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 50 ISO, the lowest sensitivity level, the flash is still
able to cover a wide area, and the subject is very uniformly
lit. The wide angle end of the zoom provides a wide field of
view and the aspheric lens elements used in the construction
of the lens help it yield a nearly distortion-free image.
Photo
Information
Format:
RAW
Aperture:
f2.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/50 sec
Resolution:
3264 x 2448
Flash:
On
Quality:
Uncompressed
ISO:
50
File Size:
11.6 MB
Focal Lgth:
28 mm (35mm Eq.)
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.
With the 7X zoom at its maximum, the A200 captures a small section of the
scene. The flash is quite efficient, the subject is imaged very clearly
and the image shows no noise.
The sharpness setting is left at its default, and the RAW file is processed
using the settings of the camera.
Photo
Information
Format:
RAW
Aperture:
f3.5
Expo:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/200 sec
Res:
3264 x 2448
Flash:
On
Quality:
Uncompressed
ISO:
50
File Size:
11.6 MB
Focal Lgth:
200 mm (35mm
Eq.)
Aperture: f5; shutter
speed: 1/2 sec., 50 ISO.
MACRO PHOTO
In Macro mode, the A200 produces an image with the narrowest
field of view when the zoom is at the maximum telephoto setting.
At this setting, the camera captures a field of view of 5.1 cm
(2 inch), when measured horizontally.
The other macro position, at the wide angle end of the zoom, yields a much
larger field of view measuring over 30cm (12 inches), which also shows
some barrel distortion.
Because it offers an Aperture Priority
mode that provides control over the depth of field, the DiMAGE
A200 is capable of capturing excellent macro shots. However,
with a small aperture to maximize the depth of field, shutter
speeds can be quite low and the use of a tripod — or a
mini-tripod as was used for the image presented here — is
advisable.
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.
One of the advantages of a wide angle corresponding to a 28mm
equivalent is that it is possible to capture a very broad field
of view, as can be seen in the image at right. A very wide angle
such as this, is not only useful to photograph buildings, houses
and landscapes, it is also useful indoors.
Moreover, the zoom of the A200 is free of any chromatic aberration, and
yields sharp images.
Photo
Information
Format:
RAW
Aperture:
f5
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/160 sec
Resolution:
3264 x 2448
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Uncompressed
ISO:
50
File Size:
11.6 MB (RAW)
Focal Lgth:
28 mm (35mm
Eq.)
ZOOM PHOTO
At the telephoto end, the Anti-shake system performs well and allows the
camera to be handheld at shutter speeds that are generally considered to
be too low for a long telephoto lens.
Just like the wide angle shot above, the image shows no distortion and
no chromatic aberration.
The colours however are a touch too muted when set to the default setting
of "Natural". When shooting most JPEGs, the Vivid colour setting
yields images that are more vibrant and which have snappier colours without
being overly saturated.
Photo
Information
Format:
RAW
Aperture:
f3.5
Expo:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/125 sec
Res:
3264 x 2448
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Uncompressed
ISO:
50
File Size:
11.6 MB (RAW)
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: f3.5; speed:
6 sec, 50 ISO.
The A200 has an extremely flexible
shutter speed range and is capable of a maximum exposure of 30
seconds in all modes, making it easy to capture photos at night.
The cityscape presented here is approximately 2 km (1.24 miles) distant,
and the zoom is set to its maximum 200mm focal length. In addition, CCD
sensitivity is set to 50 ISO to minimize noise over the course of the exposure,
and the noise reduction option in the menu is turned on.
Although the city is relatively
distant, it is quite bright, and an exposure time of 30 seconds
results in a very overexposed image. After some experimentation,
a 6 second exposure turns out to be sufficient and produces an
image that while brighter than what can be seen with the naked
eye, is not overexposed.
The noise reduction system of the A200 is similar to many others. It captures
a second exposure of the same duration but without opening the shutter
after the main exposure, and uses the electronic noise gathered during
that exposure to clean-up the first. The process is effective, but tends
to create some artefacts such as the dot patterns around lights, and lower
the image sharpness slightly.
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Test Photos
