I've a new SP-570U. How do I set it to take pictures greater than 72 DPI?

It doesn't matter whether I'm shooting in JPG or RAW, image size doesn't matter, everything is 72 DPI. I've spent hours trying to figure this out to no avail. I've been through all settings, the manual, the Olympus site, etc. Thanks for your help.

I'd first reset the camera (setting menu). That'll bring it back to factory specs. Then, go into the camera settings menu and select IMAGE QUALITY. Then you can select the proper image quality and size. (Pg 34 manual) However, I'd also check your card. If you're card is too small, 72DPI may be the only option available when shooting uncompressed. Try a larger card and see if that works for you.

I just read that go to Photoshop. Open picture, Go to Imag, Resize. Change the resolution from 72 to the size you want. Dunno if this works, but seems logical. Do you noise? Dunno that either.

72dpi is the theoretical Dots Per Inch resolution of a computer monitor and hence the photo when displayed at 100% in something like Photoshop. It bears NO RELATION WHAT SO EVER to the size you can print it out at or the pixel count.

When you print the photo this 72dpi figure is discarded and the printer prints at it's maximum DPI an interpolated interpretation of your photo, and considering the high pixel count of most modern cameras this results in fantastically fine detailed prints on a capable photo printer.

Worry not.

This camera takes images at various resolutions (measured in pixel dimensions)
640 x 480 • 2560 x 1920 • 2304 x 1728 • 2048 x 1536 • 1600 x 1200 • 1280 x 960 • 1920 x 1080 • 3648 x 2736. The top resolution is 10 megapixels. If you print it out into an 8" X 10" sheet, you will have a printed resolution of over 300 DPI, if your printer allows it. If you print out a 640 X 480 resolution image on a 4" X 6" sheet, you might get something to 120 DPI.

None of images produced by the camera (or any other camera) is inherently 72 DPI. Some computer monitors display digital images at a default setting of 72 DPI. That's why you have to scroll across around 3 monitor widths to see all the images from some of the higher megapixel cameras.

A 10 megapixel image from a compact camera is the same size as a 10 megapixel image from a bridge (mostly superzoom) camera and the same as the image from a 10 megapixel DSLR. However, a top DSLR with a good lens will have perhaps sharper images or much better quality (low noise) images at high ISO settings. I have a Fuji F50, a 12 megapixel compact camera. The Canon XSi is a 12 megapixel camera, too. However, the sensors on DSLR's are much, much bigger than the sensors on digicams. Hence, the superior picture quality, especially in low light, no flash settings.

DPI is utterly meaningless in the context of taking digital photos. The only difference between a 1600x1200 image recorded "at 72dpi" and a 1600x1200 image recorded "at 300dpi" is that there's a little code in one that says "72" and in the other it says "300". The contents of the files are otherwise identical, and in the hands of a competent tech will produce identically good prints.