SHQ vs HQ

Whitesand · 7th October 2002

Hi,

I am using a Olympus C200Z and my camera have 2 settings, SHQ and HQ, producing jpeg file of size 1 mb & 0.5 MB approx respectively.

This is a 2 MegaPixel camera and someone told me that the difference in file size is because of the compression in jpeg file.

I had tested the 2 settings, shooting the same at the spot and open up the file produced, zoom all the way up to 500% in photoshop, but fail to see much difference of the 2 pictures. When I later adjusted the 2 file's contrast, colour etc and save using the max file size mode (12), Photoshop produced a file of 1.5 mb and 1 mb approx for SHQ and HQ setting.

I am concerned about this because I will be travelling away for 2 wks vacation and need to store image in the SMC card. Smaller file size is definitely better, but I do not wish to lost away to much image quality: I do occassionally print up to 8R if the shot is good.

The question is: how much better is SHQ setting compared to HQ?

Zookeeper · 7th October 2002

On my C700, the diff between SHQ and HQ quality is very apparent when it comes to human skin tones.

stk · 7th October 2002

The difference between SHQ and HQ is more apparent in large areas of same color.. such as face, walls etc... u will see the HQ pic to be a bit more blotchy and patchy.. because the increased JPG compression results in some patches of pixels sharing the same color code..

But if on a long tour trip.. I still don't mind taking in HQ mode..

Klause · 7th October 2002

I always use SHQ unless desperate.

MaGixShOe · 7th October 2002

i always shoot at SHQ unless my memory card is running low
the difference is alot!!
4:1 and 12:1 ratio leh!

SianZronG · 7th October 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by MaGixShOe
i always shoot at SHQ unless my memory card is running low
the difference is alot!!
4:1 and 12:1 ratio leh!

wow didn't know there is so much difference...

8th October 2002

If memory card capacity is a concern, I would say that you don't lose much noticeable quality by going down to HQ. However, memory cards aren't all that expensive anyway, so you might just want to invest in some more memory cards and/or something like the Image Tank.

stk · 8th October 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by MaGixShOe
i always shoot at SHQ unless my memory card is running low
the difference is alot!!
4:1 and 12:1 ratio leh!

Usually I try to shoot at SHQ mode.. till memory cards runs out.. then switch to HQ mode since can still squeeze in another 2 HQ pics per card..

8th October 2002

SHQ mode gives better results when you edit your photos. Enlargement is also more accurate. Why don't you bring along your laptop. That should solve your problem of insufficient memory storage.

looteer · 8th October 2002

i use c4040, SHQ is about 2mb, while HQ is about 1mb....

when i first bought the camera from MS color, they took a photo for me in HQ mode and print it directly on the olympus dye sub for 8"x10"... the results were superb.....

so from then on, i believe HQ is good enough for most situations.....

kerwen · 8th October 2002

all the pictures i have taken are all in HQ and feel its quite ok to me most of the time. Sometimes, i cant even tell the difference when i compare these 2 modes

Whitesand · 9th October 2002

Thanks all for input. Please continue if anyone else still have comment to add, or experience to share.

looteer: Yours is a 4 MB, mine is 2 MB maybe that is the difference?

SianZronG · 9th October 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by Whitesand
Thanks all for input. Please continue if anyone else still have comment to add, or experience to share.

looteer: Yours is a 4 MB, mine is 2 MB maybe that is the difference?

the size depends on the picture captured.... did you realise all the file sizes are different?

Whitesand · 9th October 2002

SianZronG:

I meant his camera is 4 Megapixel, mine is 2.

(sorry, typo)

SianZronG · 9th October 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by Whitesand
SianZronG:

I meant his camera is 4 Megapixel, mine is 2.

(sorry, typo)

oiC it's ok hehe

9th October 2002

Quote:

Originally posted by Whitesand
looteer: Yours is a 4 MB, mine is 2 MB maybe that is the difference?

The best way to compare is to take photos of exactly the same scene at exactly the same exposure settings (using a tripod) twice, once at HQ and another time at SHQ. Then put them together as two overlapping layers in Photoshop and changing the merging mode to "difference". You will appreciate the extent of the difference (and whether it's reasonably negligible) then. If you don't have photoshop, you can still compare the same regions of the two photos side by side at 1:1 zoom or greater.

I've been using two megapixels myself for a very long time, since that's about all I need, and I must say that I have rarely seen any discernable differences between SHQ and HQ compression on my Olympus digicams.

7th October 2002	#1
Whitesand Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 88	SHQ vs HQ Hi, I am using a Olympus C200Z and my camera have 2 settings, SHQ and HQ, producing jpeg file of size 1 mb & 0.5 MB approx respectively. This is a 2 MegaPixel camera and someone told me that the difference in file size is because of the compression in jpeg file. I had tested the 2 settings, shooting the same at the spot and open up the file produced, zoom all the way up to 500% in photoshop, but fail to see much difference of the 2 pictures. When I later adjusted the 2 file's contrast, colour etc and save using the max file size mode (12), Photoshop produced a file of 1.5 mb and 1 mb approx for SHQ and HQ setting. I am concerned about this because I will be travelling away for 2 wks vacation and need to store image in the SMC card. Smaller file size is definitely better, but I do not wish to lost away to much image quality: I do occassionally print up to 8R if the shot is good. The question is: how much better is SHQ setting compared to HQ? Last edited by Whitesand; 7th October 2002 at 10:10 PM.

7th October 2002	#4
Klause Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Bedok Posts: 1,538	I always use SHQ unless desperate. __________________ Canon Lover :)

8th October 2002	#10
looteer Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 251	i use c4040, SHQ is about 2mb, while HQ is about 1mb.... when i first bought the camera from MS color, they took a photo for me in HQ mode and print it directly on the olympus dye sub for 8"x10"... the results were superb..... so from then on, i believe HQ is good enough for most situations..... Last edited by looteer; 8th October 2002 at 10:17 PM.

7th October 2002	#2
Zookeeper Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 760	On my C700, the diff between SHQ and HQ quality is very apparent when it comes to human skin tones.

7th October 2002	#3
stk Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: AMK, Singapore Posts: 610	The difference between SHQ and HQ is more apparent in large areas of same color.. such as face, walls etc... u will see the HQ pic to be a bit more blotchy and patchy.. because the increased JPG compression results in some patches of pixels sharing the same color code.. But if on a long tour trip.. I still don't mind taking in HQ mode..

7th October 2002	#5
MaGixShOe Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 2,638	i always shoot at SHQ unless my memory card is running low the difference is alot!! 4:1 and 12:1 ratio leh!

8th October 2002	#7
Midnight Guests Posts: n/a	If memory card capacity is a concern, I would say that you don't lose much noticeable quality by going down to HQ. However, memory cards aren't all that expensive anyway, so you might just want to invest in some more memory cards and/or something like the Image Tank.

8th October 2002	#9
Megadark Guests Posts: n/a	SHQ mode gives better results when you edit your photos. Enlargement is also more accurate. Why don't you bring along your laptop. That should solve your problem of insufficient memory storage.

8th October 2002	#11
kerwen New Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 43	all the pictures i have taken are all in HQ and feel its quite ok to me most of the time. Sometimes, i cant even tell the difference when i compare these 2 modes

9th October 2002	#12
Whitesand Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 88	Thanks all for input. Please continue if anyone else still have comment to add, or experience to share. looteer: Yours is a 4 MB, mine is 2 MB maybe that is the difference?