Steve'sDigicams

jhnel · Feb 17, 2006, 8:06 AM

I have a 5 mega pixel camera and only print 10 x 15 cm. I don't do a lot of cropping either.

If I need to save memory card space and want to shoot at a lower resolution, how low could I go before the print quality will deteriorate? I also have a choice between ‘Fine' and ‘Standard' Quality. Should I stick to ‘Fine' which also takes up more space, but the quality is higher.

My choices are 2560x1920; 2304x1728; 2048x1536; 1600x1200; 1280x960; 640x480

Quality ‘Fine' or ‘Standard'

squirl033 · Feb 17, 2006, 8:39 AM

10x15cm is only about 4x6". you can getacceptable prints at 1280x960. to figure maximum acceptable print size from a given resolution, divide the number of pixels by 200 to get the size of the print in inches.in this case, 1280/200=6.4, and 960/2=4.8, so you can make a nice 4x6 print.

keep the "fine" quality setting.

genece · Feb 17, 2006, 9:00 AM

Just another opinion but I would keep the Pixels and reduce the quality to standard.

I just do not see much difference in fine and standard unless you are doing a lot of processing.

And the 2048 X 1536 is about the same as a 3 mp camera and I would not go below that...but again its only my opinion

But the Ideal solution would be get more cards and/or a digital wallet.

fmoore · Feb 17, 2006, 9:16 AM

I agree with Gene. I see no difference between Fine (low compression)and Standard (high compression) quality. I keep my FZ5 on Standard and get 800 shots per 1gb card at full resolution.

José A. · Feb 19, 2006, 9:34 AM

Some pics taked with my FZ10 at 1600x1200 have been printed up to 20x28 cm after some resizing in Photoshop (so yes, they were resized, but they were originally taken at 1600x1200, which can save space in your card... and later, your HD). Just a little bit of color correction (Levels + Hue/Saturation/Brightness, nothing else) added, and they looked OK.

I guess how big can you print a photograph does not depend only on the amount of pixels, but also on the pic being taken "well": in good light conditions, sharp, detailed. Some pics have to be printed smaller than they "should" so you don't notice flaws like noise, blur and such.

My $0.02

jhnel · Feb 19, 2006, 11:29 AM

Thanks to all for comments and opinions. Much appreciated!

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Feb 17, 2006, 8:06 AM	#1
jhnel Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 12	I have a 5 mega pixel camera and only print 10 x 15 cm. I don't do a lot of cropping either. If I need to save memory card space and want to shoot at a lower resolution, how low could I go before the print quality will deteriorate? I also have a choice between ‘Fine' and ‘Standard' Quality. Should I stick to ‘Fine' which also takes up more space, but the quality is higher. My choices are 2560x1920; 2304x1728; 2048x1536; 1600x1200; 1280x960; 640x480 Quality ‘Fine' or ‘Standard'

Feb 17, 2006, 8:39 AM	#2
squirl033 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6,915	10x15cm is only about 4x6". you can getacceptable prints at 1280x960. to figure maximum acceptable print size from a given resolution, divide the number of pixels by 200 to get the size of the print in inches.in this case, 1280/200=6.4, and 960/2=4.8, so you can make a nice 4x6 print. keep the "fine" quality setting.

Feb 17, 2006, 9:00 AM	#3
genece Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 2,111	Just another opinion but I would keep the Pixels and reduce the quality to standard. I just do not see much difference in fine and standard unless you are doing a lot of processing. And the 2048 X 1536 is about the same as a 3 mp camera and I would not go below that...but again its only my opinion But the Ideal solution would be get more cards and/or a digital wallet.

Feb 17, 2006, 9:16 AM	#4
fmoore Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,116	I agree with Gene. I see no difference between Fine (low compression)and Standard (high compression) quality. I keep my FZ5 on Standard and get 800 shots per 1gb card at full resolution.

Feb 19, 2006, 9:34 AM	#5
José A. Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 367	Some pics taked with my FZ10 at 1600x1200 have been printed up to 20x28 cm after some resizing in Photoshop (so yes, they were resized, but they were originally taken at 1600x1200, which can save space in your card... and later, your HD). Just a little bit of color correction (Levels + Hue/Saturation/Brightness, nothing else) added, and they looked OK. I guess how big can you print a photograph does not depend only on the amount of pixels, but also on the pic being taken "well": in good light conditions, sharp, detailed. Some pics have to be printed smaller than they "should" so you don't notice flaws like noise, blur and such. My $0.02

Feb 19, 2006, 11:29 AM	#6
jhnel Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 12	Thanks to all for comments and opinions. Much appreciated!