Nikon picture quality settings: I have a Nikon d7100. When shooting jpeg files, I have three quality choices (fine,normal,basic) and three size options (large,medium,small). I have...

dmorgan

I have a Nikon d7100. When shooting jpeg files, I have three quality choices (fine,normal,basic) and three size options (large,medium,small). I have been using the "fine" and "large" settings, assuming that they will give me the highest quality. Is this true? In other words, does changing the size affect picture quality? (This is not an issue when shooting RAW, but I don't always do that.)

MtnMan Loc: ID

dmorgan wrote:

I have a Nikon d7100. When shooting jpeg files, I have three quality choices (fine,normal,basic) and three size options (large,medium,small). I have been using the "fine" and "large" settings, assuming that they will give me the highest quality. Is this true? In other words, does changing the size affect picture quality? (This is not an issue when shooting RAW, but I don't always do that.)

A little. You can check the image file sizes in your manual to get an idea.

When I do jpeg I too usually default to large/fine. But even the basic setting seems OK to me for snapshots.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

dmorgan wrote:

I have a Nikon d7100. When shooting jpeg files, I have three quality choices (fine,normal,basic) and three size options (large,medium,small). I have been using the "fine" and "large" settings, assuming that they will give me the highest quality. Is this true? In other words, does changing the size affect picture quality? (This is not an issue when shooting RAW, but I don't always do that.)

Yup. Large / Fine settings provide the best for jpg.
--Bob

Mike D. Loc: Crowley County, CO.

I have a D7100 also and the only time I go for other than Large and Fine is when they the size of the files are an issue, such as uploading them here.

Other than that, slot 1 stores raw and slot 2stores jpg that have some vivid and sharpness sliders applied.

Bill_de Loc: US

Large file, fine, will help for larger prints. If you are only going to display the images on a "typical" computer screen, it is overkill. But, you get better results if you have to downsize a large image than upsize a smaller one.

--

jim quist Loc: Missouri

I have options for different size in both jpeg and raw. the larger the file the higher the image quality

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

Yes, the file size (large, medium, small) determines the dimensions of the image recorded (x pixels by y pixels). The quality determines the jpeg compression factor. Fine is the least compressed, and basic is the most compressed. Thus Large/Fine will give the best result but take up the most space on your storage medium.

Jim Bob

dmorgan wrote:

I have a Nikon d7100. When shooting jpeg files, I have three quality choices (fine,normal,basic) and three size options (large,medium,small). I have been using the "fine" and "large" settings, assuming that they will give me the highest quality. Is this true? In other words, does changing the size affect picture quality? (This is not an issue when shooting RAW, but I don't always do that.)

Yes and use optimal quality setting.

CO

UHH members have given great answers to your question. There's something else to look at also if you're using .jpeg files out of the camera. Nikon sets the default sharpening of the picture controls - standard, neutral, vivid, monochrome very low at level 3. Nikon expert, Ken Rockwell, recommends setting those up to level 6. Go through all of the picture controls and increase the sharpening.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

dmorgan wrote:

I have a Nikon d7100. When shooting jpeg files, I have three quality choices (fine,normal,basic) and three size options (large,medium,small). I have been using the "fine" and "large" settings, assuming that they will give me the highest quality. Is this true? In other words, does changing the size affect picture quality? (This is not an issue when shooting RAW, but I don't always do that.)

You have the correct settings. Do not change them. Some like to up the sharpness a few notches and shoot in Vivid.

icemncmth Loc: Oklahoma

I have a 7200 and really wanted to see the answer to your question. I set up my tripod inside and out. Took several pictures and different sizes and conditions. Larger is better but if you do any post processing. RAW . Just plain and simple.

I also do shoot some local soccer matches and I do .jpg because of the faster buffer.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

I look at your settings like an insurance policy in Jpeg. If you want to make a larger print, you will have that opportunity. It is a function of what you do with your jpeg files.

dmorgan wrote:

I have a Nikon d7100. When shooting jpeg files, I have three quality choices (fine,normal,basic) and three size options (large,medium,small). I have been using the "fine" and "large" settings, assuming that they will give me the highest quality. Is this true? In other words, does changing the size affect picture quality? (This is not an issue when shooting RAW, but I don't always do that.)

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

dmorgan wrote:

I have a Nikon d7100. When shooting jpeg files, I have three quality choices (fine,normal,basic) and three size options (large,medium,small). I have been using the "fine" and "large" settings, assuming that they will give me the highest quality. Is this true? In other words, does changing the size affect picture quality? (This is not an issue when shooting RAW, but I don't always do that.)

Always shoot large/fine unless you have a situation which calls for a smaller image that you know you are going to throw away in the near future. For instance, when I shoot pictures of something I'm going to sell and place the pictures on their website, eBay or Craigslist for instance, then I set the camera for basic/small. This usually makes a fine picture of the gadget I'm selling but I know that once it sells, I'll no longer need the image.

Jim Bob

icemncmth wrote:

I have a 7200 and really wanted to see the answer to your question. I set up my tripod inside and out. Took several pictures and different sizes and conditions. Larger is better but if you do any post processing. RAW . Just plain and simple.

I also do shoot some local soccer matches and I do .jpg because of the faster buffer.

Might be plain but it is definitely not simple. Post processing is not only for RAW images. Geesus. What planet are you from?

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

dmorgan wrote:

I have a Nikon d7100. When shooting jpeg files, I have three quality choices (fine,normal,basic) and three size options (large,medium,small). I have been using the "fine" and "large" settings, assuming that they will give me the highest quality. Is this true? In other words, does changing the size affect picture quality? (This is not an issue when shooting RAW, but I don't always do that.)

If you are ok with jpeg quality, then use fine, large and also optimized for quality and not size.

If you are looking to get the best quality images out of your camera, then shoot raw, 14 bit lossless compressed.