Picture size selection: I just moved up to a full frame camera (D750). If I select a picture size of anything other than large, what is being eliminated when I reduce the size? I just...

dgolfnut Loc: Bear, DE

I just moved up to a full frame camera (D750). If I select a picture size of anything other than large, what is being eliminated when I reduce the size? I just shot the same picture twice - once as Large and once as small with everything else the same. I zoomed in to max on one spot and there is no discernible difference in the detail when viewing it on camera. Does the camera use a smaller area of the available sensor or something else?

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

the camera often does not have enough resolution or range to see the difference.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

dgolfnut wrote:

I just moved up to a full frame camera (D750). If I select a picture size of anything other than large, what is being eliminated when I reduce the size? I just shot the same picture twice - once as Large and once as small with everything else the same. I zoomed in to max on one spot and there is no discernible difference in the detail when viewing it on camera. Does the camera use a smaller area of the available sensor or something else?

Warning: Viewing an image on the cameras LCD might get you into a lot of trouble! Don't judge color, contrast, exposure, focus or even composition by the LCD unless you do something special to allow an analysis. Use magnify to judge focus, use the histogram to judge exposure, and only do rough guesses on composition.

There are two ways you might be setting the camera for a "smaller" image. One does use less of the sensor (which allows using DX lenses). Another will resample the entire sensor output down to a smaller pixel size. Either way you have fewer pixels to work with. Actually you can also set the camera for a more compressed JPEG file that will be the same size image with lower quality but will be a smaller file size.

Rick36203 Loc: Northeast Alabama

dgolfnut wrote:

... If I select a picture size of anything other than large, what is being eliminated when I reduce the size? ... Does the camera use a smaller area of the available sensor or something else?

"Image size" is only available if you selected some type of JPEG storage (either JPEG or Raw+Jpeg) in "Image Quality". It determines the dimensions of the image (width & height) in pixels of the stored jpeg, and it is dependent on your "Image Area" setting. It appears to allow in-camera "jpeg downsizing" during the initial storage.

"Image size" does not change the amount of sensor used, but "Image area" will.

Image Size, Image Quality, Image Area, Jpeg Compression, and NEF(Raw) Recording, all combine to give the user lots of latitude during setup.

Pressing the ? button while in each of these menu items will provide some degree of help for each function.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Rick36203 wrote:

...
"Image size" does not change the amount of sensor used, but "Image area" will.
...

It allows you to change the aspect ratio in camera as oppose to doing the cropping in an editor.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

dgolfnut wrote:

I just moved up to a full frame camera (D750). If I select a picture size of anything other than large, what is being eliminated when I reduce the size? I just shot the same picture twice - once as Large and once as small with everything else the same. I zoomed in to max on one spot and there is no discernible difference in the detail when viewing it on camera. Does the camera use a smaller area of the available sensor or something else?

You did not select a different image size, but a different file size (means the image itself shows all the same)!!

Rick36203 Loc: Northeast Alabama

speters wrote:

You did not select a different image size, but a different file size (means the image itself shows all the same)!!

Actually, he did select a different "Image Size" for the stored "jpeg" image (in pixels - width x height), based on whatever his "Image area" was set at the time of the change. I guess that's why they label that menu section "Image Size".

Using the full "Image Area" (FX) the available jpeg dimensions would be: Large - 6016x4016, Medium 4512x3008, and Small 3008x2008.

"Image Quality" and "Jpeg Compression" affect file storage but not image dimensions.

A Large "Fine" jpeg and a Large "Basic" jpeg are both 6016 pixels x 4016 pixels if the full FX sensor area is used on the D750.

Rick36203 Loc: Northeast Alabama

Longshadow wrote:

It allows you to change the aspect ratio in camera as oppose to doing the cropping in an editor.

I appreciate the thumbs up, but "image size" really doesn't change aspect ratio. You will notice that all the selections under "Image Size" maintain the original 3:2 aspect ratio.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Rick36203 wrote:

I appreciate the thumbs up, but "image size" really doesn't change aspect ratio. You will notice that all the selections under "Image Size" maintain the original 3:2 aspect ratio.

I did not say, nor mean to imply, change the image size, I said change the aspect ratio, they are two different things. Not sure if my one camera has aspect ratio in the same menu as size selection, or a separate menu.

Rick36203 Loc: Northeast Alabama

Longshadow wrote:

... I said change the aspect ratio...

I believe I understood, sir. You said the OP was changing aspect ratio with the menu option labeled "Image Size". But, the OP cannot (to my knowledge) change the "Aspect Ratio" prior to any image capture. It is set at 3:2, no matter what the "Image Size" setting is.

The aspect ratio of an image can be changed in-camera after capture with the "Trim" option of the "Retouch Menu". But, that is really a pain, and I believe better done with external post-processing applications.

If you do know of an option to set a new aspect ratio before capture with the D750 I'd be interested in finding it. I always like to learn new things. :)

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Rick36203 wrote:

...
If you do know of an option to set a new aspect ratio before capture with the D750 I'd be interested in finding it. I always like to learn new things. :)

The problem therein is not knowing the operation of 500 camera models, D750 included.
My one Sony has the ability to select native or 3:2 aspect ratio. I don't know what other cameras may have the ability of selecting another aspect ratio in the camera or may not. I'm not going to research it either. If someone references changing the aspect ratio in a camera, one would think that that camera has that capability. I don't have time to confirm that it can or cannot.

Rick36203 Loc: Northeast Alabama

Longshadow wrote:

The problem ... is not knowing the operation of 500 camera models, D750 included... My ... Sony has the ability ...

Yes, I understand, sir. You gave your answer based on your experience with your camera(s), not the OP's. I do own a D750, and I based my answer based on my experience with that camera model.

After my previous comment, I was really expecting someone to say, "rotate the D750 90 degrees and you change the aspect ratio from 3:2 to 2:3 prior to image capture."

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Rick36203 wrote:

Yes, I understand, sir. You gave your answer based on your experience with your camera(s), not the OP's. I do own a D750, and I based my answer based on my experience with that camera model.

After my previous comment, I was really expecting someone to say, "rotate the D750 90 degrees and you change the aspect ratio from 3:2 to 2:3 prior to image capture."

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Rick36203 wrote:

Actually, he b did /b select a different "I... (show quote)

It would render a larger image, when processed, but even with different amounts of pixels on either ends, the "size" of the image (the amount of what is showing, is unaffected until you crop for example. The whole file size is changing, just like enlarging in printing, you can print a 4x6 and a 16x20 from the same picture, and while bigger, larger, the image itself stayed the same, only the dimensions have changed!