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.
Left to it default settings, the FX5 yields an image which is a touch dark.
To obtain a brighter image, +2/3 EV is added with the exposure compensation.
The image captured by the camera is reasonably sharp, but a bit of noise
can be observed in areas that have a uniform colour.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f2.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/60
Res.:
2304 x 1728
Flash:
On
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
50
File Size:
1.22 MB
Focal Length:
35 mm (35mm Eq.)
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 full telephoto setting, the brightest aperture available to the
camera is f4.9, and this leads, even with the added exposure compensation,
to a slightly darker image.
Increasing the sensitivity to 100 ISO, the camera produces a brighter image
which compares well to the wide angle shot above; but which is also a touch
more noisy than the 50 ISO shot presented here.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4.9
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/60
Res.:
2304 x 1728
Flash:
On
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
50
File Size:
1.38 MB
Focal Length:
105 mm (35mm
Eq.)
Aperture: f2.8, shutter speed 1/200 sec., 50 ISO.
MACRO PHOTO
In macro mode, the FX5 needs to be 10 cm (3.9 inches) from
the subject when the zoom is at the wide angle end, and at least
30 cm (11.7 in.) from the subject at the telephoto end. And,
at either end of the zoom, the field of view the camera captures — as
measured horizontally in the frame — is equivalent to the
distance to the subject: 10 cm (3.9 inches) at the wide end;
30 cm (11.7 in.) at the telephoto 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.
Outdoors the DMC-FX5's metering produces a very good exposure that captures
the subject accurately and avoids overexposing the bright areas.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/125
Resolution:
2304 x 1728
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
50
File Size:
1.43 MB
Focal Length:
35 mm (35mm Eq.)
ZOOM PHOTO
With this telephoto shot, the stabilizer is active and the result is a
sharp image, with the camera handheld at the full telephoto setting of
the zoom, and at 1/40 second.
Worth noting, the program mode of the FX5 favours smaller apertures and
slower shutter speeds when the stabilizer is active. This is the case here,
where we can see that the program mode has elected an f14 aperture instead
of the f4.9 aperture (the brightest at the telephoto setting) that it would
use when the stabilizer is turned off.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f14
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/40
Resolution:
2304 x 1728
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
50
File Size:
1.60 MB
Focal Length:
105 mm (35mm
Eq.)
NIGHT PHOTO
This camera is capable of long exposures, and an image captured
late at night is presented to give an idea of its capabilities.
Aperture: f2.8; shutter
speed: 8 sec, 100 ISO.
A Night Portrait mode is
available which is capable of a maximum shutter speed of 8 seconds
and allows the flash to be forced off. However, there is no direct way
to select the shutter speed of the FX5. Therefore, getting the
camera to capture an exposure that takes advantage of the maximum
exposure time requires tricking the metering. Otherwise, with
a subject such as this, if the camera is left to evaluate the
length of the exposure without any interference, it captures
a relatively dark image at a shutter speed of 1/3 sec.
So, to make the camera capture a longer exposure,
the lens is covered while the metering takes place and, while
maintaining the shutter release half pressed to maintain the
metered exposure settings, the lens is then uncovered and the
photo captured.
Set to 200 ISO, the FX5's maximum sensitivity, the image is bright and
actually shows some overexposure. And, although noise reduction is automatically
applied, the image remains a bit noisy. The best result is obtained at
50 ISO, the least noisy sensitivity.
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Test Photos
