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.
For these images, we used the 14 to 54mm zoom and the dedicated
FL-50 flash which is totally controlled by the camera and which
has a zoom head that operates in lockstep with the focal length
in use.
Photo
Information
Format:
TIFF
Aperture:
f2.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/30 s
Res.:
2560 x 1920
Flash:
Yes
Quality:
No compression
ISO:
100
File Size:
15.3 MB
Focal Length:
28 mm (35mm Eq.)
At the wide angle, the flash provides
very even light with no noticeable light fall-off, and the camera's
Auto white balance yields accurate colours.
The wide angle of the zoom image is sharp and distortion free, and the
image shows a 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.
At the telephoto end, the 14 to 54mm lens captures a field of view equivalent
to a 108mm lens on 35mm camera. Here again the flash provides very evenly
distributed light, and the exposure is perfect.
Photo
Information
Format:
TIFF
Aperture:
f3.5
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/100 s
Res.:
2560 x 1920
Flash:
Yes
Quality:
No compression
ISO:
100
File Size:
15.3 MB
Focal Length:
108 mm (35mm
Eq.)
ZOOM
PHOTO 2
This photo is captured with the 50 to 200mm set to 200mm. At its maximum
zoom setting, the lens captures the equivalent of a 400mm lens on a 35mm
film camera.
The level of detail, and the sharpness of the image is evident
in the portion of the whole image that is shown below, and
which captures the price of
the photo paper, as it was written in pencil more than 60 years ago.
Photo
Information
Format:
TIFF
Aperture:
f3.5
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/160 s
Res.:
2560 x 1920
Flash:
Yes
Quality:
No compression
ISO:
100
File Size:
15.3 MB
Focal Length:
400 mm (35mm
Eq.)
Aperture: f3.5, speed 1/100 sec. 100 ISO, 14~54mmm
at 44mm
CLOSE-UP PHOTO
Even without acquiring Olympus' 50mm Macro Zuiko lens, excellent
results can be had with the 14 to 54mm lens.
At the 54mm setting, the lens is able to come as close as 6cm (2.34 in.)
from a subject, capturing a filed of view measuring just over 6 cm from
one edge of the frame to the other horizontally.
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.
These images were shot on a sunny winter day using the 14 to
54 mm lens. At the wide angle position, the lens captures a generous
field of view and images large sections of the building's wings.
Photo
Information
Format:
TIFF
Aperture:
f5.6
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/160 s
Resolution:
2560 x 1920
Flash:
no
Quality:
No compression
ISO:
100
File Size:
15.3 MB
Focal Length:
28mm (35mm Eq.)
Although the sky is pale blue, and
parts of the entrance are in deep shadow, the metering correctly
evaluates the scene and records an image that is well-balanced
and detailed. No chromatic aberrations are detectable.
ZOOM PHOTO
Zoomed in, the ESP metering gives more importance to the shadowed
entrance, and slightly overexposes the more reflective parts
of the image.
As can be seen in the section presented below, which is cropped from the
full-size photo, the E-1 and the Zuiko lenses produce sharp and very detailed
images. It can also be noted that the darker parts of the frame contain
no noticeable noise.
Photo
Information
Format:
TIFF
Aperture:
f3.5
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/125
Resolution:
2560 x 1920
Flash:
No
Quality:
no compression
ISO:
100
File Size:
15.3 MB
Focal Length:
108 mm (35mm
Eq.)
NIGHT PHOTO
As this camera is capable of a long exposure, a photo taken
at night is included.
Aperture: f2.8; speed:
1/2 sec, 100 ISO.
The Olympus E-1 is capable of capturing
exposures up to 8 minutes long with the Bulb mode and using the
wired remote control. In other modes, it can capture exposures
up to 60 seconds long, sufficient for most night time photography.
For long exposures, the E-1 is equipped with a noise reduction system that
captures a second exposure of the same duration as the first but without
opening the shutter, so as to identify noise.
Once identified in the second exposure, the noise is then
deleted from the first before saving.
Using a wide aperture and infinity focus, with a relatively bright subject
such as is shown here, an exposure of 1/2 second is sufficient to capture
a realistic photo at 100 ISO.
Test Photos
