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.
With the sensitivity set to Auto, thereby allowing the S6
to increase it if needed to capture a bright image, the camera
stuck to 50 ISO, and captured a relatively dark image. Therefore,
an exposure compensation of +0.7 EV is used with the image
presented here, forcing a slight increase in sensitivity.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f3.0
Exposure:
Auto
Shutter Speed:
1/60 sec.
Resolution:
2816 x 2112
Flash:
On
Quality:
High
ISO:
69 ISO
File Size:
2.14 MB
Focal Length:
35 mm (35 mm Eq.)
The result is a much brighter photo
that shows no noticeable noise, and a relatively high level
of detail.
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.
An exposure compensation of +0.7 EV is maintained with the
zoom shot presented here, causing the camera to boost sensitivity
to 200 ISO. The resulting image shows little noise, and has
vivid colours.
The image sharpness on the other hand is a touch soft, possibly
as a result of the compression.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f5.4
Exposure:
Auto
Shutter Speed:
1/120 sec.
Resolution:
2816 x 2112
Flash:
On
Quality:
High
ISO:
200 ISO
File Size:
2.46 MB
Focal Length:
105 mm (35 mm
Eq.)
MACRO PHOTO
Aperture: f4.4, shutter speed: 1.2 sec.,
50 ISO, 12.2 mm, incandescent white balance.
A well-dressed moth serves
as our subject for the macro shot. The Coolpix S6 is able
to capture a subject positioned 4 cm (1.6 inch) from the front
element of the lens. When the macro mode is active, a flower
icon is displayed on the monitor, and the macro focal length
range is indicated by the icon changing colour from yellow
to green, allowing the zoom to be used up 12.2 mm, effectively
eliminating most of the barrel distortion that can be seen
in macro mode when the zoom is at the wide angle end.
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 building shot was captured on a sunny but slightly hazy
day that diffused the sunlight and created a very even lighting,
helping the metering, which is entirely under the camera's
control, capture a very well exposed image.
As can be seen here, the S6 is not particularly prone to
barrel distortion at the wide angle end of the zoom, and the
image reveals no chromatic aberration.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f8.5
Exposure:
Auto
Shutter Speed:
1/62 sec.
Resolution:
2816 x 2112
Flash:
Off
Quality:
High
ISO:
50
File Size:
2.1 MB
Focal Length:
35 mm (35 mm 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. the full op
Using the full magnification of the 3X zoom, the lens provides
the equivalent of a 105 mm lens, a short telephoto which captures
a relatively large part of the brighter areas around the entrance.
The influence of these areas is reflected in the metering, and
the result is an image that is perfectly exposed, but which
has some fairly deep shadows. Nevertheless, the exposure is
still good enough to make the sign on the door almost legible.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f5.4
Exposure:
Auto
Shutter Speed:
1/97 sec.
Resolution:
2816 x 2112
Flash:
Off
Quality:
High
ISO:
50
File Size:
2.19 MB
Focal Length:
105 mm (35 mm
Eq.)
As can be seen with this image,
just like the wide angle end, the telephoto setting of the S6's
zoom lens appears to have no serious distortion, and no chromatic
aberration.
NIGHT PHOTO
Since this camera offers a Night Scene mode,
a photo taken at night is included here.
Aperture: f3.5; shutter speed: 2 sec, 200 ISO.
While the Coolpix S6 has
a Night Landscape Mode as part of its Scene modes,
its maximum exposure time is 2 seconds — a very short
exposure — and the mode forces the CCD sensitivity to
50 ISO, the least light-sensitive setting of the CCD, to avoid
noise. The result is that even with a subject such as the
one presented here, an urban scene, the camera yields a very
dark image. The only alternative is to use the Auto Shooting
Mode which also has a maximum exposure time of 2 seconds,
and set the sensitivity to Auto, which causes the camera to
gain up to 200 ISO.
It is worth noting, however, that the S6 has
some difficulty focusing in a very dark environment, and that
a number of shots were captured to obtain this one.
Still, the resulting image is much brighter than what can
be obtained with the Night Landscape mode, and does not contain
too much noise. The S6 automatically applies noise reduction
to any long exposure, and the process tends to soften the
image sharpness noticeably. Nevertheless, if the image is
printed out to a maximum size of 4 x 6 inch (10 x 15 cm),
the sharpness of the print is quite acceptable.
Test Photos
