Vandergus...I send them the full resolution shots.

[Nicole]

On Flickr, who are you ordering them though? I know in the US you can order through Target, but when I tried it I was taken to the Qoop website which lets me create sizes up to 20x30 and doesn't give me warnings that the photo is too small. So maybe it's something being caused by trying to order through Target?