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 pop-up flash of the DiMAGE A2 provides an even coverage of
the subject, and there is not noticeable light falloff in the
corners of the frame. For these still life images, the camera
is set to 100 ISO so as to produce a slightly brighter image.
Photo
Information
Format:
RAW
Aperture:
f2.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/50 sec
Resolution:
3264 x 2448
Flash:
On
Quality:
Uncompressed
ISO:
100
File Size:
11.6 MB (RAW)
Focal Lgth:
28 mm (35mm Eq.)
The RAW image format is used and
the image is then processed with the "as shot" settings
and saved as a 48-bit TIFF file, creating a large image file
(45.8 MB) to ensure the highest image quality possible.
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.
This zoom shot was also captured with the A2's RAW file format, and once
processed, was saved as a TIFF file.
To ensure precise focus, the manual focus mode is used. The resulting image
is very well-lit, and shows excellent sharpness.
The macro mode of the A2 is engaged with a switch located on the lens barrel.
Marks on the zoom ring indicate the point at which the macro mode can be
engaged.
The greatest magnification occurs when the zoom is at the telephoto setting
(200mm). Then, the lens captures a field of view of approximately 5.5cm
(2.14 in.) when measured horizontally.
In addition, unlike the wide angle
macro mode which emphasizes barrel distortion, the telephoto
end of the lens is distortion-free.
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 28mm wide angle of the A2 captures a large field of view,
and has very little barrel distortion. The exposure the camera
captures is bright and there is no visible chromatic aberration.
Left to its default settings, the focus tends to be a touch soft, and this
image benefits from a slightly increased sharpness.
Photo
Information
Format:
TIFF
Aperture:
f5.6
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/200 sec
Resolution:
3264 x 2448
Flash:
Off
Quality:
No compression
ISO:
64
File Size:
23.5 MB
Focal Lgth:
28 mm (35mm
Eq.)
ZOOM PHOTO
Equipped with a zoom that is equivalent to a 200mm lens at the telephoto
end, the A2 is able to image fairly distant subjects quite clearly. As
with the wide angle shot above, photos captured with the lens set to infinity
tend to be crisper if the sharpness setting of the camera is set to "hard".
With this subject, a very slight bit of pincushion distortion can be detected
in the vertical image elements that are near the edges of the frame.
Photo
Information
Format:
TIFF
Aperture:
f3.5
Expo:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/125 sec
Res:
3264 x 2448
Flash:
Off
Quality:
No compression
ISO:
64
File Size:
23.5 MB
Focal Lgth:
200 mm (35mm
Eq.)
NIGHT PHOTO
Since this camera is capable of long exposures,
a photo taken at night is included here.
Aperture: f2.8; speed:
15 sec, 64 ISO.
30 seconds is the maximum exposure
time for the DiMAGE A2, and it is available with Program, Aperture
and Shutter priority, or the Manual modes.
Set to a sensitivity of 64 ISO, and with an 15 second exposure at f2.8 — sufficient
for this subject — the A2 captures an excellent photo. Noise reduction
is applied by the camera if it is enabled in the menu, and as usual the
process doubles the exposure time.
Like other such systems, it uses
the noise captured over a same duration second exposure to eliminate
it from the first.
We note that the image sharpness is a bit on the soft side. However, it
is difficult to know with complete certainty if in this case the soft focus
is due to a less than perfect sharpness at infinity, or to the noise reduction
process which also softens the contours of objects in the image.
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Test Photos
