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 default, the Coolpix S4 produces an image that,
while useable, is a touch too dark. Increasing the exposure
compensation slightly yields a brighter and more "colour
accurate" image. With an exposure compensation of +0.3EV,
the image is brighter and the colours consistent with reality.
However, at an exposure compensation of +0.7 EV the image
is much more pleasant and its colours a precise match to the
scene.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f3.5
Exposure:
Auto
Shutter Speed:
1/60 sec.
Resolution:
2816 x 2112
Flash:
On
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
50 ISO
File Size:
2.03 MB
Focal Length:
38 mm (35mm Eq.)
The light produced by the flash
seems to cover the camera's field of view when the zoom is
at the widest angle as no light falloff is noticeable in the
corners. However, the strong compression applied to the image,
even at the highest image quality, softens sharpness.
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 zoom shot, the exposure only needs to be compensated
with +0.3 EV to produce both a bright and colour-realistic
image.
With its powerful 10X zoom, the S4 is able to capture a great
level of detail and the image reveals not only the colour
printing screen used to produce the envelope in the 1930's,
but the fibres that make up the paper.
Set to Macro mode, the Coolpix displays the Macro icon
in yellow on the monitor. Adjusting the zoom gradually to
narrow the field of view, the greatest magnification possible
can be identified when the icon turns blue-green. At this
focal length the S4 can focus on a subject that is 4 cm (1.56
inches) from the front element of the lens, and captures a
field of view that measures 3.7 cm (1.44 in.) when measured
horizontally.
At the minimum distance, images
do not exhibit much barrel distortion, but are sharper at the
centre of the frame than on the edges.
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 matrix (averaging) metering pattern — the sole
metering pattern available with the Coolpix S4 — yields
a well exposed image that preserves the diffuse sunlight falling
on the building.
At the widest angle the zoom of the S4 does not seem to have
any chromatic aberration, and offers a consistent sharpness
throughout the frame. However, some noise can be observed
in the image.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4
Exposure:
Auto
Shutter Speed:
1/391 sec.
Resolution:
2816 x 2112
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
50
File Size:
2.09 MB
Focal Length:
38 mm (35mm Eq.)
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.
At the maximum magnification of the zoom a tripod had to
be used to capture the image so as to avoid camera shake.
The image is well exposed in the shadow areas as these are
dominant in the frame. Some overexposure of the few areas
that are directly lit can be seen however, as can noise which
appears as "grain". A chromatic aberration can also
be seen on the edges of strong contrasts.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f3.5
Exposure:
Auto
Shutter Speed:
1/51 sec.
Resolution:
2816 x 2112
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
50
File Size:
2.21 MB
Focal Length:
380 mm (35mm Eq.)
NIGHT PHOTO
Since this camera offers a Night Scene mode,
so a photo taken at night is included here.
Aperture: f3.5; shutter speed: 2 sec, 200 ISO.
Using either the Night
Landscape Mode or the Auto Shooting Mode, the Coolpix
offers a maximum exposure time of 2 seconds. With the Night
Landscape mode, the camera will increase sensitivity up to
200 ISO, and use Auto white balance, which results in a noticeably
yellow-tinged image, and neither of these settings can be
adjusted by the user.
In the Auto mode, the sensitivity and the white balance can
be adjusted, which means that noise can be minimized, or alternatively
increased to produce a brighter albeit noisier image, and
city lights can be captured with more life-like colours.
At 50 and 100 ISO, the S4 yields images that
are quite dark, although probably quite close to what can
be seen naturally. To obtain a brighter image — images
that are brighter than what we can see naturally usually make
better photos — the sensitivity has to be increased
to at least 200 ISO.
The Coolpix S4 is equipped with a noise reduction system,
but it is only partially effective and images remain somewhat
noisy after processing.
Test Photos
