Size of file

[Rebecca Finegan]

We are wedding photographers and want to be able to print 16x20 (or even 20x24). I have the camera set for fine 4256. It takes a long time to save. Do I need to be this high or will I receive same quality at 3024?

Also, I change the pixels to 300 and put the size to 16x20. These files are still very large - I have trouble printing them at some places. I need to be able to give my clients pictures on a CD where they can take them and have printed with clarity and without a problem because the file is too large.

[Swampy]

Rebecca- Something to think about while you wait for someone with more experience to reply. 2 megapixel (1600x1200) looks fine to me printed at 8x10, where some people may say it doesn't look good. 3024 (which is basically 3 times the size of the 1600x1200) may be acceptable for printing 16x20 for most people. Have you tried printing a test print from a 3024? Possibly something for you to do. Who knows, all the answers here may be the same, but I'm just trying to give some things to think about.

Another thing to consider when shooting the smaller file size is that there is less room for framing error where you may want to crop and print, effectivly cutting your photo size down.

If you're shooting in JPG, I would say put up with the slower write speed of the large file. I don't think I've run out of buffer more than the fingers on 1 hand. Maybe I'm answering this for my own curiousity as to what kind of weddings are you shooting where you need 6 frames shot in 4 1/2 seconds with the 7th shot coming in on about the 7th second. This is a rough estimate depending on what you're taking and in High JPG mode. I've seen faster and slightly slower shooting the same file sizes though.

[Rebecca Finegan]

Even shooting 2 or 3 in a row, when I press the shutter, there seems to be a delay (unlike shooting with the N80). I might be doing something wrong - this digital is all new to me.

[sandman]

Hi rebecca
most of the pro's out there will shoot in raw and convert using the EX raw converter for getting all the details out of the picture.
tried this and got a file size of 35mg.
I agree with swampy, i shoot in fine jpg @3024 x 2016 pix.this will give you a file size (depending on the picture )of about 2.4 mg.

The S2's native pixels per inch is 72 for moniter viewing ,this will generate a picture 42 in x 28 inches. much too big for most needs.

When i give out wedding CD's i do the following, image size, resampling off.

300 D.P.I. will give pic 10 x 6.7 inches
250 D.P.I. 12 X 8
200 D.P.I 15 X 10.8

These sizes all print out fine, your clients might need something different, so experement with the D.P.I. size untill you find the right one.

The S2 is not like the N/F 80, When taking shots.
The downloading will take a second or two between shots , the bigger the file size the longer it takes, you can get different sized compact flashes. try SANDISK ULTRA, it's quicker. by different sizes i don't mean megabites , i mean write speeds,

I hope this has been some use to you i know from first hand how difficult learning to use digital can be.

Happy shooting
Sandman

[Swampy]

I guess later tonight I'll record my S2 in continuous mode under a couple of different file sizes and post them up on my website for you to hear. Mine clicked right along at about 1.7fps for 6 shots, then waited until the first shot finished writting which wasn't very long after the 6th shot, maybe a 1/2 a second to a second.

Lemme record an audio file and let you listen to that and see if it is consistant with the file size you're shooting. What size and compression are you shooting? (RAW/TIFF/JPG, 3, 6, 12mp, Std or fine compression?)

[Rebecca Finegan]

I tried a different card (faster) and it moved much quicker. I think that solved it. Thanks

[scooper]

YOU ARE A BRAVE PERSON TO BE SHOOTING A WEDDING WITHOUT HAVING ALL THIS WORKED OUT.

[Rebecca Finegan]

Not so brave - working it out before actually doing it - hence so many questions

[Riku]

When your printing to 20x24", you really won't need to be at more than 150dpi - which is just within the reach of the S2's highest resolution.

Shooting raw will give you the option of tweaking the exposure, or if you were in a very high contrast scene (charcoal suit, white dress, church door open, type scene), you'll have the option to process and do in initial edit in 16bits, before dropping down to a more manageable 8 bit image.

Shooting at less than full resolution will guarantee that you'll be restricting how the images can be subsequently used.

Why not let the couple have the disk with, for example files that'll go to 10x8 @200dpi, but charge additional for file prep to go to 20x24 (or whatever they require).

If you are giving them files on disk, to print up themselves, then your not making any mark up on printing. This allows you to claw some of it back, and gives the oportunity to show them the improvement in quality that comes when the photographer regains control...

I would recomend billing the equivalent for a prolab enlargement for the same size file prep - i.e 20x24 file charged @ £75...

A simple way of adding back some of the money that used to come on the back end of a job..

[hotatl]

I use a 40x card and have no problem shooting a wedding in Raf. It did not slow down one time.

[Steve Wynn]

Rebecca,

You really should run through a series of tests with your camera and lab and see what you like. But if you don't you might try some of these settings with the S2. I've run them through 4 different labs and the results have been consistant.

I've tried a whole bunch of settings and concur with what Gary Fong at www.digitalphotographers.com recommends.

Try Qual-Norm
Color- Org
Tone -Org
Sharp-Hard

up to 8 x 10 2 megapixel works ok (1440)
10 x 15 4 megapixel (2304)
20 x 24 6 megapixel (3024)
40 x 60 12 megapixel (4256

Use the diffuser on your flash whenever possible. Digital images suffer when using harsh flash.

Watch your histogram close! Underexposing creates a lot of noise in the shadow areas. Then when you correct it in Photoshop, you'll increase the saturation and contrast and lose midtone detail.

I've spent close to a weeks wages running various prints through the labs and I've settled on these settings too.

Steve

[Don65Stang]

Originally posted by BuckeyeNomad
I've tried a whole bunch of settings and concur with what Gary Fong at www.digitalphotographers.com recommends.

Try Qual-Norm
Color- Org
Tone -Org
Sharp-Hard

up to 8 x 10 2 megapixel works ok (1440)
10 x 15 4 megapixel (2304)
20 x 24 6 megapixel (3024)
40 x 60 12 megapixel (4256)
Steve, are you shooting weddings in jpeg with these settings? I haven't done a wedding with the S2 yet because I'm tring to work out the details of shooting one with the S2.

I have been shooting other stuff extensively with Norm 3024 org org hard and found this to work really well, but am hesitant to shoot a wedding in jpeg due to blowing out the whites with the SB-80. I also use the fast Kingston 512mb CF.

Rebecca,
As for speed, this setup is pretty fast at recording. Some of the bands I've shot very pretty heavy on the button. This weekend I shot about 300 pics in 1 hour of a band at 1600 ISO an no flash. I had no problems with recording / buffer speeds. BTW, I had overall excellent results at 1600. If you haven't tried this, you're missing out.

[Steve Wynn]

Just shot another wedding Saturday with those settings. No problem blowing out any of the dress.

Also forgot to mention not to use Hard when shooting at ISO 1600 and when I'm in really large darker churches, I have to shoot without the diffuser using direct flash and haven't had any trouble.

Steve

" I don't make rules for the exception"

[Don65Stang]

I shot 1600 Sunday w/o flash and went with org org hard. See link:

http://www.s2pro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2238

It didn't seem too harsh. I have to admit, I forgot to change the setting. Luckily, these shots are for a church website and not for print.

Steve, I posted about wedding strobe recommendations. Could I borrow your expertise on the flash forum question?

Thanks,
Don