Canon 10D Quality - DPChallenge Forums

05/07/2004 12:47:34 PM · #1

I was wondering if anyone can tell me how get better quality .jpg images from my Canon 10D. I take photos at the Large (Smooth) setting, but my photos are still close to 2megs and not large enough to print at anything over an 8"x10". I need at least 2400x3600 pixels but I can't seem to get that with this camera.

Can someone give me advice, pointers, thoughts, comments, etc...

Thanks,
Arie

05/07/2004 12:49:26 PM · #2

Please post sample pictures, what lens you were using and your settings.

:)atwl

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

05/07/2004 12:52:23 PM · #3

//mirdonamy.dpcprints.com has my high quality photos. None of them are over 1800 pixels wide or tall. I can get close to 2600 max, but I need 3600 to raise my quality enough to print larger than an 8"x10".

Settings: Large, Smooth for the quality
Lens: I have a canon 28mm - 80mm & a canon 70mm-300mm
Shutter, Aperature, ISO: all different... I adjust these as necessary.

What other settings would you like to know that would help you help me?

C-Fox

Canon EOS-20D

05/07/2004 12:53:57 PM · #4

use the step up proceedure of 110% each time. That will increase the number of pixels. print and see if you like that result. The other option is to take several pictures and stitch them together (make sure over 30% overlap is recomended for some of the automatic stiching programs).

Message edited by author 2004-05-07 12:55:27.

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

05/07/2004 12:54:38 PM · #5

Shoot RAW.

05/07/2004 12:55:04 PM · #6

If you haven't already tried resampling up, this tutorial may help....

//www.dpchallenge.com/tutorial.php?TUTORIAL_ID=8

05/07/2004 12:59:04 PM · #7

Can't tell from the size of the pictures that you provided, but from the looks of your lenses, I think they're the reason why you are getting soft pictures.

The 28-80 isn't a very ideal lens for the 10D unless you plan to shoot at f/8 or smaller all the time, and the 75-300 is quite well known to be soft at the 200-300mm end. If you have the budget, try to get better lenses; check out websites like www.photographyreview.com to find good lenses and to look out for not-so-good ones.

Also, I'm not sure if your shots are handheld or on tripod, but a good and sturdy tripod will help a lot.

Hope this helps,
:)atwl

EDIT: I also just noticed that you mentioned none of your photos on that site are more than 1800 pixels wide/tall. Why is that so? Why can't you put up the full size 3072x2048 to the site?

Message edited by author 2004-05-07 13:02:49.

05/07/2004 01:00:21 PM · #8

Okay, another question... without stiching or resampling, do any of you get over 2600 pixels wide in your cameras using the .jpg setting? Perhaps I'll try shooting Raw, but I would like to know if any of you get large files (over 2.5 megs) and over 2600 pixels, without doing any post processing?

Thanks,
Arie

05/07/2004 01:04:37 PM · #9

Originally posted by mirdonamy:

Your camera should give you seven quality settings (RAW, Large/Fine, etc) - pick Large/Fine.

:)atwl

05/07/2004 01:07:36 PM · #10

The max size on the 10D is 3072 x 2048.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

05/07/2004 01:10:34 PM · #11

Large / Fine is what I ALWAYS have it set on. Darn, I wonder what I am doing wrong. I should be able to get that 3072 x 2048. I get the 2048, but nothing larger.

Another question, so, since we cannot get 2400 x 3600 with our Canon 10D, we have to resample up to get a print larger than 8" x 10" anyhow?

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

05/07/2004 01:14:50 PM · #12

The maximum resolution of the Canon EOS 10D is 3072x2048 pixels, regardless of JPEG or RAW. The 2MB file you refer to is the size of the compressed JPEG. If you open that same file in Photoshop, you'll see that it's actually MUCH larger (18MB and 24MB in RGB and CMYK modes, respectively). For commercial offset printing, that's sufficient for 8x10" work. For anything larger, you'll either have to res-up the image or get a different camera. RAW files can yield somewhat better images (since there's no compression), and better lenses will make a big difference at the limits of your camera.

C-Fox

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

05/07/2004 01:17:00 PM · #13

Originally posted by mirdonamy:

You can print larger, just know that 300 dots per inch give great results, 200 give good, and 100 poor.

05/07/2004 01:17:14 PM · #14

Do any of you do resampling to make your images print larger? Is it easy? What do you think of it? I need to try the tutorial this weekend.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

05/07/2004 01:18:51 PM · #15

Ah, so that's where the problem lies.

You don't need a higher resolution to print at those sizes; there's no magical formula to equate print size and resolution. The quality of the 10D is good enough for print sizes much larger than 8x10, but the larger the size, the better your camera support (tripod) and lenses (sharpness) should be.

