Should set 6 MP digicam to 3 or 4 MP?

Susan P wrote:
> Would I get *noticeably* less quality doing it that way compared to
> recording the picture at Economy mode in the first place in the
> camera? This is not so convenient but would give me a jpeg file of
> approx 600 KB straight away.

This isn't really the proper forum for these questions, but I'll answer
with a bit of advice: You should always take pictures at the highest
resolution and lowest compression that your memory card will allow.
This is because, 20 years from now, speed and space will be very cheap,
and you'll be happy you have the highest quality pictures.
 >> Stay informed about: Should set 6 MP digicam to 3 or 4 MP? 

Jim Leonard wrote:

> This is because, 20 years from now, speed and space will be very cheap,
> and you'll be happy you have the highest quality pictures.

Indeed. In 5 years, the question which people will be asking on the
forum will be: "Should I get an 18-megapixel or 20-megapixel camera ?
Cann't choose".
 >> Stay informed about: Should set 6 MP digicam to 3 or 4 MP? 

John Bokma wrote:
> Susan P wrote:
>
>> QUESTION TWO
>> I can "specify image size" by using a different number of pixels:
>> 6M 2816 x 2112 A3 print
>> 4M 2304 x 1728 A4 print
>> 2M 1600 x 1200 3.5 inch x 5 inch print
>> etc
>>
>> I am not likely to make prints larger than A4. So should I set the
>> camera to "4 MegapPixels"?
>
> Personally I would say: 6M
>
> You can always scale 6M to 2M with software that gives you more control
> then you camera. Also, if you make a picture that you want to print @ A3,
> you have it.
>
Agreed.

Also, the 600 K file you mention for the web is huge by web standards.
Even 100 K is quite large. Unless you are talking pbase or making them
available to friends for printing.

--
john mcwilliams
 >> Stay informed about: Should set 6 MP digicam to 3 or 4 MP? 

Hi, remember when you process your images in JPEG format there will be
loss in just the editing and saving soooo always use the highest
settings when taking the picture and resize your images for use using a
copy of the original...
Susan P wrote:
> My digicam is rated at 6 MP (0.5 inch, square pixel, 6.37 million).
>
> It can record still pictures as JPEGS using one of three settings:
> Fine, Normal or Economy.
>
> -----
>
> QUESTION ONE
> Do these three settings represent different amounts of jpeg
> compression?
>
> Or would the the camera ignore some pixels from the CCD in the lower
> quality modes and then make its jpegs from the remaining pixels?
>
> -----
>
> QUESTION TWO
> I can "specify image size" by using a different number of pixels:
> 6M 2816 x 2112 A3 print
> 4M 2304 x 1728 A4 print
> 2M 1600 x 1200 3.5 inch x 5 inch print
> etc
>
> I am not likely to make prints larger than A4. So should I set the
> camera to "4 MegapPixels"?
>
> Or will there be a loss of quality from things like the
> interpolation/extrapolation of the original 6M pixels to derive the
> content of the new pixels?
>
> -----
>
> QUESTION THREE
> I could save a jepg in FINE mode onto my PC (approx 2 or 3 MB file
> size) and then, if necessary, later compress it further to something
> like 600 KB for use on the Web. This is convenient.
>
> Would I get *noticeably* less quality doing it that way compared to
> recording the picture at Economy mode in the first place in the
> camera? This is not so convenient but would give me a jpeg file of
> approx 600 KB straight away.
>
> ------
 >> Stay informed about: Should set 6 MP digicam to 3 or 4 MP? 

Stace wrote:

> Hi, remember when you process your images in JPEG format there will be
> loss in just the editing and saving soooo always use the highest
> settings when taking the picture and resize your images for use using a
> copy of the original...

i do wonder why a camera does not take picture at maximum, and
progressivly pack them down when space is low. making a priority for
each picture would get rid of the loss on must have pictures, while
maintaining the continue to shoot flexability.

very useful instead of manual rescale all the time.

cheers
 >> Stay informed about: Should set 6 MP digicam to 3 or 4 MP? 

minnesotti wrote:
> Jim Leonard wrote:
>
>> This is because, 20 years from now, speed and space will be very cheap,
>> and you'll be happy you have the highest quality pictures.
>
> Indeed. In 5 years, the question which people will be asking on the
> forum will be: "Should I get an 18-megapixel or 20-megapixel camera ?
> Cann't choose".
>

Hi...

