When considering the purchase of a new digital camera, often people will focus on how many megapixels it has.  I'll often hear people saying that the more megapixels a camera has, the better photos it takes.  Or they say something like, "I wish I could take better photos, but my camera doesn't have enough megapixels."

You may have heard these phrases too.  Maybe you've even heard that phrase by a crafty salesman that's more interested in his extra commissions than selling you a top-notch digital camera.

So what is this megapixels number, and is it really that important.  Well basically, the more megapixels you have in your camera, the larger you can make a print without losing the quality of the image.  So a camera with higher megapixels will produce a sharper image photo when enlarged.

So let's think about this for a minute.  How many photos do you print out anymore?  Don't you store many of them on your computer?  And don't most shots on your computer look pretty darn good when you share them with family and friends?  You probably do want to print out your best photos, especially if you're a landscape or nature photographer.  In all likelihood though, if you're just buying a camera to take snapshots of your family, barbecues, or sporting events to store on your computer, or look at later, a high number of megapixels really isn't important.

Here's a tip when buying a digital camera.  Don't agonize about buying those extra megapixels.  You probably don't need them.  What you will need though, is a good quality lens.  The lens is much more important than the number of megapixels when taking a photograph.  You want your images sharp and clear, and a good quality lens will provide that.  And just as important, you want to learn the manual functions of your camera.  With technology the way it is any more, you can take some pretty awesome photos with just your basic camera.

So stop fretting about megapixels so much.  Unless you're planning on enlarging most of your prints to a larger than usual size, don't worry about it.

This photo was taken by rickyli99 from the Halona Blow hole viewing area on the island of Hawaii.  What a fantastic example of the capability of the Olympus FE-370 camera.  Nice shot!

CNET has reviewed the Olympus FE-370 where the write, "The Olympus FE-370 is an 8-megapixel, ultra-compact camera.Compared to other ultra-compact digital cameras on the market, it is relatively inexpensive at around $160.

Pros: Has a 5x optical zoom, which is somewhat more powerful than some similarly priced digital cameras.In fact, the average cost of a product with this high an optical zoom is $240.Also, this digital camera has a 2.7 inch viewscreen.Weighing only 4.6 ounces without battery or media, this digital camera is very light for a compact camera.

Cons: None noted, given available product data.

Suitability: An ultra-compact digital camera, suited for everyday snapshot photography.A recommended use, based on key features, is framed photos for the home.The largest recommended print size, estimated from the camera's resolution, is 12x16 or larger.

In a nutshell the FE-370 is a snapshot camera with a bit of extra zoom. It compares well against other similar cameras and offers good value for money.

Overall
The FE-370 does more or less exactly what it sets out to do. It handles most photo opportunities and ranks well when compared to other cameras with a similar specification and price tag."

The Olympus FE-360 was recently reviewed by CNET,  In the review they stated, "is an 8-megapixel, ultra-compact camera.Compared to other ultra-compact digital cameras on the market, it is very inexpensive at around $110.

Pros: Has a 0.8 in thickness, which is somewhat thinner than some similarly priced digital cameras.Weighing only 3.8 ounces without battery or media, this digital camera is very light for a compact camera.

Cons: None noted, given available product data.

Suitability: An ultra-compact digital camera, suited for everyday snapshot photography.A recommended use, based on key features, is framed photos for the home.The largest recommended print size, estimated from the camera's resolution, is 12x16 or larger.

Value: Given its very inexpensive price, this digital camera has great features for the money."

Basically, "Digital cameras do not come any simpler than the FE-360. If ease of use and a low price tag are what you are looking for this camera is worth considering. In fact it is one of the cheapest pocket sized cameras around.   Fantastic? No probably not, but I have been impressed with the FE-360. It has stood up well to my tests and I can't tell the difference between this camera and some much more expensive ones."

The Olympus FE-20 was recently reviewed by cnet where they wrote, "is an 8-megapixel, ultra-compact camera.Compared to other ultra-compact digital cameras on the market, it is very inexpensive at around $110.

Pros: Weighing only 3.7 ounces without battery or media, this digital camera is very light for a compact camera.

Cons: None noted, given available product data.

Suitability: An ultra-compact digital camera, suited for everyday snapshot photography.A recommended use, based on key features, is framed photos for the home.The largest recommended print size, estimated from the camera's resolution, is 12x16 or larger.

Value: Given its very inexpensive price, this digital camera has great features for the money."

The Olympus FE-20 received 3.5/5 stars by users.  Most users concluded this is a nice camera for it's size and cost.