20D resolution

[Digital Louie]

When I download images from my 20D onto my computer, all of them (under PS Image size) show a resolution of 72. When I shot with a Nikon they downloaded at 300 resolution. Could someone explain why or if I need to make a change to PS or the camera to get a higher resolution? I want to print some of the images but I'm afraid to at 72.
Thanks

[drisley]

That number is really arbitrary.
All that matters is the actual size of the image.

[robertwgross]

That number is really arbitrary.
All that matters is the actual size of the image.

"Size" is an ambiguous term to many people.

With the 20D, the sensor captures 3504 x 2336 pixels. That is what counts! The camera arbitrarily sets a figure in there for DPI, but that does not mean anything to the camera.

Once you get the image into a photo editor, then you can change the DPI number to be 300 or 72 or anything. By the same token, you can set a dimensional size for a print, if you want. You can resample up or down to make pixels agree with DPI and inches, if you want. But, the camera doesn't really care about DPI.

---Bob Gross---

[tim]

Can we get this put in the sticky for this forum? Get it written well once then just tell people where to find the information.

[robertwgross]

Tim, part of the problem is that newcomers to this forum do not instinctively look at Stickies.

Stickies? What the hell is that?

If the forum was organized into a FAQ section (Frequently Asked Questions), then they could find their answers easier. FAQ is a commonly used term around the net.

Stickies?

To make it further complicated, the Stickies are spread out among the different forum sections. A newcomer is likely to have trouble sorting out whether he sould look here or look there, so he just posts some question... perhaps the same question that gets asked here over and over several times a week. <sigh>

---Bob Gross---

[tim]

Stickies = sticky thread.

Like I said, once the information is well written an we all know where to find it we can just post a link to it rather than explaining it over and over.

Apologies for not just answering your question Shawn, I think it's more worthwhile to get the question and answer sorted out once rather than explaining it three times per week.

[robertwgross]

Sticky thread?

What the hell is that?

I know they stick to the top of the forum section, but the average newcomer wandering in here with a basic question is more likely to look for FAQ.

---Bob Gross---