I'll "third" that, if there even is such a thing

Who knows what the future will bring; and who knows
what your descendants will wish to do with pics taken
today. Leave for them the best you can

Take care.

Ken
 >> Stay informed about: Should set 6 MP digicam to 3 or 4 MP? 

In article ,
Susan P wrote:

> My digicam is rated at 6 MP (0.5 inch, square pixel, 6.37 million).
>
> It can record still pictures as JPEGS using one of three settings:
> Fine, Normal or Economy.
>
> -----
>
> QUESTION ONE
> Do these three settings represent different amounts of jpeg
> compression?
>
> Or would the the camera ignore some pixels from the CCD in the lower
> quality modes and then make its jpegs from the remaining pixels?
>
> -----
>
> QUESTION TWO
> I can "specify image size" by using a different number of pixels:
> 6M 2816 x 2112 A3 print
> 4M 2304 x 1728 A4 print
> 2M 1600 x 1200 3.5 inch x 5 inch print
> etc
>
> I am not likely to make prints larger than A4. So should I set the
> camera to "4 MegapPixels"?
>
> Or will there be a loss of quality from things like the
> interpolation/extrapolation of the original 6M pixels to derive the
> content of the new pixels?
>
> -----
>
> QUESTION THREE
> I could save a jepg in FINE mode onto my PC (approx 2 or 3 MB file
> size) and then, if necessary, later compress it further to something
> like 600 KB for use on the Web. This is convenient.
>
> Would I get *noticeably* less quality doing it that way compared to
> recording the picture at Economy mode in the first place in the
> camera? This is not so convenient but would give me a jpeg file of
> approx 600 KB straight away.

Try it and find out. That's the great thing about digital cameras; you
can shoot photos all you want and it costs nothing. For my needs, I
always shoot at the maximum resolution because I can always drop the
resolution in post-processing, but increasing in post-processing never
works as well as simply shooting at the maximum resolution.
 >> Stay informed about: Should set 6 MP digicam to 3 or 4 MP? 

"Jim Leonard" wrote in message

> Susan P wrote:
>> Would I get *noticeably* less quality doing it that way compared to
>> recording the picture at Economy mode in the first place in the
>> camera? This is not so convenient but would give me a jpeg file of
>> approx 600 KB straight away.
>
> This isn't really the proper forum for these questions, but I'll answer
> with a bit of advice: You should always take pictures at the highest
> resolution and lowest compression that your memory card will allow.
> This is because, 20 years from now, speed and space will be very cheap,
> and you'll be happy you have the highest quality pictures.
>

Absolutely correct. Always use the highest resolution and lowest
compression for best image quality.

Some cameras default to a "middle-of-the-road" resolution and/or
compression. That seems foolish, because one buys a higher-megapixel camera
for its presumed better quality images, so why use less than you paid for?

The only reasons I can think of to use more economical settings are:

1: If you're running out of room on your memory card and you absolutely must
stretch out the remaining number of shots.

2: If you are shooting for the sole purpose of emailing or posting on a web
site--to be viewed on a monitor only

3: If you are taking photos that you never intend to print, perhaps home
inventory shots that you want to store on CD and lock away in a safe deposit
box. What I call "utility photos." Where maximum resolution and size are
not as important as small file size is.

I would suggest that the OP set his camera to default to biggest file size
(lowest compression) to ensure that he gets the maximum quality photos.

I wonder how many people have bought digicams that defaulted to less than
best image quality, and went on shooting with them for long time, never
realizing that they were not getting all the quality they had paid for?
I'll bet the number of such users is significant.
 >> Stay informed about: Should set 6 MP digicam to 3 or 4 MP? 

