How to tell DPI a digital camera can produce before purchase?

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

davidg - 30 Oct 2007 01:33 GMT

I want to buy a digital camera that can produce publication quality,
digital images of at least 300DPI (Dots Per Inch) when 4-5 inches at
100-percent. How do I tell from the published specs of a digital
camera whether it should be able to do this?

David

Reply to this Message

Joel - 30 Oct 2007 02:03 GMT

> I want to buy a digital camera that can produce publication quality,
> digital images of at least 300DPI (Dots Per Inch) when 4-5 inches at
> 100-percent. How do I tell from the published specs of a digital
> camera whether it should be able to do this?
>
> David

No, you DO NOT need to find those information as it doesn't mean anything,
and you probably won't find any camera has default "300 PPI". You just need
to pay attention to the "PIXEL" and that will solve 1/2 of your quest.

It's sad that too many people reading wrong information to get wrong
expression .. and even sadder when those may spray the wrong knowledge to
others.

Reply to this Message

dooey - 30 Oct 2007 02:32 GMT

300dpi at 6x4 is 1800x1200. (6x300 and 4x300)

1800x1200=2160000 (2.2mp)

This tells you the resolution, even phones are more than 2.2 megapixels
these days. Whether the camera is "publication quality" is a whole different
story!

--
Dooey.

Reply to this Message

dj_nme - 30 Oct 2007 14:20 GMT

>>I want to buy a digital camera that can produce publication quality,
>>digital images of at least 300DPI (Dots Per Inch) when 4-5 inches at
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> --
> Dooey.

That is a reasonable guide ot the minimum comera sensor resolution for
4"x5" at 300ppi (Pixels Per Inch is for printed images, dpi is "Dot
PItch" on monitors or "Droplets Per Inch" for inkjet ink-nozzle density).
In my experience, it is much safer to go for at least twice the minimum
(about 5mp or 6mp for 4x5 @ 300ppi), as this then allows for cropping
and/or image enhancement/manipulation with minimal degradation in
printed image quality.
It's always better to buy "more" camera than you're totally sure you
need, rather than cursing the cheaper one after using it a few times.

Reply to this Message

ray - 30 Oct 2007 15:56 GMT

>>>I want to buy a digital camera that can produce publication quality,
>>>digital images of at least 300DPI (Dots Per Inch) when 4-5 inches at
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> and/or image enhancement/manipulation with minimal degradation in
> printed image quality.

IMHO - if you have to crop half the image, the photo was not properly
framed in the first place. Either you didn't have enough lens or . . .

> It's always better to buy "more" camera than you're totally sure you
> need, rather than cursing the cheaper one after using it a few times.

Reply to this Message

dj_nme - 31 Oct 2007 01:15 GMT

>>>>I want to buy a digital camera that can produce publication quality,
>>>>digital images of at least 300DPI (Dots Per Inch) when 4-5 inches at
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> IMHO - if you have to crop half the image, the photo was not properly
> framed in the first place. Either you didn't have enough lens or . . .

...You took a panoramic picture in a single shot and then cropped it to
suit.
There is no single & simple correct answer.

Reply to this Message

Ron Recer - 30 Oct 2007 21:15 GMT

>I want to buy a digital camera that can produce publication quality,
> digital images of at least 300DPI (Dots Per Inch) when 4-5 inches at
> 100-percent. How do I tell from the published specs of a digital
> camera whether it should be able to do this?
>
> David

DPI has to do with printers and has little to do with camera mega pixels.
For instance I often print 8.5"x11" photos using 4800x1200 DPI with images
that are 2650x2048 pixels. With a good printer (at least 1200x1200 DPI) and
decent images you get good results with 200-300 pixels per inch.

Ron

Ron

Reply to this Message