Fine or SuperFine?

[Catpuke]

Hi, I am wondering if you guys use fine or superfine quality? Is there any real difference between the 2 besides the file size?

I looked at it on my computer screen and dun really see any difference. But then, I am new to photography, so may not know what to look out for. And will there be any difference if I am doing 4R prints?

Thanks.

Btw, I am using Ixus 430.

[loupgarou]

it matters for post processing and for taking larger than 4R.

take the best quality you can afford.

[Catpuke]

ermm... pardon my ignorance. Whats post processing?

[Belle&Sebastain]

post processing is when you alter the image in the computer in short.

[Catpuke]

oh.. hmm so if i am only printing out 4R, using "fine" is enuff already rite?

[Catpuke]

Actually I am quite confused by wat the picture quality does. I know picture size will increase the number of pixels to allow the photo to be blown up bigger. But how does changing the photo quality from fine to superfine work?

[Bromba]

Originally Posted by Catpuke Actually I am quite confused by wat the picture quality does. I know picture size will increase the number of pixels to allow the photo to be blown up bigger. But how does changing the photo quality from fine to superfine work?

JPEG compression is lossy, i.e. makes fine details missing from compressed image. Changing Fine into Superfine will make your picture retain more details at the cost of less compressed (less "lossy") and therefore larger image.

[Belle&Sebastain]

go to www.depreview.com and read up on a full review on your camera. they will show you the difference between the fine and super fine.

ok in short JEPG is a compressed file format that takes some info(in the form of colour info) from the orginal picture to compress the file to make it smaller. the more it takes, the more info is lost. What its does is to make your picture not as sharp as it should, colours are duller sometimes. so most of us will alway set on the highest JEG setting (superfine) to avoid losing too much detail (info) in the picture.

[bigsnapper]

ok. hope helps.

1. Picture Resolution:
"usually" means: the choice of 2288x1712 (4mp), 2288x1520 (4mp, 3:2 ratio for normal 4"x6" photo developed), 2048x1536 (3mp), 1600x1200 (2mp) etc
this will affect the outlook of the picture when you blow it bigger and bigger as pixelation will start to creep in the more you exceed that resolution's recommended optimal use size, ie 1600x1200 for a 8"x12" printout

BUT! for some cameras, they refer this setting with other representations, ie:
a. "Stars" mean: 5 stars (or 3) is best resolution, then followed by 4 (or 2) etc etc etc
b. "High/Medium/Low" means: High is the camera's max resolution, so on and so forth

2. Picture Quality:
"usually" means: the choice of details (hence affecting final file size), as versus the possibility of seeing artefacts (again usually unsightly unless done purposefully)

increasing picture quality to "max" or "superfine" usually results in a much larger files, but becos the final picture created is less likely compressed (meaning a smaller ratio), the possibility of artefacts/weird boxy/disjointed shapes objects on your picture is also lowered. the effect is inversely replicated if you select a "standard" or "economic" setting, but what the he*k you get to store more images in your limited memory space.

Different cameras exhibit different representations (as said) and also different variety of compression rates, the best being TIFF (completely uncompressed) and the worst usually being Economic or Email Jpeg (as high as 1:12 or 14). sure they will look nice...but at slightly bigger than thumbnail size.

its anyones choice to select the settings he she wishes to maximise the space available as versus the ultimate output. but keep this in mind as someone advised me before, you can make a big detailed file smaller less detailed at the end of the day, but you cant do magic the other way round when you need the "ohmm!"

[Catpuke]

Oh ic... That cleared up alot of clouds. Thanks alot you guys.