Hey gang well I did it I purchased the Olympus E500 DSLR this past weekend and have just scracthed the surface of getting the feeling of A Digital SLR, just a question, what would you set the camera at for the best user friendly  jpeg setting??
The chart is from my manual and I'm just wondering what would you use??
I had the camera set at HQ not sure what compression ratio it was, but my son said he had to convert it to a JPEG to send via e-mail and as he said "It was huge"
 
Right now I have it set-up in the SQ realm at 1600x1200 with 1/2.7 compression. Your thoughts and advice would be greatly appreciated!

 
Here are just some preliminary shots I took this week.
 

 

 

I had a whole post typed up which just got lost.  I hate the forum software lately.  Anyway, I'll have to type up my reply again later but in the meantime these links may help.

http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/Glossary/Digital_Imaging/Compression_01.htm

http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/Glossary/Digital_Imaging/JPEG_01.htm

http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/Glossary/Digital_Imaging/RAW_01.htm

(RAW = ORF in your chart below)

hey Jrf, thanks for the link, great info I'll have to make a copy to read on my own time. Thanks again.
 

Well I'm not WL nor potshot but the first question is what you want to use the pictures for. If you want to look at them on the computer or make small prints then I think a bigger compression ratio doesn't make such a BIG difference. But obviously if you want to make some larger prints then you should go for the best quality available and that would be RAW. or the best JPEG because there is almost no visible difference between the two in everyday shots, but that also depends on how your in camera jpeg compression works. And the whole thing also depends on your storage card. If you have an 1GB card then you can shoot best quality jpeg 'cause it will hold around 300+. And also if you take a picture at a lower resolution then it won't resize too well if you decide some day that you want a larger print. But you can always resize a bigger picture so that it is "computer display friendly".

my .02

STRAT,
if the camera can shoot in RAW format, I strongly suggest it,
contact me, I can sugggest some great software for RAW conversion
 
danny@merzphoto.com

My shameless plugs:
Visit my photography site

Here's my suggestion, Strat.....use a host. I use Webshots. You can upload an image as large as you want. Or make an album. Then just invite people with an email....they can see the "compressed"  (though resized is a better word) version which is about 800 pixels max. But there's also an option to view full size. Then they (or you) can print it from that version if they want.  
 
The other benefit is you don't have to worry about backing up your files and can access from any computer.

ORIGINAL: Wicked Lester

STRAT,
if the camera can shoot in RAW format, I strongly suggest it,
contact me, I can sugggest some great software for RAW conversion

danny@merzphoto.com

Unreleted -

Nice avatar WL!

O&A Party Rock!

Tell em fred... who who who

7pc Tama SC Performer Dark Cherry Fade, Gibraltar rack and Sabian cymbals.

http://www.wi4x4.com

ORIGINAL: Wicked Lester

STRAT,
if the camera can shoot in RAW format, I strongly suggest it,
contact me, I can sugggest some great software for RAW conversion

danny@merzphoto.com

 
I'll be chatting via e-mail later this evening. Mel DiGiacomo, who is a local Pro (Google his name) who has worked the US Open for over 20 yrs told me the same. He's a guy who was 35mm until 3 years ago and went all digital, dove in head first Canon top of the line, new Apple G5 comp spent over $10,000 and told me, "I've made more money in the past 3 years than I have the previous 10" He currently has a studio that he keeps telling me to come down and check out, he told me the same, shoot RAW and get some good software to work your pics. Talk to you laer Danny.