I've never known a camera do this?

It really sounds like pictures are being stretched to fit a non native aspect ratio. Are there menu settings for different aspect ratios on your camera?

crn3371 wrote in post #12827975
It really sounds like pictures are being stretched to fit a non native aspect ratio. Are there menu settings for different aspect ratios on your camera?

Apparently, when searching for 'Samsung PL201 ratio' there is meant to be! But I can't find it on the camera... and the online manual doesn't help.

Are the following modes 'Super Fine, Fine and Normal' these ratios?

'Selecting image quality
The camera compresses and saves the photos you take in JPEG
format. Higher quality images result in larger file sizes.
1 In Shooting mode, press [].
2 Select Shooting → Quality → an option.
Option Description
Super Fine
Fine
Normal
The options may differ depending on the shooting mode'

^ From the manual.

GemmaLouise wrote in post #12828052
Are the following modes 'Super Fine, Fine and Normal' these ratios?

No. Somewhere in the menu are there options like "normal" "16x9" or "widescreen"?

No, Theres nothing like that in the menu.

GemmaLouise wrote in post #12828052
Are the following modes 'Super Fine, Fine and Normal' these ratios?

Each screen has a native resolution. 1440x900 for example. If you use the wrong one images will look warped. If it was the native resolution every image and even Wiondows itself would be warped. To test this find a perfect circle like a clock and view it. If it's egg shaped, your screens resolution is wrong.

It really sounds like a warped zoom effect your talking about, but without an example it's going to be hard to tell for sure.

I searched for Clock in google images and they appear fine, so Im assuming its not my screen? And it is in fact the camera.

I don't use the zoom function in my photos, the photos are taken fully zoomed out about a meter away from the subject.

GemmaLouise wrote in post #12828151
I searched for Clock in google images and they appear fine, so Im assuming its not my screen? And it is in fact the camera.

I don't use the zoom function in my photos, the photos are taken fully zoomed out about a meter away from the subject.

What mm?

14mp (4320 x 3240), Super Fine. I don't know the mm.

GemmaLouise wrote in post #12828151
I searched for Clock in google images and they appear fine, so Im assuming its not my screen? And it is in fact the camera.

I don't use the zoom function in my photos, the photos are taken fully zoomed out about a meter away from the subject.

Superfine/fine/normal.​..these are all file resoultion sizes. It is the size of the file that will be created w/ the corresponding compression. Superfine = less compression/bigger file size. normal = more compression/smaller file size. these have nothing to do w/ the problem you are experiencing

This is the last time I'm suggesting this....step back 3 meters from the subject, zoom the lens to fill the frame & take a picture. If you don't zoom becaues you don't want to, then that's going to be your problem. Zoom the lens, take a pic, report back.

I'm done trying to help you out w/ this if you choose to ignore my suggestions as you've ignored everything i've said about zooming & the file size/resolution so far

GemmaLouise wrote in post #12827660
I don't have a photo to hand atm. The monitor is a Dell 20 inch one... Using it at display setting 1280x768.

How do I change the ratio setting on an camera? Im told this could be the problem.

Until you can give us the information requested and show us photos there's not much point speculating what's going on.

GemmaLouise wrote in post #12828151
I don't use the zoom function in my photos, the photos are taken fully zoomed out about a meter away from the subject.

So you are using the zoom at the widest position? If you shoot very wideangle close to your subject (such as a meter away) you are going to introduce perspective distortion into your images, this may well be your problem. If you post an image showing the problem, we can get a much better idea what is happening, until then we are just guessing.

As Josx2 has suggested, move further back and zoom in to get the same framing, that will get rid of the perspective distortion (if that is the problem).

People are trying to help you, but you do need to try out their suggestions and post an image or two to help them out.

Ok, forget about fine, superfine, etc. Your camera has a zoom lens. You push a button and it brings things closer. Push it the other way and things get farther away. Do you have this problem no matter how you have things zoomed? Do you have this problem regardless if your subject is 3 feet away, or 30 feet away?

Thank you so much to you guys who have tried your best to help me with this problem, its appreciated! I returned the camera, as even if it was a case of me just having to zoom in its not really appropriate for self taking of pictures when out with friends. I was told by the person in the store that its possible the fact its 14 mp and my older one is 10 mp and appeared fine could be the problem, that the 14 mp pictures would look different on the computer screen in comparison....

Still I don't think it was right, the photos reminded me of when in a fairground fun house mirror!