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.
Only the pop-up flash of the DX6490 is used to provide fill light for this
shot, and the resulting exposure shows it provides a very even coverage
for the subject.
With a subject such as this, with a number of items containing lots of
details, the compression used for the best image format tends to blur the
smaller details.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f 2.8
Exposure:
Multi-segment
Shutter Speed:
1/45
Resolution:
2304 x 1728
Flash:
On
Quality:
Best
ISO:
80
File Size:
615 KB
Focal Length:
38 mm (35mm Equiv.)
The compression's effect can be seen
in the texture of the faded red felt that is part of the wooden
frame, and the letters on the photo paper envelope at right.
ZOOM PHOTO
Now we zoom in on the centre of the image above to gauge the
sharpness of the image at the zoom's maximum setting. The camera
remains at the same distance as in the preceding photo.
With its long zoom, the DX6490 is able to close in on the
old envelope for photographic paper.
Although the image is better and appears more detailed than
the wide angle shot, it too shows some of the effects of the
compression, most notably
in the red areas.
In macro mode the DX6490 allows photographing a subject 12
cm (4.7 in.) from the front of the lens in wide angle, but requires
at least 1.2m (3.9 ft.) at the maximum telephoto.
In terms of a field of view (horizontally) this translates to 14.5cm (5.65
in.) at the wide angle setting, and 13cm (5.1 in.) when the lens is at
the equivalent of 380mm.
However, at a distance of 12cm (4.7
in.), the zoom can be used partway, increasing the magnification
considerably. A sharp image can be had with the lens up to 11mm
(approx. equivalent to 70mm) and the field of view becomes reduced
to 9.5cm (3.07 in.), and avoids the slight barrel distortion
that can be seen at the widest angle.
The photo shown here is of a small bit of moss, photographed on a sheet
of white pare and lit by a halogen desk lamp. In this case, although the
subject is complex, the compression still reduces the file size to just
over 1MB, 1/10 of what an uncompressed 4 megapixel image would be.
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.
Exposures with the DX6490's multi-pattern system are consistently well-metered
and the Auto white balance is also reliable. This shot, which features
a rather ornamental crow, also shows that with many subjects, the strong
compression still yields a sharp image.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4
Exposure:
Multi-segment
Shutter Speed:
1/350
Resolution:
2304 x 1728
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Best
ISO:
80
File Size:
878 KB
Focal Length:
38mm (35mm Equiv.)
ZOOM PHOTO
Using the full power of the zoom, the camera frames the entrance of the
sunlit building, but the tinted glass and the shadows behind it cause the
shutter speed to drop to 1/30 sec. At the equivalent of 380mm, the low
shutter speeds make it quite difficult to capture a sharp image as the
slightest movement becomes amplified. The only solution is to brace the
camera, or use a tripod, which is what was done to capture this image.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f3.7
Exp:
Multi-segment
Shutter Spd:
1/30
Res:
2304 x 1728
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Best
ISO:
80
File Size:
875 KB
Focal Lgth:
380mm (35mm Eq.)
NIGHT PHOTO
Since this camera is capable of long exposures,
a photo taken at night is included here.
Using either shutter priority, or
in Manual mode, the DX6490 offers a maximum exposure time of
16 seconds. In addition, noise reduction is applied to all long
exposures.
The 2 photos shown here are captured with the camera mounted on a tripod,
and using the self timer to avoid any camera shake.
The first photo at left is taken with the lens set to wide angle.
Zooming in, the camera is able to
frame Canada Place, approximately 3.25 km away from the camera
position. With so much more light concentrated in the frame,
an aperture of f8 is used along with a 16 second exposure.
The resulting image is quite good, and as with the wide angle shot, is
effectively free of noise. The crop shown below is taken from the full-size
photo.
Test Photos
