CNET, ZDNET On Noise and Resolution

ZDNET and CNET write that the small pixel size translated into higher resolution is not what consumers really need.

In fact, they built their claims on the wrong base. What consumer really needs is lower price. Everybody expects digital camera price to come down well below $100. Low price means smaller imager chips, that is smaller pixels.

Now the market logic becomes quite simple. If $50 camera has 5MP resolution, what is the resolution of $200 camera?

Probably the best solution would be to mimic a video camera market, where the sensor size is one of the major marketing claims. So everybody percieves a camera with 1/1.5" sensor as being better than a camera with 1/6" imager. But even in video world there is a place for mess. For example, how consumer percepts 3CCD camera with 3 1/6" sensors vs single 1/4" CCD? Also, megapixel claims seems to penetrate camcorder world too.

CNET also put an interesting comparison between Panasonic FZ50 noise processed and unprocessed images.