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Even an HD TV screen is only equivalent to about a two (yes, two) megapixel image. So exactly who needs 14 or 16 megapixels?

To coin a phrase, you can’t change the laws of physics. There are physical limits, set by the wavelength of light among other factors, which mean pixels can’t go on indefinitely getting smaller and smaller. Cameraphones are close to the limit already. Ultimately, the only way to add more pixels will be to use a bigger sensor.

Alternatively, a bigger sensor allows the use of bigger pixels. Because bigger pixels grab more light they perform much better in lower light levels. This means less need to use flash, which is usually a good thing. But bigger pixels also produce cleaner, less noisy, images at all light levels. They’re also better at holding detail from deep shadows and bright highlights – something else which is often an issue in outdoor photography.

Of course bigger pixels require bigger sensors, which in turn means bigger cameras and bigger lenses. As far as outdoor enthusiasts are concerned, this is unfortunate. No-one wants to carry extra weight and bulk on the hills. However, there is an extra factor: larger sensors make it much easier to build wide-angle lenses, which are great for all sorts of shots. There’s more on lenses below.