More On Photography; Image Quality And Size; Image Quality - Nikon COOLPIX 8700 Manual

More on Photography

Image Quality and Size

Pictures taken with a digital camera are stored as image fi les. The size of the
fi les, and with it the number of images that can be recorded on the memory
card, depends on the quality and size of the images. Before shooting, choose
image quality and size according to how the picture will be used.

Image Quality

The camera stores images in one of three formats: NEF (RAW), TIFF (HI qual-
ity), or JPEG (FINE, NORMAL, or BASIC quality).
Option Format
RAW 2, 3 NEF
HI 2, 4 TIFF
FINE
NORM
JPEG
(NORMAL)
BASIC
1 To reduce the amount of memory each shot occupies, JPEG images are compressed as
they are saved to the memory card. Compression selectively reduces the quality of the
image; the more a picture is compressed, the more noticeable this loss of quality is likely
to be. This column gives the approximate compression ratio for each setting.
2 Available only in shooting modes
(auto) or scene mode resets image quality to FINE. Digital zoom (
ported.
3 Available only at an image size of
4 Available only at image sizes of
30
Compression
ratio 1
Raw data from CCD are saved in Nikon Elec-
tronic Image Format (NEF) without processing
or compression, preserving high level of detail at
Not
fi le size slightly smaller than that of TIFF images.
compressed
High image quality (on par with NEF) in format
supported by most imaging applications.
Fine image quality, suitable for enlargements or
1 : 4
high-quality prints.
Normal image quality, suited to most applica-
1 : 8
tions.
Basic image quality, suitable for pictures that will
1 : 16
be distributed by e-mail or used in web pages.
(Custom 1) and
. Direct print (
and
Description
(Custom 2). Selecting
69) not supported.
.
16) not sup-