JPEG Image Size & Quality

The IXUS 330 provides three image resolution options (1600 x 1200, 1024 x 768, 640 x 480) in combination with three JPEG compression settings (Super-Fine, Fine, Normal). Note that the IXUS 330 doesn't have a RAW or TIFF uncompressed option.

Standard Test Scene

To give an impression of what some of the combinations of image size and quality produce the table below is a cross reference of some of them:

• 1600 x 1200 Super-Fine
• 1600 x 1200 Fine
• 1600 x 1200 Normal
• 1280 x 960 Super-Fine
• 640 x 480 Super-Fine

Images below are cropped 240 x 100 area of the image magnified 200% (nearest neighbour). The new detail below the resolution name (n bpp) refers to the JPEG compression level used, bpp stands for 'bits per pixel'.

	1600 x 1200
S.Fine (5 bpp)	977 KB
Fine (3 bpp)	612 KB
Norm. (2 bpp)	299 KB
	1024 x 768
S.Fine (5 bpp)	463 KB
	640 x 480
S.Fine (5 bpp)	202 KB

As we've come to expect Canon's "Super-Fine" JPEG mode provides TIFF-like quality in a JPEG file. At 5 bits per pixel it's a lower compression than most other manufacturers lowest compression JPEG mode (typically 4 bits per pixel). Granted, these JPEG's are large (file size) at their resolution but large CF cards are now relatively inexpensive and the pay-off are images with no JPEG artifacts.

Photo Effects

The IXUS 300 (S300) had only one photo effect, Black & White. The IXUS 330 now has a selection of five photo effects (similar to what we first saw on the S30/S40). These provide different "looks" to your final image or give you the ability to produce a more neutral (Neutral) or less sharpened (Low Sharpening) look.

Colour / Tone Effects

Off	Vivid	Neutral
Sepia	Black & White

Sharpening Effect

Normal	Low Sharpening