Definition: Effective resolution is the measurement of the total number of pixels that a digital camera's image sensor uses to actually collect data about a photograph. Contrast effective resolution with overall resolution, which is the measurement of the number of pixels the image sensor contains. However, not every pixel on an image sensor is used to collect data about a photograph.
Digital camera resolution is expressed in megapixels, which are millions of pixels. In a listing of digital camera specifications, you'll probably see both overall and effective resolution measurements. Effective pixels, or effective resolution, is the more useful number.
Also Known As: resolution
