The EasyShare V570 introduces
a novel concept for a digital camera: the use of two lenses
and two CCDs, thereby increasing the possible focal range
packed in a slim camera. Using a very short 3.8 mm lens that
yields a field of view equivalent to a 23 mm on a 35 mm camera,
Kodak brings the much prized wide angle of larger cameras
to a super compact digital; and using a 3X zoom, provides
an additional focal length range that is equivalent to a 39
to 117 mm.
Aperture: f4.1; shutter
speed: 1/500 sec, 64 ISO.
Albeit ideal to capture photos
indoor, or of wide vistas, the 23 mm lens, however, is not
without some drawbacks.
Aperture: f4.4,
shutter speed: 1/500 sec, 64 ISO.
Like all super-wide lenses,
in addition to having some barrel distortion, the 23 mm elongates
the image towards the outer edges. While the camera processes
the image internally to minimize barrel distortion, not much
can be done about the linear distortion that occurs on the
edges of the frame. With most subjects this distortion is
inconsequential, but it can be more problematic if the photo
is of a group of people, as those that happen to be imaged
close to the edges of the frame will appear to have gained
quite a bit of weight...
Another drawback is that the wide
angle lens yields a noticeably soft focus image, something that
may well be emphasized by the strong compression used to store
the images. Indeed, the V570, which provides no user control
over the compression, commonly compresses photo at ratios of
14:1, and which can reach levels of over 20:1 if the subject
lends itself to it. These high compression ratios lower the
definition of the images the V570 yields in comparison to other
5-megapixel cameras that use a less draconian compression.
As noted above, the second
lens of the V570 covers a range that starts at the equivalent
of a 39 mm, and which extends to 117 mm.
Using the wide end of the zoom, some barrel distortion can
be seen in macro mode, however, the distortion is not easily
detectable with more distant subjects. Moreover, the lens
exhibits no chromatic aberration from wide to telephoto, and
has no pincushion distortion at the telephoto end.
Aperture: f4.4; shutter
speed: 1/125 sec, 80 ISO.
Another unusual feature of the
V570 is the built-in panoramic mode. Accessed as part of the
Scene modes, the Panoramic mode is able to stitch a series
of three images captured either from left to right, or from
right to left, directly in the camera, saving the stitched
image while discarding the originals.
As with many panoramic modes, the process involves capturing
the first image whose edge is then presented by the camera
semi-transparently, so it can be aligned over the monitor
image to capture the next image, thereby ensuring a sufficient
overlap to allow the stitching program to work.
This panorama
is captured using the 39 mm focal length and a tripod. The image
has been stitched in two places, each 1/3 of the way across
the frame. While the first seam is almost undetectable, the
second, closer to the right side of the panorama, exhibits some
ghosting and a darker hue.
Using the wide angle end of the
3X zoom, the resulting images are quite good. More of a problem,
the monitor is difficult to see outdoors under a sunny sky
— ideal conditions to capture a panorama — and
overlapping the ends of the images accurately can be quite
difficult, even with the help of a tripod to steady the camera.
While the camera will accept capturing a panoramic image
using the 23 mm lens, results tend to be poor since the distortion
imparted by the lens makes it nearly impossible to get perfect
overlaps.
Aperture: f4.4; shutter
speed: 1/400 sec, 64 ISO.
Irrespective of the lens in
use, and in turn of the sensor, the V570 has a sensitivity
range that covers from 64 to 800 ISO. However, only the range
of 64 to 400 ISO, is available at all image sizes, the 800
ISO level being limited to the 1.8MP image size (1552 x 1164
pixels).
At 64 and 100 ISO, the images only show noise in shadow areas.
But from the 200 ISO level onwards, noise is clearly visible,
even in photos captured outdoors under bright sunlight. Moreover,
although processed for noise reduction, noise remains clearly
visible in 400 and 800 ISO images.
Used indoors, the 23 mm lens
is able to capture a spacious room easily. However the best
results are obtained when there is plenty of natural light,
and when the sensitivity is set to 64 or 100 ISO, even if
that entails using a tripod to steady the camera.
The alternative, using the 23 mm lens with the flash and
Auto ISO, can be very disappointing. With the flash, the camera
boosts the sensitivity to 200 ISO to help the tiny flash but
captures noise as well, which when combined with the strong
compression and the soft focus of the wide angle, tend to
produce a poor quality image.
Aperture: f4.1; shutter
speed: 1/320 sec, 64 ISO.
Aperture: f4.4; shutter
speed: 1/640 sec, 64 ISO.
(Marmots waiting to cross a road.)
The Kodak V570 yields its
best images with well-lit outdoor subjects. The Multi-pattern
metering is good at handling complex scenes, and usually produces
well-balanced exposures. Similarly, the Auto white balance
setting is trustworthy, and produces accurate colours under
most outdoor light conditions ranging from direct sun to overcast.
Still, even with photos captured under ideal conditions,
the images tend not to look as good when seen on a monitor,
as they do when printed.
If the V570 is
not one of the fastest cameras around, its dual lenses clearly
make it an interesting camera that offers a flexibility that
is not common with ultra compact cameras. Regrettably, this
potential is undermined to some extent by an overly strong
compression, a sensitivity to noise, and an underpowered flash.
This said, in our opinion, if the V570's images are printed
out to no more than a 10 x 7.5 inch size, the results should
satisfy most people.
Image Quality
