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 built-in pop-up flash of the Z712 IS is powerful enough
to help light the subject very evenly at 64 ISO, the lowest
sensitivity of the camera.
The Program mode elects the camera's biggest aperture to
maximize the light available to the CCD, and the result is
a slightly soft focus image whose details are further softened
by the compression — a touch over 10:1 — used
to store the photo.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f 2.8
Exposure:
Multi-segment
Shutter Speed:
1/30 sec
Resolution:
3072 x 2304
Flash:
On
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
64
File Size:
1.93 MB
Focal Length:
36 mm (eq. 35
mm)
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.
At the full telephoto magnification the zoom offers, the
Z712 IS is able to capture a superb level of detail and applies
a lower compression than with the wide angle shot —
a ratio of 7:1 — revealing the sharpness of the lens
at the telephoto end. The image is noise-free, sharp from
edge to edge, and shows no pincushion distortion.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4.8
Exp:
Multi-segment
Shutter Spd:
1/50 sec.
Res:
3072 x 2304
Flash:
On
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
64
File
Size:
2.82 MB
Focal Lgth:
432 mm (eq. 35
mm)
Aperture: f8, shutter speed:
1/25 sec., 64 ISO.
MACRO PHOTO
The Macro mode of the Z712 IS can focus on a subject that
is between 12 and 60 cm (4.7 to 23.7 inches) at the wide angle
end, and 60 to 130 cm (23.4 to 51.2 inches) when the lens
is at the telephoto end. Interestingly, while the wide end
of the zoom captures a field of view of 11.7 cm (4.56 inches),
the zoom can be used partially — up to the equivalent
of 78 mm — while the camera remains at the same distance
from the subject, making it possible to capture a field of
view of 6.6 cm (2.57 inches).
Using the zoom to the 78 mm equivalent
position offers therefore a double advantage, narrowing the
field of view captured by the camera, but also avoiding the
barrel distortion that can be seen in images captured at the
wide end of the zoom and in macro 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.
Unlike with macro subjects, with standard subjects, barrel
distortion is usually not intrusive. Still, the image sharpness
is a bit less at that focal length than it is throughout the
rest of the zoom's range, and the soft focus can be reinforced
by the use of the widest aperture, f2.8.
Seen on a monitor at 100%, a slight chromatic aberration
can be seen under the edges of the building's beams in the
high contrast areas.
The exposure, established by the default Multi metering,
is excellent.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f2.8
Exposure:
Multi-segment
Shutter Speed:
1/640 sec.
Resolution:
3072 x 2304
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
64
File Size:
2.71 MB
Focal Length:
36 mm (eq. 35
mm)
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.
The 12X optically stabilized zoom is the only way a shot
as sharp as this can be captured short of mounting a camera
on a tripod. The stabilization system — set to Single
mode since it is more effective than the Continuous mode —
absorbs the involuntary movements of the photographer, allowing
for a crisp image.
The metering yields an excellent exposure that avoids any
overexposure of the very bright foreground.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4.8
Exp:
Multi-segment
Shutter Spd:
1/160 sec.
Res:
3072 x 2304
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
64
File Size:
1.53 MB
Focal Lgth:
432 mm (eq. 35
mm)
NIGHT PHOTO
Since this camera is capable of long exposures,
a photo taken at night is included here.
The Kodak Z712 IS has a maximum exposure time of 16 seconds.
Set to the Manual mode, this exposure time is able to capture
bright night time images, even at the lowest sensitivity of
64 ISO.
Aperture: f5.6; shutter
speed: 16 sec., 64 ISO.
Moreover, since the user can
increase the ISO value, sensitivities up to 400 ISO can be
used, although there is a tendency for the image to take on
a painting-like appearance once processed for noise.
The Kodak Z712 IS uses a dark frame noise reduction system,
doubling the time required per exposure as the camera captures
a second image with the same exposure time as the first, but
without opening the shutter, so it can use the noise gathered
over the course of the second exposure to subtract it from
the first.
An aperture of f5.6 and an exposure
time of 16 seconds is sufficient to capture a bright image
of the distant waterfront of the city using the full power
of the zoom.
As always with long-zoom cameras that are equipped with an
optical or CCD stabilization system, the system must be turned
off when the camera is mounted on a tripod.
Compare Prices for Kodak KLIC-8000 1600MAH LI-ION Camera Battery
Test Photos
