You can acomplise two things at once if you use thumbnails, then click on them to blow them up to show detail. Use a thumbnail that is pleasing to the eye with ability to see most detail and large number of chips per page. Then when you click on the image you can get a large much detailed image (the site will contain 2 images 1 larg 1 small) As far as the compression you show I see little difference. It will begin to cramp your space quickly once you start loading up 100's of chips if you use the larger images. BTW ALL the scans look good.

If your site is like mine you will be busy and never satisfied. LOL I am still 'considering other options' of display.

ONE STRONG RECOMENDATION: Don't use that HIDEOUS picture of the tooth ferry!