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
This
subject is captured from a distance of approximately 1.5m (5 ft). The
flash is used as fill light, adding to the halogen lighting.
With this subject, photographed
here in wide angle, and even with the assistance of the flash to provide
daylight-colour light, the white balance is influenced by the ambient
incandescent lighting.
The Aperture Priority mode is used to increase the depth of field.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f3.5
Exposure:
Aperture
Priority
Shutter
Speed:
1/30
Res.:
2048
x1536
Flash:
On
Quality:
SHQ
ISO:
100
File
Size:
1,091
KB
Focal
Length:
38
mm (35mm Eq.)
ZOOM
PHOTO
Now
we zoom in on a specific area. The camera remains at the same distance
as with the preceding photo and an auxiliary flash is used to see how
well the camera handles the added light.
At its maximum of 10X, the lens of the C-730UZ allows it to magnify the
image substantially. The image is sharp and the colours very rich.
The white balance in this zoomed in photo is quite accurate. The narrower
field of view of the lens has lessened the influence of the incandescent
lighting, allowing the white balance to produce more precise colours.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f5
Exposure:
Aperture
Priority
Shutter
Speed:
1/320
Res.:
2048
x1536
Flash:
On
Quality:
SHQ
ISO:
100
File
Size:
1,035
KB
Focal
Length:
380
mm (35mm Eq.)
Aperture: f 5.6, shutter speed 1/200 sec., Aperture Priority
3:2 format (2048 x 1360)
MACRO
PHOTO
The
C-730UZ benefits from a Super Macro mode which lets the camera focus on
a subject as close as 4 cm (1.6 inch) away from its front element. At
that distance the camera records a field of view measuring 4.4 cm (1.7
inch) from one edge of the frame to the other, horizontally.
The wild dandelion photographed here is barely 2 cm (0.8 inch) across.
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.
In wide angle, the lens provides a generous field
of view and shows no obvious distortion. The Digital ESP metering is usually
accurate and the exposures show it, revealing a lot of details, in both
high and low light areas.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4
Exposure:
Aperture
Priority
Shutter
Speed:
1/800
Resolution:
2048
x1536
Flash:
Off
Quality:
SHQ
ISO:
100
File
Size:
1,098
KB
Focal
Length:
38
mm (35mm Eq.)
ZOOM
PHOTO
At the maximum telephoto
position of the lens, obtaining a well-balanced exposure of the darker
entrance area and of the building's sunlit sections proved to be fairly
difficult.
The glass doors, and the darkened area behind them, dominate the frame,
causing the camera to pay more attention to it than to the brightly lit
parts in the foreground. After a number of photos which showed great detail
in the entrance and an overexposed foreground, this shot turned out the
most balanced.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4
Exposure:
Aperture
Priority
Shutter
Speed:
1/650
Resolution:
2048
x1536
Flash:
Off
Quality:
SHQ
ISO:
100
File
Size:
1,173
KB
Focal
Length:
380
mm (35mm Eq.)
NIGHT
PHOTO
This
camera is capable of long exposures, and these images captured late at
night and over its ISO range give an idea of its capabilities.
Aperture:
2.8; shutter speed: 16 sec, 200 ISO.
The
C-730UZ has a maximum exposure time of 16 seconds, but at 100 ISO, and
on an ink-black night, the image is mostly black with the exception of
a star or two. Increasing the camera's sensitivity to 200 ISO, the outline
of the trees start to be discernible and the scene looks more like what
the eyes see.
At its highest sensitivity setting, the C-730UZ captures a brighter image,
but noise, even with the noise reduction system, becomes visible when
the image is seen at full scale.
It
is worth noting that when the image is seen on a monitor the noise tends
to be emphasized, but that when the image is printed and the DPI increased,
the noise gets blended in and is much less noticeable. Indeed, a 4 x 6
inch print of the 400 ISO photo — corresponding to a DPI of 350
— yielded a very good photo with a low noise level that is comparable
to what can be seen in the reduced size image presented here (photo
at right).
Aperture:
2.8; shutter speed: 16 sec, 400 ISO.
The composite image shown below is made up of a full scale crop taken
from the 200 ISO photo (left side), and from the 400 ISO image (right
side). The dark sky is the most prone to showing noise, itself most visible
when seen at full scale on a monitor. Note that the image at right below,
is the same as is shown above, but that the scaling has decreased the
visible noise.
