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.
Set to its defaults and using the Auto shooting mode,
the V550 yields a good exposure, but a very slight loss of
brightness — light falloff — is detectable in
the corners of the frame of wide angle shots.
With the CCD sensitivity set to Auto, the camera increases
the ISO of the CDD to 125 to increase the effect of the flash
and the brightness of the image.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f 2.8
Exposure:
Auto
Shutter Speed:
1/40 sec.
Resolution:
2576 x 1932
Flash:
On
Quality:
5MP
ISO:
80
File Size:
832 KB
Focal Length:
36 mm (eq. 35mm)
The alternative is to set sensitivity
to 80 ISO which minimizes noise, and add an exposure compensation
setting of +0.7 EV to brighten up the image, yielding an even-lit
image.
Sharpness and detail however are bit compromised by the relatively
strong compression used to store the image.
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.
The telephoto shot is also captured using 80 ISO and, in
this case, an exposure compensation setting of +1EV to increase
the brightness of the image. Still, the telephoto image remains
a touch darker than that wide angle shot. Moreover, the slightly
darker image changes the brightness of the colours in the
image in comparison to those of the wide angle shot, although
their hue remains accurate.
At the telephoto setting, the effect of the compression is
not as detectable as it is with the wide angle shot, and more
details remain visible.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4.8
Exp:
Auto
Shutter Spd:
1/60 sec.
Res:
2576 x 1932
Flash:
On
Quality:
5MP
ISO:
80
File
Size:
1,017 KB
Focal Lgth:
108 mm (eq. 35mm)
CLOSE-UP PHOTO
The Macro mode of the V550 allows the camera to focus on
a subject that is between 5 and 70 cm (1.95 to 27.3 inches)
from the front of the lens when the zoom is set to the wide
angle end, and from 40 to 70 cm (15.6 to 27.3 inches)
when the zoom is at its maximum telephoto setting.
At the closest distance to the subject, the field of view
captured by the camera is approximately 6 cm (2.34 inches)
while at the maximum telephoto setting the field of view is
approximately 13.8 cm (5.38 inches)
The excellent colour rendition of
the V550 allows capturing very good macro shots but care has
to be taken to not emphasize the barrel distortion that can
become noticeable with this mode.
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 V550 captures a well-exposed photo and even the very
bright paved area in the foreground of the building is exposed
correctly. The image reveals no chromatic aberration, nor
with this subject, any noticeable barrel distortion.
The colours the camera captures are very faithful but the
sharpness is here again slightly lowered by the strong compression.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f2.8
Exposure:
Auto
Shutter Speed:
1/640 sec.
Resolution:
2576 x 1932
Flash:
Off
Quality:
5MP
ISO:
80
File Size:
1.17 MB
Focal Length:
36 mm (eq. 35mm)
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.
Zooming in, the image reveals a reasonable level of detail
in the shadow areas, and avoids any serious overexposure of
the foreground.
Still, the compression — the strength of which cannot
be controlled by the user — is quite strong as can be
seen by the file size, approximately 1/14 of what it would
be if it were uncompressed.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4.8
Exp:
Auto
Shutter Spd:
1/200 sec.
Res:
2576 x 1932
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
80
File Size:
991 KB
Focal Lgth:
108 mm (eq. 35mm)
NIGHT PHOTO
Since this camera is capable of long exposures, a photo taken at night
is included here.
Aperture: f3.2; shutter
speed: 8 sec., 80 ISO, 45 mm (35 mm eq.).
Both the Auto and the
Custom modes of the V550 allow the user to select an
exposure time as long as 8 seconds once the Long Time Exposure
option has been activated in the menu. This makes it possible
to capture images such as the one presented here of a well-lit
urban scene.
Using the Long Time Exposure mode automatically sets
the CCD sensitivity to Auto, however the camera forces it
down to 80 ISO to minimize noise.
The Auto shooting mode —
as well as the Custom mode — also allow setting the
white balance to Tungsten (incandescent) which can be helpful
to capture more realistic colours under artificial light.
The V550 is equipped with a dark frame noise reduction system.
The system captures a second frame of the same duration after
a along exposure, but without opening the shutter. The noise
captured over the course of the second exposure is then used
to reduce the noise captured with the first exposure. While
the system is effective, it does engender an additional loss
of sharpness, which is visible when the image is seen at full
scale on a monitor.
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Test Photos
