Often, when people are trying to decide which digital camera to buy, one of the first things they look at is the number of megapixels. Three, five, eight – do these numbers really matter? The short answer is…well, there is no short answer. Megapixels do matter, but there are other factors that decide the quality of your camera, too. In the end it really depends on what kind of pictures you want to take and how much you’re willing to spend.

If you’re looking for an inexpensive, point-and-shoot camera to produce decent 4×6 or 5×7 prints, a 3- or 4-megapixel camera should be adequate. These can run from $50 to $250 depending on other factors, like image stabilization, zoom capability, LCD display, and size. Generally speaking, though, they are a respectable compromise between price and quality.

If you’re willing to pay a little more, look into 5- or 6-megapixel cameras. These usually produce high quality 4×6 and 5×7 prints, as well as decent 8×10’s. They are also better suited to cropping and enlarging photos, as they take in more detail. Prices can start as low as $80, but go up with better overall-quality cameras.

For the highest quality, detailed prints, anything over 6 megapixels should be more than sufficient. You can expect to pay at least $100 for the cheapest of these. This experiment, done by David Pogue, showed that it was hard for many people to tell the difference between a 5-, 8-, and 13-megapixel 11×14 print. These have provided evidence for the argument that there’s no need for higher-megapixel cameras.

Megapixels do matter to the overall quality of your photos, but they are not the only factor. When making a purchase, make sure you look into other aspects of the camera to decide if it’s the right one for you.