I realize this may be an ages-old question, but what, other than resolution, determines the clarity of a photo. I've had a trusty old 4 megapixel Sony Cybershot for several years, and I've gotten great images from it. Recently, I paid a cheap price for a higher resolution camera (7 megapixel cybershot), and it seems like the images are of lesser quality, even though the resolution is better. Scenic photos seem less clear, and the overall quality seems to be lower. Any advice?

umm...give me some time to respond...but i will be the first poster on this one!! ;)

What determines final image quality? Well: megapixels, noise (which usually relates to the size of the sensor and ISO/ASA), lens quality, dynamic range, shutter speed, amount of in-camera post processing, etc etc...the last few i just pulled out of my rear; but moving on:

Usually, when the number of megapixels increases on the same sensor size (i'll assume the 4mp and 7mp cybershot have the same sensor size), there will probably (not sure) be more noise (grain) in the 7mp cybershot...dpreview just wrote an article on sensor size vs noise levels.

Lens quality probably won't affect it *that* much, but it still plays a part.

Make sure you shoot at the lowest ISO setting possible...ISO is the 'gain' which makes the camera's sensor more sensitive to light which means you can use faster shutter speeds which in turn reduces motion blur. Higher ISOs are needed when you are shooting in "low light conditions"...usually indoors, or in the evening just before the sun sets and afterwards. However, the higher the ISO, the more noise/grain which is why you should try to keep the ISO # as low as possible, but not too slow to cause blurring.

If you are refering to image quality as in color and sharpness...it may be because the 7mp cybershot's default settings are to adjust for flatter colors and less sharp photos - this is usually better for people who post process on the computer, but not very good for the average shooter. You could try adjusting the camera's settings to suit your wants.

PS: I forgot to say something. Some cameras have more noise reduction than others. The dpreview.com article shows some examples of bad in-camera post processing (turns out blurry/smudged). You may find it's best to turn your camera's noise reduction off and use neat-image on your computer to reduce noise.

Actually you answered the question for yourself when you said “Recently, I paid a cheap price for a higher resolution camera”.

Photography is all about capturing light. Light passes through the lens onto the sensor. So good lenses and sensors are vital for quality images. Good lenses and sensors cost a lot of money to produce so you don’t find them on cheap cameras.

Noah’s post above has some good tips for getting the most from your camera.