Canon Powershot SX30is

[smnj]

I'm an amateur photo buff and recently bought the PS SX30is. I love the camera but noticed lately that when I download the photos on my laptop the files are only between 145 to 250kb. I have the camera set to the biggest photo size. What am I doing wrong.

Thanks.

[inkista]

The numbers in your manual are just an average guide, assuming an average scene. Depending on how well the image fit the JPEG compression algorithm, though, it could create for a smaller file.

As long as you're set at L-Fine, you're at the highest quality setting. (Fine => least compression, highest quality).

JPEG compression works by a "near-neighbor" algorithm. Colors that are very similar to each other are encoded to be the same color to save space in the color map for the image (fewer colors => fewer values => less space). If your picture is mostly the same color, the compression will be much higher.

I agree, though, that those sizes are unusually small, and more like what you'd get with the M or S sizes. Does the image look ok when you open it up?

[smnj]

I use the photos for work, for photo simulation. I need the bigger file/photo size. I just couldn't wrap my head around as to why it saves in a much smaller file than what the camera is set for. I guess I have to read and learn some more and keep taking photos. The photos look great but looks grainy when printed/enlarged.

[smnj]

I forgot to add that when I first got the camera, the saved photos downloaded in the correct file size. Then about a month ago it started saving it in smaller file size. I don't think I changed the settings. So trying to figure out what I could've inadvertently changed in the setting.