"minnesotti" wrote in message

>
> Jim Leonard wrote:
>
>> This is because, 20 years from now, speed and space will be very cheap,
>> and you'll be happy you have the highest quality pictures.
>
> Indeed. In 5 years, the question which people will be asking on the
> forum will be: "Should I get an 18-megapixel or 20-megapixel camera ?
> Cann't choose".
>

Five years? More like 5 months!
 >> Stay informed about: Should set 6 MP digicam to 3 or 4 MP? 

jeremy wrote:
>
> Absolutely correct. Always use the highest resolution and lowest
> compression for best image quality.
>
> Some cameras default to a "middle-of-the-road" resolution and/or
> compression. That seems foolish, because one buys a higher-megapixel camera
> for its presumed better quality images, so why use less than you paid for?
>
> The only reasons I can think of to use more economical settings are:
>
> 1: If you're running out of room on your memory card and you absolutely must
> stretch out the remaining number of shots.
>
> 2: If you are shooting for the sole purpose of emailing or posting on a web
> site--to be viewed on a monitor only
>
> 3: If you are taking photos that you never intend to print, perhaps home
> inventory shots that you want to store on CD and lock away in a safe deposit
> box. What I call "utility photos." Where maximum resolution and size are
> not as important as small file size is.

4. *If* you only "need" 3Mpixels for your quality requirments,
the extra mega-pixels in the camera will provide more usable
zoom.

BugBear
 >> Stay informed about: Should set 6 MP digicam to 3 or 4 MP? 

"Susan P" wrote in message

> My digicam is rated at 6 MP (0.5 inch, square pixel, 6.37 million).
>
> It can record still pictures as JPEGS using one of three settings:
> Fine, Normal or Economy.
>
> -----
>


Generally speaking, you should always shoot at highest resolution and lowest
compression, and if you require smaller size you can adjust in your editing
software.

If you take the photo at reduced settings, and you later decide you want a
high-quality print, you will be unable to improve the shot. Think of your
original file--as it comes out of your camera--as a digital equivalent of a
negative. You should always keep these unedited image files on disk for
permanent reference. Who knows, in the future we may have much improved
editing software, or you may decide that your editing skills have improved
to the point that you want to re-edit some of your older shots and try to
get a better result. In order to do that, you need two things:

1: The best possible image from your camera--i.e., highest megapixel and
lowest compression

2: The original UNEDITED file, just as it came out of your camera--before
you tweaked it in your editing software. Remember, when you edit your file,
you are throwing away pixels (as when you crop) and when you change things
like color saturation you are adding pixels. Always keep the original file,
and you can always go back to it and redo your tweaking.

I make it a habit to burn my unedited files to disk prior to doing any type
of editing, to insure that I don't overwrite them in error. Any resizing,
changing of color depth or downgrading of resolution can then be done in my
editing software. If I make a mistake, I always have my original unedited
files to go back to.

The only changes I ever make to my unedited files is to rename them to
describe what their subjects are. Then they go right to the archive disks.
 >> Stay informed about: Should set 6 MP digicam to 3 or 4 MP? 

Susan P wrote:

> QUESTION TWO
> I can "specify image size" by using a different number of pixels:
> 6M 2816 x 2112 A3 print
> 4M 2304 x 1728 A4 print
> 2M 1600 x 1200 3.5 inch x 5 inch print
> etc
>
> I am not likely to make prints larger than A4. So should I set the
> camera to "4 MegapPixels"?

Personally I would say: 6M

You can always scale 6M to 2M with software that gives you more control
then you camera. Also, if you make a picture that you want to print @ A3,
you have it.

--
John MexIT: http://johnbokma.com/mexit/
personal page: http://johnbokma.com/
Experienced programmer available: http://castleamber.com/
Happy Customers: http://castleamber.com/testimonials.html
 >> Stay informed about: Should set 6 MP digicam to 3 or 4 MP? 

"minnesotti" wrote:

>
> Jim Leonard wrote:
>
>> This is because, 20 years from now, speed and space will be very cheap,
>> and you'll be happy you have the highest quality pictures.
>
> Indeed. In 5 years, the question which people will be asking on the
> forum will be: "Should I get an 18-megapixel or 20-megapixel camera ?
> Cann't choose".

Or: should I get the 0.3 or 0.5 GP camera with 1 TB holographic storage.

--
John MexIT: http://johnbokma.com/mexit/
personal page: http://johnbokma.com/
Experienced programmer available: http://castleamber.com/
Happy Customers: http://castleamber.com/testimonials.html
 >> Stay informed about: Should set 6 MP digicam to 3 or 4 MP?