Why low resolution if I have it set at....

[scrappyethel]

I have a Sony A200 DSLR and I have it set at the highest setting of 10.2 megapixels but when I take the pics load to PS then the resolution is listed at 72 resolution? Why? I always thought that the highest setting would result in higher resolution of the ;pic? I plan on enlarging the pics and want a better resolution, what do I do? thanks in advance.

[sybren]

There are many interpretations of the word "resolution". The 72 you see is the "pixels per inch" resolution that is in use when you were to print the photo. It is a translation of the abstract "pixel" to a physical size.

The "resolution" you expect is the number of pixels, which is the width x height of the image in pixels. This is 10.2 million pixels in your case.

Be sure to remember which "resolution" you're thinking about. There are even more meanings of the word that I've explained here.

[tjphoto]

Not really sure with sony,but cant you shoot in raw?and what programme are you using to add the images to your computer?When you see the 72 can you change it?
What size do you want to print anyway?I think they would print ok.Just not super large. Resolution buggers me up when I want to zoom in on screen to edit pixel by pixel.You should always shoot RAW.

[sybren]

Shooting in RAW, editing pixels or the software used aren't relevant. Scrappyethel is mixing up different meanings of the word "resolution".

[tjphoto]

Yeah, I wasn't quite clear on what he was asking.that's why I have 20 Questions.

[k9mom]

Originally Posted by scrappyethel

I have a Sony A200 DSLR and I have it set at the highest setting of 10.2 megapixels but when I take the pics load to PS then the resolution is listed at 72 resolution? Why? I always thought that the highest setting would result in higher resolution of the ;pic? I plan on enlarging the pics and want a better resolution, what do I do? thanks in advance.

Your camera, at 10.2mp, can output a maximum of 3872 x 2592 pixel image (in-camera setting "L", for "large" size file.). Some cameras translate this at 72 dpi, some at 180, some at 350...depending on the camera...but will change the effective print or document size to maintain the 3872 x 2592 pixel dimensions. For example, I have a Canon 40D which also has a 10.2 mp sensor, but when I open up the file in Photoshop, click on the menu "Image"---> "Image Size", the dialog box records my file size as 350 pixels/inch with an 11.109 in. x 7.406 in. document (print) size (for landscape orientation). Multiplying 350 pixels/inch x 11.063 in = 3872 pixels and 350 x 7.406 = 2592. Thus, if your camera's large sized files are opening in Photoshop at 72 pixels/inch, then the corresponding document/print size should be 3872 / 72 = 53.778 in. and 2592 / 72 = 36 in. So the 3872 x 2592 pixel dimension is the same for both cameras (roughly). You can change the pixels/inch setting for your image files in any image editing program and so long as you adjust the print/document size accordingly to maintain the same pixel dimensions, your image will not lose any resolution in the process.