in-store 4x6 prints

[astralboy15]

so i'm new to doing prints with digital cameras, so what do you guys think of the quality of in-store 4x6 prints. i know they print at 3:2, and most cameras shot and 4:3, so there is some croping, no biggie. but lets say i'll be shooting with an Pentax Optio S5i (http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/optios5i.html) it's 5 megapixels, so the prints should be great quality right? and comapred to shooting with standard 35mm point and shoot camera? i know this must be a question you get all the time, but i'm new to all this. any help would be great! thanks in advance guys!

[Ray Schnoor]

so i'm new to doing prints with digital cameras, so what do you guys think of the quality of in-store 4x6 prints. i know they print at 3:2, and most cameras shot and 4:3, so there is some croping, no biggie. but lets say i'll be shooting with an Pentax Optio S5i (http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/optios5i.html) it's 5 megapixels, so the prints should be great quality right? and comapred to shooting with standard 35mm point and shoot camera? i know this must be a question you get all the time, but i'm new to all this. any help would be great! thanks in advance guys!
I have not seen any prints from this specific camera, but I assume that they should print out just fine. I have had photos printed from a Coolpix 950, 995, 5000, 5400 and D70 at in store locations which have all come out great.

I have had excellent results with CVS and Sams Club. I prefer Sams Club since they let you upload the photos from home and you can pick them up in 1 hour. They are also considerably less expensive. If you are not a member, I'm sure that WalMart is comparable.

Not all in store places are equal, though, as I had some photos printed at Target which were horrible. It almost looked as if they were printed with a dot matrix printer. Fortunately, they refunded my money. I assume that it was probably operator error on the part of Target, but I have yet to give them another chance, so I can't say for sure. The photos printed great at CVS and at home, though.
Ray.

[D Thompson]

WalMart works good for me for prints up to 8x10, although you gotta watch the cropping and if you've got one just right then you need set the canvas size to your final output size. Of course, this puts a white border around it. The WalMart I go to has 2 printers, a Fuji and a Kodak. I have found the Fuji is better for my tastes.

Dennis

[Ray Schnoor]

I always upload a photo in the aspect ratio (4x6, 5x7, 8x10, etc) that I want printed. If I want more than 1 size of the same photo(for example, 1 4x6 & 1 8x10), I upload a copy in each aspect ratio. That way, I always know what will be printed.
Ray.

[reyval2k]

I'm another newbie in the world of printing out digicam photos. I have this Powershot A200 (2MP) you see with a horrible 8MB CF Type I memory card (due to severely limited resources ;) ). So I usually take 1024x768 superfine pics due to the memory limitations.

I have yet to try having my pics printed out. So my question is, is 1024x768 (average file size 130kb-180kb) adequate for a 4x6 print out? The pictures seem sharp while on screen.

Do I have to increase resolution to say, 1600x1200pixels (this means I only have room for 8 pictures :cool: ) for 4x6 print outs?

Thanks for all the help!

[timmciglobal]

At 300 DPI a 1024X768 image fills a 2X3 size. So will it make an acceptable 4x6? 150 DPI isn't optimal but it's far from bad.

Depends on subject but generally speaking yes.

If you want to e-mail me a picture I'll throw it up on one machines and tell you how it comes out.

I'd suggest looking around though, sometimes you can find online very good deals on CF cards. 256 ones after rebate for 8>10$

Tim

[timmciglobal]

BTW assuming "300 DPI" an 8 megapixel camera is only "capable" of producing a 8x11 image.

Having said that I've made 11x14's (significantly larger, and 13x19's) from my 8 megapixel without issue.

Print quality often has to do with detail and subject matter too. We can see defects in faces and greens easier then say, a sunset. A sunset might produce a great 8x10 even printed at 100 DPI where as a persons face my appear "odd" at the same resolution.

Don't be discouraged by 2 megapixels. The race for "megapixels" doesn't take into account what most photo shoot at. For quite some time I used a 1.6 megapixel kodak camera and I produced 5x7's from my home printer without any issue. Megapixels and detail are often confused for quality of a photo and necessary detail.

Here is a link, newegg.com offers for 18$ a 256 meg CF card, refurbished but from kingston (great company, never had any issue with the products) shipped. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820160021R



Tim

[core]

I have this Powershot A200 (2MP) you see with a horrible 8MB CF Type I memory card (due to severely limited resources ;) ). So I usually take 1024x768 superfine pics due to the memory limitations.


imo I would shoot at the highest resolution and lowest compression; (Large, SuperFine) - the shot you've taken is the only one you'll have, and it's better to have the best image you can have to work with; especially there's no optical zoom on this camera. Full size pictures should range from 500k to 700k-ish, which allows you to take 12 and more pictures on the 8MP card; if you're near your PC you can off-load it immediately and shoot more.

[reyval2k]

If you want to e-mail me a picture I'll throw it up on one machines and tell you how it comes out.
Tim

Hi Tim. Thanks for the offer. I just emailed you a photo. Please let me know how it comes out. THanks! :D

[timmciglobal]

I didn't get it, send it again to tima@divergentservices.nospppm.com (remove the nospppm to get the real e-mail for the fishing bots)

Tim

[reyval2k]

Hi Tim, just sent it again. Hope you get it this time. Let me know how it turns out. Thanks! :)

[timmciglobal]

I printed it out, while it wasn't the best 4x6 I've ever seen it looked ok. The pator's hand was blurred in your picture so it was obviously blured the picture came out ok.

Honestly with a bigger card if you use maximum settings you would be very well off to print fine 4x6's.

Keep an eye out for 128 or 256 cards, you can get them as cheap as 10>15$ US.

Tim

[reyval2k]

Thanks Tim! Much appreciated. Yup the hand is supposed to be blurred, he was playing the violin and I took the picture without flash so shutter speed was 1/13" based on the EXIF data.

I'll look into those cards. Thanks a bunch! :D

[timmciglobal]

Stupid Q, since I have a 4X6 of your image now... are you in USA? I'd be happy to stick a stamp on it and mail it to you.

Tim

[reyval2k]

Stupid Q, since I have a 4X6 of your image now... are you in USA? I'd be happy to stick a stamp on it and mail it to you.

Tim

Haha would love that. Only problem is I'm all the way in Asia, the philippines to be exact. Just keep it as a gift from me! :D