Basic Photography Question (camera, Panasonic, settings, pictures) - Digital cameras, SLR, lenses, printing, processing, colors, black-and-white, wedding... - City-Data Forum

LauraC · 09-13-2012, 05:57 AM

I knew the answer to this very basic question at one time but I have forgotten it. When you are determining "quality" settings in your camera, what is the difference between the icon with:

1) two parallel horizontal lines and a centered down arrow over the top of them.

2) one parallel horizontal line and a centered down arrow over the top of it.

I think it might have to do with jpg compression but for the life of me I can't remember which one produces the better quality.

I'm having a hard time paging through the pdf on-line manual or I would look it up.

Any help would be appreciated.

EinsteinsGhost · 09-13-2012, 07:35 AM

I'm guessing this is manufacturer specific, but from the sound of it, "1" sounds like greater JPEG compression, and "2" sounds like less.

PA2UK · 09-13-2012, 08:10 AM

I agree it's probably brand specific, they do not sound familiar to me. What do you shoot with? Check the manual - if you lost it, you should be able to find it online from the manufacturer's website.

Snikt · 09-13-2012, 08:29 AM

I'd be shocked if it doesn't say in the camera? They always say like JPG Basic, JPG Fine in the settings, not just some cryptic symbol?

BagongBuhay · 09-13-2012, 08:35 AM

In my older Panasonic, the horizontal lines indicates compression level. A file that is compressed more is smaller, with the arrow "pushing" the file down smaller. Having 1 horizontal bar means the file has been compressed more than the one with 2 horizontal bars. The one with one bar is of lower quality than the one with two.

thecoalman · 09-14-2012, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LauraC

I think it might have to do with jpg compression but for the life of me I can't remember which one produces the better quality.

You could always take two similar pictures and compare the file sizes.

LauraC · 09-15-2012, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bibit612

In my older Panasonic, the horizontal lines indicates compression level. A file that is compressed more is smaller, with the arrow "pushing" the file down smaller. Having 1 horizontal bar means the file has been compressed more than the one with 2 horizontal bars. The one with one bar is of lower quality than the one with two.

Thanks. It is on my Panasonic albeit my newer one that also has raw settings and this is the answer I was looking for. Thanks to everyone that responded.