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 artefacts 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
The
subject of this photo is captured with the camera's flash, and some ambient
light. A tripod is used to maintain the same distance for both the wide
angle and telephoto image.
The C-5050Z
yields a very sharp image, but one that is in fact a bit too sharpened,
as can be seen by the edge of the bottle's label (see below). The
C-5050's default of [0] in the sharpness option of the menu is
often better set to [-1] as the default value is a touch too strong
for some subjects.
The flash of the C-5050 is quite powerful, and provides excellent coverage
but appears to throw a bit more light at the centre of the frame.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f3.2
Exposure:
Aperture
Priority
Shutter
Speed:
1/30
Res.:
2560
x 1920
Flash:
On
Quality:
SHQ
ISO:
100
File
Size:
2.92
MB
Focal
Length:
35
mm (35mm Eq.)
ZOOM
PHOTO
Now
we zoom in on the subject as the camera remains at the same distance as
with the preceding photo.
The Aperture Priority mode is used for both the wide angle and telephoto
shots to increase the depth of field, and capture a sharp background.
The use of aperture priority also helps control the exposure and avoids
having the C-5050 default to the widest aperture available, which it tends
to do in the Program mode and when the flash is used.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f3.2
Exposure:
Aperture
Priority
Shutter
Speed:
1/100
Res.:
2560
x 1920
Flash:
On
Quality:
SHQ
ISO:
100
File
Size:
2.79
MB
Focal
Length:
105
mm (35mm Eq.)
Aperture Priority: f 2, Speed 1/13 sec, 64 ISO, Super Macro mode.
MACRO
PHOTO
The
C-5050Z provides 2 macro focus modes, selected by using the AF/Macro/MF
button in combination with the Jog Dial.
The Super Macro mode allows the camera to focus on a subject 2 cm (1 inch)
from the lens. At this distance the field of view (horizontally) is then
approximately 3 cm (1.2 inch).
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
image quality of the C-5050 is excellent. The lens captures a sharp image,
the images show no major chromatic aberration, and in wide angle has very
little barrel distortion.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4
Exposure:
Program
Mode
Shutter
Speed:
1/250
Resolution:
2560
x 1920
Flash:
Off
Quality:
SHQ
ISO:
64
File
Size:
2.82
MB
Focal
Length:
35
mm (35mm Eq.)
ZOOM
PHOTO
For this image the C-5050's
RAW file format is used. This format records the straight output of the
CCD, and saves it without applying any in-camera processing.
While the camera allows editing a RAW file for things such as white balance,
contrast, saturation, Camedia Master, the software supplied with the camera
is not as specific. For example, a RAW image recorded with an incorrect
white balance setting cannot be easily corrected, unlike with the camera's
own editing function.
Photo
Information
Format:
RAW/TIFF
Aperture:
f4
Exposure:
Program
Mode
Shutter
Speed:
1/400
Resolution:
2560
x 1920
Flash:
Off
Quality:
RAW
ISO:
100
File
Size:
14.1
MB (TIFF)
7.28 MB (RAW)
Focal
Length:
105
mm (35mm Eq.)
This
particular photo was converted to TIFF format using Camedia Master, but
could have been done better with the camera. The camera records the shooting
data as part of the converted file be it TIFF or JPEG, which Camedia fails
to do completely.
NIGHT
PHOTO
This
camera is capable of long exposures, and this series of night photos gives
an idea of its capabilities.
Aperture:
f1.8; shutter speed: 16 sec, 64 ISO.
With
a maximum 16 second exposure the C-5050 is quite capable of taking night
time photos. The noise reduction system, selected as one of the menu options,
allows the camera to process noise captured during the long exposure out
of the image.
Starting with 64 ISO and an exposure of 16 seconds, the C-5050 captures
an image that is faithful to what can be seen with the naked eye.
To
capture these images the C-5050 was set to infinity using the manual focus,
and the white balance set to tungsten (incandescent) to offset the influence
of distant street lighting.
Aperture:
f1.8; shutter speed: 16 sec, 100 ISO.
Aperture:
f1.8; shutter speed: 16 sec, 200 ISO.
The
100 ISO image shows a slight increase in brightness, but is still fairly
close to reality.
Pushing the sensitivity up to 200 ISO, the sky becomes brighter. At 400
ISO, the image is starting to look as though it was taken in daylight.
The section of the full size 400 ISO image shown below clearly shows that
the noise reduction processing of the C-5050 is quite effective.
