JPEG/RAW Image Size & Quality

The G3 provides four image size options in combination with three JPEG quality settings. On top of this you have the a RAW format (losslessly compressed) which contains the RAW data as it comes off the CCD sensor (unprocessed).

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:

• 2272 x 1704 RAW
• 2272 x 1704 Super-Fine
• 2272 x 1704 Fine
• 2272 x 1704 Normal
• 1600 x 1200 Super-Fine
• 1024 x 768 Super-Fine
• 640 x 480 Super-Fine

Images below are cropped 240 x 100 area of the image magnified 200% (nearest neighbour).

	2272 x 1704
RAW	4,303 KB Canon RAW (.CRW) - not available for download
Super Fine JPEG	1,996 KB
Fine JPEG	1,222 KB
Normal JPEG	580 KB
	1600 x 1200
Super Fine JPEG	1,071 KB
	1024 x 768
Super Fine JPEG	466 KB
	640 x 480
Super Fine JPEG	214 KB

As noted in previous reviews of Canon PowerShot digital cameras the provided 'Super-Fine JPEG' option delivers almost TIFF-like image quality with virtually no JPEG artifacts or loss of detail. Higher compression levels (Fine, Normal) do begin to introduce some slight JPEG artifacts but nothing you would see at 100% zoom. Obviously the ability to shoot RAW (and now to selectively switch to RAW format during record review) is a big plus for the G3 and gives you far more post-processing flexibility than some other prosumer digital cameras.