Here are a few images that accurately reflect the abilities
of any given camera model. The images are altered only in
terms of size and sharpness after reduction and by the JPEG
compression used. Unless otherwise mentioned, assume that
any marbling or artifacts visible in the images are due to
the compression required to display them here. We feel however,
that they still faithfully represent the results we experienced.
STILL LIFE PHOTO
This subject is photographed in a room that has
a mix of fluorescent and incandescent light, but which is not
brightly lit. The camera's flash is used to add fill light.
The backdrop is 1.95 m (6.5 ft) from the camera.
The FinePix S7000 has the makings of a great camera, but the user is given
almost no choice in terms of image quality. Normally, one would expect
that the least compressed mode, or the RAW format for that matter, would
yield the highest image quality.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f2.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/60
Resolution:
4048
x 3040
Flash:
On
Quality:
12 M Fine
ISO:
200
File Size:
4.6MB
Focal Lgth:
35 mm (35mm Eq.)
Such is not the case with the S7000.
The least compressed format (Fine) and the RAW modes are both
interpolations. With the 12M Fine format, the heavy interpolation
is also heavily compressed, resulting in a poor quality image.
Interpolation artefacts can be seen around the text, and in the
red border of the cream coloured frame on the envelope, which
causes what should be a solid red line to appears as a dotted
line.
The image shown below is cropped
from a TIFF format file, the result of the conversion software
included with the S7000.
By definition, a RAW format should be the unprocessed output of a sensor,
in this case a 6.3 megapixel image, but instead the image is heavily interpolated,
a process that invents more pixels than are physically present on the sensor,
and which invariably degrades the image quality. In addition, the
resulting TIFF image has a file size of 35.3 MB, an impractical
image size for most uses, and is no better than the alternate 12M formats.
ZOOM PHOTO
Now we zoom in on a specific area. The intent
is to test the sharpness of the image at the zoom's maximum
setting. The camera remains at the same distance as with the
preceding photo.
Set to a 6 megapixel image size, the FinePix S7000 captures a much better
image, one that is noticeably sharper. Regrettably however, this image
size, which is closest to the number of pixels of the CCD, is only available
in the quite heavily compressed JPEG format.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f 8
Expo:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/60
Res:
2848
x 2136
Flash:
On
Quality:
6M Normal
ISO:
200
File Size:
1.53 MB
Focal Lgth:
210 mm (35mm
Eq.)
The section of the full image shown
below clearly demonstrates the image sharpness of the 6 megapixel
mode.
And as comparison, the cropped section shown below is taken from a 12 megapixel
RAW image that has been converted to TIFF.
Of the 2 Macro modes available on the S7000, the Super Macro
mode which has a minimum focus distance of 1 cm (0.39 in.) offers
the narrowest field of view, 3.4 cm (1.36 in.).
In this mode, the lens is locked at the wide angle position, and images
show noticeable barrel distortion.
With the standard Macro mode, a minimum
focus distance of 10 cm (3.9 in.) is necessary, but the zoom
can be used — up to 3.2X — to narrow the field of
view. At the maximum telephoto position allowed, the field of
view measures 6 cm (2.34 in.), and the image has no distortion.
BUILDING PHOTO
This image is our outdoor test. The architecture
of the building, in particular the angled girders, immediately
show the presence of jaggies. The shadowed entrance can also
often reveal the quality of the exposure.
In our opinion, the S7000 produces the sharpest image at the 6 megapixel
image size. Still, the image is strongly compressed, and the smaller details
tend to get softened noticeably.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f5
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/320
Resolution:
2848 x 2136
Flash:
Off
Quality:
6M Normal
ISO:
200
File Size:
1.63 MB
Focal Lgth:
35 mm (35mm Eq.)
ZOOM PHOTO
Photos captured at the maximum zoom position with the S7000 have very little
distortion. As can be seen in the image below, cropped from the full size
photo, the lens is obviously able to capture a lot of detail. Here, the
image clearly shows the little tag on the front door, and it is legible.
However, once again the finer details are blurred by the compression, and
the shadow noise that is always present in the S7000's image has been emphasized
by the compression.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/200
Resolution:
2848 x 2136
Flash:
Off
Quality:
6M Normal
ISO:
200
File Size:
1.52 MB
Focal Lgth:
210 mm (35mm
Eq.)
NIGHT PHOTO
Since this camera is capable of long exposures,
a photo taken at night is included here.
Aperture: f2.8; speed: 15 sec, 160 ISO.
At the S7000's lowest sensitivity
of 200 ISO, and with a 15 second exposure and an f8 aperture,
the camera captures a bright image.
As is often the case with Super CCD cameras, the colours of the S7000 are
excellent. The water for example is vivid green where it is lit by the
flood lights.
For this image, the S7000 is set to the 6 megapixel image size, to avoid
the interpolation artefacts of the 12 megapixel image size.
As mentioned, the
S7000 has no user selectable compression settings at all but
the interpolated image size. Also, as can be seen below, the
strong compression applied at the 6 megapixel image size tends
to lower the sharpness of an image.
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Test Photos
