Camera companies always come up with new toys... I mean tools that are just a little bit better than the last model. It's hard not to think if I just had...

My first DSLR in 2001 was a Fuji S1, crop sensor camera based on the Nikon F60. It was touted to have a 6 megapixel sensor (which was really just an interpolated 3 meg). It shot jpeg or TIFF, no raw option.

I would hate to have to use that camera again but it was capable of some great images.

Should have added- when you save an edited JPEG file- save it as an uncompressed tiff or PSD file and you can edit it all you want without any compression artifacts.

Gotta agree there CaptainC- Too many variables to make that statement. Is the pixel count the same? Shot in low light? Older FX camera vs newer DX? I love Full frame cameras for a lot of things and I especially like looking through the viewfinder, but what is the end use for the photo? Most of the time, for me, it doesn't matter.
I use Nikon D700, D300s. The biggest difference for me is the "look". A full frame camera can give me better shallow depth-of-field look. The D700 is lower in noise at high ISO than the 300s, but in "normal" conditions they are too close to call. I use the 300 for sports and anything that its crop sensor will give me that 1.5x advantage.

It's not pixelation. That comes from enlarging an image beyond its ideal range to the point where you see the pixels.
"JPEG Jaggies" are caused by compression of the file.
Over time (opening and RE-SAVING) it will degrade the image. IT WILL NOT HAPPEN JUST BY OPENING AND LOOKING AT IT in camera or on your computer, as long as you don't save it!

The effect may not be evident at first, especially it you are saving at a low compression setting (10-12) but it does eventually degrade.

Still, I shoot a a lot of events jpeg only, checking the histogram to make sure the exposure is where it should be.

The photo below is an extreme example, saving at a high compression several times. I don't remember where I found this great example- my apologies to the person who created it.

"opening and closing a jpeg does not do anything to the image. You will get degradation when you edit and RE-SAVE the file"

Exactly right!
I learned to think of it this way:

Raw is the equvalent of shooting with a negative- you can adjust exposure & color balance and have more latitude.

JPEG is like shooting transparencies- very little latitude- better get it right in-camera. Although you can adjust JPEG files in Adobe Camera Raw and recover images better than with the usual corrections.

If I remember right the Navy PJ's were better trained. We just had a general photo edudcation. I did enjoy the weekend field trips to the Rockies though.

I went to the AF Photo school when it was in Denver. I had always heard the Navy's school was better.

Smores, anyone? Nice!

Jacquie,
Did you freehand (or freemouse) the snowman and other drawings or scan from a print? I like the look. Was there some softening involved? Re: the no-peeking photo: I've been shooting these neighbor's kids for a christmas card maybe 5 years. The husband blows out my sprinklers in exchange. I think I have more fun. :lol:

Except for softening the background in PhotoShop this is mostly in-camera.
Love the Nikon CLS system!
This could be an image for a Chritmas card you would order on-line.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ NYC
One of the best known and reputable mail order places in the US. They have a brick & mortar store that must be seen if you're in NYC.

620 film:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&Ntt=620+Film.&A=endecaSearch&N=0&Q=&InitialSearch=yes

That about covers it, and you are correct about the wider end of things. A few milimeters makes a bigger difference there.

A roll of TX and a Mamiya C300...those were the days.

I use my DX cameras for shooting sports because of the crop factor. I like the extra reach w/o the weight and size. Portraits and other things where I want less depth of field, I use a full frame sensor. The shorter the lens, the more depth of field. (Not always a good thing) That's why the point & shoot photos look the way they do with everything in focus. The sensors on those cameras are tiny.

Yashica Minister D- smaller brother of the Electro 35. This was back in 1970 in the Philippines.