Geoff D F wrote: gdanmitchell wrote:
One thing to keep in mind as we try to extrapolate performance on current sensors to predicted performance on a later sensor generation: Typically it isn’t just a matter of increasing the number of photo sites. Other improvements are part of major upgrades to a new sensor generation, and these include things like noise performance, dynamic range, and readout speed.
It is rare — in fact, no examples come to mind — that a newer generation of sensor with higher resolution performs worse than the previous generation in these other ways.
It is fair to ask “who needs 180MP?,” and the answer is probably “almost no one.” However, if a higher resolution sensor can be produced for a camera that has essentially the same inflation-adjusted price and otherwise at least equal erformance, it can a question of “why not?”
The answer to why not is in your own answer - almost no one needs it. And to benefit those very few who want it, everyone else will be paying more for the new sensor and likely losing the option to purchase 100mp and 50mp cameras.
In the past I've always been happy with resolution upgrades but seeing what can be done with 50mp I've reached the point where further resolution jumps aren't worth the hassle.
I agree that “almost no one needs” it, and I could say the same for 100MP over 50MP or miniMF over FF or a 1% improvement in some aspect of IQ in a lens, or a tiny improvement in noise or DR…
The world “almost” is doing a whole lot of work in the “almost no one needs it” argument. Unless “NO ONE” needs it, there is some eason for it. It is possible for the “almost no one” statement (which I agree with to some extent) to be true AND for it to make sense to continue advance the technical capabilities f camera gear as new models come out.
Again, equipment, especially high end equipment, is not build to satisfy only most people. It will always exceed the needs of most (almost all?) users, but as long as it meets the needs of those at the margins there is reason to go there.
Feb 07, 2026 at 04:23 PM
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