:)atwl

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

05/07/2004 01:25:24 PM · #16

Your needs will be determined by the print method. Commercial offset presses typically require 300dpi, photo prints (PhotoAccess, DPCPrints, Snapfish, etc.) are fine at 200dpi, and 150dpi is plenty for prints on a color inkjet. A sharp digital photo may be resampled up about 10 or 20% (sometimes more) without a problem.

RickDN

05/07/2004 01:39:40 PM · #17

Originally posted by mirdonamy:

Large / Fine is what I ALWAYS have it set on. Darn, I wonder what I am doing wrong. I should be able to get that 3072 x 2048. I get the 2048, but nothing larger.

Hmmm... you sure on the "2048" part as being the 'largest' ?? Sounds like it's really set to "Medium/Fine". Check it again....

Yeah, I am getting JPG's in the area of 3.1 Meg depending on detail of image.

If you really want awesome detail (for printing) go with RAW. Then post-edit to suit...

R.

jimmythefish

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

05/07/2004 02:11:36 PM · #18

Don't confuse the # of pixels in an image with the true resolution of a photo. For instance, a Canon 1D produces images at 4 megapixels, but advertisers use images from this camera to blow up to poster size on a regular basis. The true resolution of an image is often less than what the sensor is capable (the seonsor is almost never the limiting factor in image sharpness) and this depends on several factors including noise, blur, exposure, quality of lens etc.

To get the most out of an image:

- Use a tripod. It won't help freeze moving subjects but will prevent camera shake.
- Use as low an ISO setting as possible. Typically if you're shooting off a tripod and the exposure time is fairly short (not a super long exposure) you'll typically be best off at ISO 100.
- Use a sharp lens. A 28-80 4.5-5.6 kit lens isn't going to give you superb results. Prime focal lengh lenses and good quality zooms will deliver sharp, contrasty images that will help your prints.
- Use the lens stopped down somewhat. This is of course based on composition, but if you're shooting landscapes often shooting at f/11 will give you sharper images than at f/22 due to diffraction etc. Do some research about your lenses and the performance at different f-stops.
- Use the mirror lockup function to minimize shake from mirror slap.
- Use a lens hood.
- Use a filter only when necessary. If you're using a filter like a polarizer or a UV filter, makes sure it's a good multicoated one. A cheap filter will pick up flare from the sun a lot more readilty than the mulitcoated front element on your lens, reducing contrast.
- Use the timer or, preferably, a remote shutter release.
- Shoot in RAW mode.
- Focus manually. AF can't be depended on to focus precisely where you want.

If you do these things your image will be much better than just pointing and shooting, and you'll be able to print at much larger sizes without the image breaking down. 99 times out of 100 it's not pixellation you'll notice first, but blur or softness. Learn to minimize that and you'll be ahead.

Message edited by author 2004-05-07 14:14:52.

05/07/2004 02:36:58 PM · #19

Great suggestions. I'll work on them. Sadly, my photo money is maxed on my 10D. So, there is no hope of a new lens or better filters. I had no idea that my 28-80mm lens wasn't a good lens. I thought since it was Canon and in good condition, that it was a great lens. :(

I'll try to take my tripod with me more often. I do have a remote on a wire :) I often use my circular polarizer, and for shots without it, I often stop down a tiny bit. I will start shooting in RAW more often too.

Sadly, not a single photo I have uploaded to DPCprints is available for printing at larger than 8x10. My dpi is always 180. Can that be changed in the camera?

jimmythefish

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

05/07/2004 02:47:25 PM · #20

I still don't understand why you're getting 180 dpi from the 10D for an 8x10. If you take a shot at the largest file size and just crop down to 8x10 from the original 8x12 aspect ratio, you'll get 240 DPI. I've produced stunning 8x10s at 240. YOu're going to have to go through your workflow step by step if you can expect us to help you further.

05/07/2004 02:53:07 PM · #21

I get a 256 dpi image at 8 x 10.

When I get the image in the software I use the resize tool (without resampling) to set the longest side to 12.

Then with the crop tool I select front image (on tool bar) to set the crop parameters. I then change the long dimension to 10 and select the area of the photo I want. This results in an 8 x 10 at 256 dpi.

05/07/2004 02:53:38 PM · #22

When I taka photo on Large / Fine at 100 ISO, I then put it onto my computer (USB) and open it in photoshop. When I go to Image / Image Size, it shows me 180dpi. So, to check that, I opened the Canon File Viewer (I am pretty sure that's the software that tells me this) and it was also 180dpi. How can I get my camera to be set on a higher DPI? I don't have Photoshop or my USB with me at work, just my 10D (which I can play with all I want). Any help?

05/07/2004 02:55:13 PM · #23

Don't worry about the dpi the camera is setting, this is all changable in software. My previous post explains how to get a 256 dpi 8 x 10 without resampling.

ericsuth

Canon EOS-20D