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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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