help with picture sizes

[sid8102]

Hi, this may seem like a stupid question, but I just got a Sony DSC t300 and it has different options for picture sizes. I will be generally printing in 4x6, so the size on the camera that corresponds with that is "3M". Does that mean that it will only take pics in 3 megapixels? because its a 10 megapixel camera, and the camera also has sizes "10m" "5m" "7m". I dont know why im so confused about this, i just want to make sure im getting the most out of the camera. thanks for your help

[Margus]

I will be generally printing in 4x6, so the size on the camera that corresponds with that is "3M". Does that mean that it will only take pics in 3 megapixels?
Absolutely correct!


because its a 10 megapixel camera, and the camera also has sizes "10m" "5m" "7m". I dont know why im so confused about this, i just want to make sure im getting the most out of the camera. thanks for your help

You can choose the various picture sizes but it is recommended to use always the highest value, because you can make small prints out of large pictures but there will be no way to make a large print out of a 3M or VGA picture.

But let's add some more confusion :) If you are generally printing in 6x4 then I'd recommend you to take the pictures in the same ratio (3:2), which limits you with only one option. According to the camera's specs (http://www.sony.co.uk/product/dsc-t-series/dsc-t300#pageType=TechnicalSpecs) published on Sony web site, there is only 1 image size in 3:2 ratio available for you.

Still Image size (10 Mega 3648 x 2736)
Still Image size (5.0 Mega, 2592 x 1944)
Still Image size (3.1 Mega, 2048 x 1536)
Still Image size (VGA, 640 x 480)
Still Image size (16:9 mode, 1920 x 1080)
Still Image size (3:2 mode 3648 x 2432)

If you use other sizes, then they are all in the 4:3 format and your 6x4 prints will be only partial prints of the images.

[sid8102]

if i take pictures in the 3:2 ratio, will they still be using 10 megapixels?
thanks for all your help

[Paradox]

If you shoot in a 2:3 ratio, you get

3648 x 2432= 8,871,936

Which rounds up to 9 megapixels, as opposed to if you shot in 4:3 -

3648 x 2736 = 9,980,928

Which rounds up to 10 megapixels. It won't make a noticable difference and will make printing 4x6's easier.