JuleeC66 Loc: Currently Arizona

In my readings and my class, I have received conflicting information about Image Quality and Image Size in the Shooting Menu on my Nikon D7000. Some say there is no difference in what the picture looks like between having the Image Quality JPEG Fine, JPEG Normal and JPEG Basic (I haven't graduated to understanding RAW yet as I don't have much with post processing software. That will be for later). The biggest image I would be printing may be an 11x14 size photo. I want to have the best option for all my photos so what Quality setting is the one I need to stay on? As far as Image Size, my options are large, medium or small. I was told the large would print out the best by a couple of people but one of the photographers online, whose page I am looking at says there is no difference. I don't want to print out all my photos 11x14 or larger but would like that option just in case. So, I am asking all of you, where do I put my settings for Quality and Size? I have four SD cards ranging from 8-64GB so storage really isn't an issue and I back up to a couple of external hard drives, one of which is a terabyte so I have plenty of space.
Thank you, all, for reading this and for any information I can get!!
Julee

valley4photo Loc: Lemon Grove, Ca. 91945

I use fine for all photos.

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

your minimum setting should be JPG, large, fine.
You might consider raw also in case you advance later

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Your Nikon D7000 is 16 megapixels. You will get higher resolution on large print for JPEG. Since you have a 8 to 64gb SD cards, you have plenty of JPEG space. So, you can go large. I don't do prints larger than 8X10. I give them away to friends and family. 5 megapixels is enough to get a very good 8X10 portrait print. Choose what is best for your quality needs.

JPL

From my experience if you make a scale from 1-10. Then the Jpegs are 3,4 and 5 on that scale where Raw is 10, quality wise. But to harvest the top quality from the Raw you have to learn and practice post processing.

JuleeC66 Loc: Currently Arizona

Oldtigger, should I use my second SD slot for backup as RAW? I really don't understand RAW at all and haven't begun to even look at processing software. My husband got me Photoshop Elements back in 2011 but I have only done just basic stuff with it. It is very confusing. When I first started shooting in 2011 with my very first Nikon that could take RAW or JPEG, my RAW looked so off that I didn't keep going. I don't plan on becoming a professional. I just really like to take pics and have tons from when we were stationed overseas for 7 years. It is an art form that I enjoy looking at so I guess it's a great hobby for me. I am very focused on learning from those of you who have been doing this for a while. Are there any books you could recommend about RAW and processing?
Thank you for your response. I was sure that those settings were correct but the couple of articles I read the photographer states there is no difference. I don't want to take any chances.
Thank you again
JuleeC66

JuleeC66 Loc: Currently Arizona

mas24,
Thank you!! I only have maybe 5-6 pics of old castles that I took while we were stationed overseas that I may like to do 11x14 with. I also, recently, took a great pic of one of my dogs, for my online class, that my husband fell in love with. He wants it bigger so it can go in his office. Most of my shots are for my husband and I but I have taken, quite by accident, some great shots of the grandkids and some stills.
Thanks again for your input!!
JuleeC66

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

I don't know, so I would experiment. shoot the exact scene with each of the settings. And use the same exposure and focus settings and print each one. Choose the one you prefer and use those settings in the future.

JuleeC66 Loc: Currently Arizona

JPL
In your experience, what is the best, but most user friendly software and can you recommend a website or books to learn from?
Thanks
JuleeC66

Bill_de Loc: US

The quality setting are not the same as the image size setting. It has to do with file size/compression. The more the file is compressed the more information is lost.

Check this out:

http://www.dummies.com/photography/cameras/nikon-camera/choosing-the-jpeg-image-format-for-a-nikon-dslr/

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Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

(That way you loose less detail on cropping.)

JuleeC66 Loc: Currently Arizona

Bill de,

That clarified the Fine, Normal and Basic into terms I can understand and the whys of using each one. I may have to get that book!!
Thank you so much

JuleeC66

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Why is RAW a 10 if it needs to get turned into jpeg before being printed? Doesn't that turn it into a 5?

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

RAW does not have to be converted to a JPEG for printing.

A RAW has to be converted to a RGB bitmap of some type, and while JPEG works quite well a TIFF is better for printing.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

I’ll offer this for what it may be worth. Assuming you always want the best your camera can deliver, shoot NEF, 14-bit lossless compressed and, using the software that came with your camera, export 16-bit TIFF or JPEG. (There is no advantage with uncompressed NEF.) You may never need the NEF files, but it’s wise to keep them in case you want to get into more post-processing later. You can also shoot NEF + JPEG fine, and just use the JPEGs for viewing or printing. I’ve seen no difference in printing JPEG vs. 16-bit TIFF, but there is more information in the latter files, which may be important for post-processing.
When I exercise the same care with digital as with color slide film, before making the exposure, minor cropping is about the most post-processing I’ve needed.
All this is merely my opinion. Hope it helps, happy shooting!