Is the V-Lux 20 14.5 megapixels or 12.1 megapixels

[missouri]

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Anybody know the right number?

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[chrism]

I think the tech specs indicate 14.5 MP total, and 12.1 effective. I assume the difference is in the edge pixels, though it does seem rather a big difference.

 

Chris

[adan]

The V-Lux 20, like the D-Lux 4, uses different subsets of pixels for different formats, rather than simply cropping different shapes from the same basic 12 Mpixels (and thus throwing away pixels).

 

This means the sensor is "oversize" to allow 12 Mpixel images (and to keep the effective "25mm" wideness of the lens) in all three formats - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9

 

(See diagram for LX3/D-Lux4 here to get the idea: http://a.img-dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicDMCLX3/images/asp/AR.jpg)

 

e.g.

 

4000 x 3000 (4:3) or 4176 x 2784 (3:2) or 4320 x 2432 (16:9) - note that the last two use "more" than the 4000 pixels available in the long dimension for 4:3

 

In theory, if you could hack the firmware, you should be able to get an image 4320 x 3000, using all the effective pixels at once (12.96 Mpixels)

 

So - 14.5 Mpixels total, 13 Mpixels available for imaging, 12.1 effective for 4:3, 11.6 effective for 3:2, 10.5 effective for 16:9

 

The difference between total and effective pixels is because pixels around the edge are used for a) calibration and other housekeeping duties, and to contribute data to neighboring pixels so that the edge of the picture gets a full serving of RGB color data out of the Bayer color checkerboard.