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[pct-l] Digital Pictures Question



Thank you!

Marshall Karon
Portland, OR
m.karon@comcast.net

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "dude" <dude@fastmail.ca>
To: <darkbodhi@yahoo.com>
Cc: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Monday, September 20, 2004 10:11 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Digital Pictures Question


> shane - first off, the quality settings differ from camera to camera.  
> For example, the SHQ setting on a 11mp camera might yield a maximum 
> resolution of 4064 x 2704 pixels, whereas a 2MP camera my have a SHQ 
> setting that only yields a maximun resolution of 1600 x 1200 pixels.
> 
> Usually, the main difference between the quality settings on a camera 
> will be how large the resolution is.  Most cameras capable of taking 
> higher resolution photos (the cameras with more megapixels) also have 
> lower quality settings to allow the user to store a larger quantity of 
> photos on the storage media.  If you end up buying a 6MP camera and 
> only use the 1600 x 1200 setting, then you should save the money and 
> buy a 2mp camera instead because what you are doing when you reduce the 
> quality setting is really reducing the image from 6mp to a 2mp.  
> 
> In addition to the resolution setting, most cameras today also have a 
> sub-setting within each resolution that is usually a compression 
> setting.  For example, my camera (Olympus Camedia Zoom), has two or 
> three compression settings for each resolution.  So there is three sub-
> settings for 1600 x 1200, each having a slightly lower degree of 
> quality, but all have the same resolution.  The compression usually is 
> a mathmatical formula that the camera uses to merge slightly different 
> colors into the same color, thus reducing the need to store multiple 
> colors.  Most images that can be compressed in this fashion are stored 
> in the JPEG format.  Most cameras also have a format setting that 
> allows you to save the image in different formats, which can also 
> affect the image size.  The JPEG format is definitely the most popular 
> and the most compressable.  Another very high quality format that most 
> cameras care capable of storing is the TIFF format, which is usually 
> reserved for the highest possible quality setting.  All other things 
> being equal, a TIFF image at the same resolution as a JPEG image will 
> be a much higher quality image, but it will also be a significantly 
> larger file, thus allowing fewer to be stored on the same storage 
> medium.
> 
> Having said all of that, you really need to decide what you want to do 
> with the camera.  If the only thing that you want to do is to post your 
> pics on a website, then a 0.9mp camera will do just fine because 
> computer monitors can only display images at 72 DPI (dots per inch).  
> No matter now kick-ass your camera is, almost all monitors/displays 
> will only be able to present the photo at 72 DPI.  If you want prints, 
> then you really need to decide how large you need the prints to be.  If 
> you only want 3x5 prints, then a 2MP camera will likely be just fine.  
> If you want 4x6 prints, then you may want to go with a 3mp.  If you 
> want 8x10's then you might want to go with a 5mp.  All of these can be 
> printed just fine using the camera's higher quality settings in the 
> JPEG format (unless you are REALLY picky).  You may not even need the 
> highest quality setting, as somtimes the only thing that separates the 
> highest setting from the 2nd highest is that the highest setting stores 
> in TIFF format and the 2nd highest stores at the same resolution but in 
> JPEG format, which is a slightly smaller file size and impreceptably 
> lower quality for 4x6 or even 8x10 prints in most cases.
> 
> So to answer your question about which setting to use, you really have 
> to play with the settings on your camera and make some prints and find 
> out what setting wokrs bets for your needs (which is why they offer so 
> many settings for every camera).  For my Olympus Camedia, I use the 
> highest resolution with the 2nd or 3rd quality setting (ie: using some 
> jpeg compression).  If you want to see examples, you can check out my 
> site: www.dudedesign.com
> 
> Also, a site was INCREDIBLE resources and info about all of this is 
> www.dpreview.com.  There is  so much info on that site, you won't even 
> know what to do with it all.
> 
> Lastly, try to go to a local camera shop that specializes in personal 
> service instead of Office Max or Best Buy.  The chain stores will give 
> you a better price, but the smaller stores will take the time to help 
> you get the camera that you will be happy with (and have people that 
> know what they are talking about).  In addition, many smaller stores 
> will do things like make prints for you using the camera at the setting 
> you are curious about so that you can actually *see* with your own two 
> eyes what the print will look like.
> 
> sorry for the regurgitation of techno-babble.  Hope it helps.
> 
> peace
> dude
> 
> 
> 
>> In a continuation of my questions regarding
>> digital cameras, I have one regarding picture
>> settings.  Many cameras can now take pictures in
>> many different quality settings.  I understand
>> the differences in most of these, but does anyone
>> have a clear understanding of the difference
>> between SHQ (Super High Quality) and HQ (High
>> Quality).  Specifically, how much of a difference
>> in quality is there?  Is it something the human
>> eye can really detect in a 4 x 6 pic?  A 8 x 10
>> pic? In a larger pic?  In other words, would I
>> just be wasting valuable picture-card space with
>> no real output advantage if I take my pictures
>> using SHQ?
>> 
>> Just curious,
>> 
>> Shane
>> 
>> P.S. Oh, and now because of you here on the
>> PCT-L, my list of digital cameras to research has
>> jumped from 2 to 5--grrrrrr.  ;-)  I do
>> appreciate all of the help.  Thanks to all here!
>> 
>> 
>> 
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