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.
At the wide angle end, the HP R742 captures a well- lit image.
The image also exhibits relatively accurate colour tone as
the white balance — fully controlled by the camera —
is able to ascertain the correct white point, even with three
sources of light, fluorescent, incandescent and flash.
A fair amount of noise, both colour and shadow, can be detected
throughout the frame, however, and the overall sharpness is
on the soft side.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f2.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/60 sec.
Res:
3088 x 2320
Flash:
On
Quality:
7M Best
ISO:
100 (Auto)
File Size:
2.2 MB
Focal Lgth:
36 mm (35 mm Eq.)
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.
Zoomed in, the colour tone changes noticeably as the white
balance clearly has trouble finding the white point. As a
result, the image has a strong yellow cast. These shots, wide
and telephoto, were repeated numerous times with the same
colour variations.
As with the wide angle shot, the overall image sharpness
is only average, possibly as a result of the compression,
and noise — colour speckling — can be detected
in the shadows.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4.9
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/90 sec.
Res:
3088 x 2320
Flash:
On
Quality:
7M Best
ISO:
100
File Size:
2.65 MB
Focal Lgth:
108 mm (35 mm
Eq.)
Aperture: f3.3, shutter speed: 1/580 sec., 50 ISO,
Close up mode with flash forced off.
MACRO PHOTO
The Close up mode of the HP R742, selected through
the menu, allows the lens to focus on a subject that is 5
cm (1.95 in.) at the wide angle end. The zoom can be used
partially to further magnify the subject. The field of view
captured then measures approximately 4.7 cm (1.83 in.) horizontally.
The Close up mode does not disable the flash, so it must
be done manually as it is too bright to use with macro shots.
Incandescent light sources, as was noted above, strongly influence
the white balance and the camera yields a detailed, but yellow-tinted,
image.
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.
The building is captured on a mostly sunny day, but one which
still has some high white clouds as a backdrop. The metering
— a centre-weighted pattern according to the EXIF data
— yields an acceptable exposure. Still, some parts of
the building are a bit overexposed, particularly in the crown
area.
A strong chromatic aberration can also be seen, below the
girders that overhang the front of the building.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f2.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/160 sec.
Res:
3088 x 2320
Flash:
Off
Quality:
7M Best
ISO:
50
File Size:
2.2 MB
Focal Lgth:
36 mm (35 mm Eq.)
The image sharpness is a touch soft,
and some colour noise — colour marbling — can be
detected in the blue-green panels at the top of the building.
ZOOM PHOTO
Zooming in on the entrance of the building,
the shadowed entrance takes on a greater importance for the
metering and can cause an overexposure of sections that are
directly lit.
Zoomed in, the camera captures an image with a slightly
different colour tone as the one it captured at the wide angle
end. Still, the exposure is sufficiently accurate that the
small sign on the right front door is almost legible. As it
was with the wide angle shot shown above, some noise can be
detected, and the image also exhibits a slight fuzziness that
may well be the result of the JPEG compression process.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4.9
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/90 sec.
Res:
3088 x 2320
Flash:
Off
Quality:
7M Best
ISO:
50
File
Size:
2.03 MB
Focal Lgth:
108 mm (35 mm
Eq.)
NIGHT PHOTO
Since this camera is capable of long exposures,
a photo taken at night is included here.
The HP R742 records the light
source for this image as being "Tungsten", which
is correct. However, it still yields an image with a strong
yellow bias. As there are no user controls for white balance,
ISO, or exposure time on the R742, the user has to rely on
the camera's ability to make the correct choices. Regrettably,
that turns out to be a hit and miss affair, and one that is
more often than not, a miss.
The R742 offers a Night Portrait mode, but
it uses flash — which cannot be cancelled — making
it inappropriate for this rather brightly lit subject. Therefore,
the Auto mode is used.
Aperture: f2.8; shutter
speed: 1 sec, 200 ISO.
According to the scarce information
provided in the manual and otehr sources, the camera is capable
of a maximum 2 second exposure. However, it never elected
to use it for this shot, and instead increased sensitivity
to 200 ISO.
With such short exposure times, we were not able to determine
if noise reduction is applied to the image.
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Test Photos
