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gstephens · Oct 8, 2004, 2:50 PM

Nikon D70 has settings for "Image Quality" (Basic-Normal-Fine) and also "Image Size" (Small-Medium-Large). I analyzed all nine combinations of the same picture composition via the computer monitor. I could not tell the difference between any of the nine pictures. I assume that the resolution of the monitor is less than the picture taken at the Basic/Small setting. Is this assumption correct?

The size of the files range from 180KB (Basic/Small) to 2,624KB (Fine/Large) . . . I am confused by all of the combinations of quality and size. Can anyone help??

Thanks . . .

mdparker · Oct 8, 2004, 9:43 PM

Basic, normal, and fine have to do with how much compression is applied to the jpeg file when the image is saved. The higher the compression, the more image data this thrown away. Small, med, and Large deal with how many megapixels the image will be saved with. Large is 6MP and I'm sorry, but I forget what the others correspond to.

You are right in your assumption that your monitor resolution is less. You only need about 72 pixels per inch to display a picture on your monitor, but 200 to 300 dots per inch for a good print. If you plan to do nothing but display the pictures on your monitor, then using small and basic might fit the bill just fine. Personally, because I never know when I might want to print a piture, I always shoot at the largest size and least amount of compression (fine). This gives me the flexibilty to print, edit, crop, etc. When I have a picture I want to put on the web or send via email, I use an editor to reduce the quality to get a small enough size to send.

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Oct 8, 2004, 2:50 PM	#1
gstephens Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 39	Nikon D70 has settings for "Image Quality" (Basic-Normal-Fine) and also "Image Size" (Small-Medium-Large). I analyzed all nine combinations of the same picture composition via the computer monitor. I could not tell the difference between any of the nine pictures. I assume that the resolution of the monitor is less than the picture taken at the Basic/Small setting. Is this assumption correct? The size of the files range from 180KB (Basic/Small) to 2,624KB (Fine/Large) . . . I am confused by all of the combinations of quality and size. Can anyone help?? Thanks . . .

Oct 8, 2004, 9:43 PM	#2
mdparker Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 365	Basic, normal, and fine have to do with how much compression is applied to the jpeg file when the image is saved. The higher the compression, the more image data this thrown away. Small, med, and Large deal with how many megapixels the image will be saved with. Large is 6MP and I'm sorry, but I forget what the others correspond to. You are right in your assumption that your monitor resolution is less. You only need about 72 pixels per inch to display a picture on your monitor, but 200 to 300 dots per inch for a good print. If you plan to do nothing but display the pictures on your monitor, then using small and basic might fit the bill just fine. Personally, because I never know when I might want to print a piture, I always shoot at the largest size and least amount of compression (fine). This gives me the flexibilty to print, edit, crop, etc. When I have a picture I want to put on the web or send via email, I use an editor to reduce the quality to get a small enough size to send.