What a pixel is? Factor that you first to know. In term of digital picture, a pixel is a single color point appears on the picture. A 2 mega pixel camera is meaning camera can make two million pixels picture. More mega pixel can make bigger picture.

Simplify way to decide how many mega-pixels you really need, is to know what subject are you likely to use from your camera. If you plant to post them on website a one mega-pixel camera is fine for this subject. But if you want to print from this camera 4” x 6” will acceptably.

For other size you can see below:
4" x 6" print size = 1 mega-pixels.
5” x 7” print size = 1.4 mega-pixels.
8”x 10” print size = 3.2 mega-pixels.
11” x 14” print size = 6.2 mega-pixels.

3 - 4 mega-pixels are useful range and the best choice. Size of picture that produces by this camera is very proper for keep on your computer and does not serious about free space on your harddisk.

Digital camera over 5 mega-pixels is most popular use in freelance photographers. Picture produce from this camera can be sufficient for excellent-quality prints.

From factor above, make your plan to doing with finished photos and then make your decide. Optical zoom function is key feature to make your good picture. It is good alternate choice if lower mega-pixel but have optical zoom function.