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 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.
Most of the images in this section were captured using the
RAW mode and then processed using SilkyPix Developer Studio,
the software Panasonic provides with the camera, and saved
in TIFF format.
The pop-up flash produces a sufficient amount of light at
100 ISO to light the subject evenly.
Photo
Information
Format:
RAW
Aperture:
f2.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/30
Resolution:
3648 x 2736
Flash:
On
Quality:
—
ISO:
100
File Size:
RAW: 19.4 MB
TIFF: 28.6 MB
Focal Length:
35 mm (35 mm Eq.)
To provide as accurate an idea as
possible of what RAW images look like without any particular
processing, the images were converted using the camera settings.
The FZ50 yields images with natural colours, but without specific
noise processing with SilkyPix, these images are slightly grainy,
showing noise in shadow or dark areas such as the surfaces of
the old Yashicaflex.
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 this distance, with the powerful zoom of the FZ50, it
was necessary to switch to the macro mode as it allows the
camera to focus at a closer distance.
The level of detail the lens can capture is impressive, and
the RAW format ensures that none gets lost. In the image section
shown below, cropped from the full size image, the camera
is able to capture subtle details such as the printing screen
that underlies the printing.
Photo
Information
Format:
RAW
Aperture:
f3.7
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/30
Resolution:
3648 x 2736
Flash:
On
Quality:
—
ISO:
100
File Size:
RAW: 19.4 MB
TIFF: 28.6 MB
Focal Length:
420 mm (35 mm
Eq.)
Aperture: f8, shutter speed: 1/4 sec., 100 ISO, Aperture
Priority mode. RAW file converted to TIFF format.
MACRO PHOTO
The FZ50's Macro mode allows the lens
to focus on a subject that is 5 cm (1.95 inch) from the front
element of the lens when the zoom is at the wide angle end,
and 2 m (6.56 ft) at the telephoto end. At the telephoto end,
the width or the field of view the camera captures is approximately
5.8 cm (2.26 inches) at the closest focusing distance.
The minimum focus distance and the width of the field of
view increase rapidly when the zoom is used, making it more
suited to portrait-type photos.
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.
With the zoom set to the wide angle end, the FZ50 captures
an image that is free of any chromatic aberration or barrel
distortion. Similarly, the FZ50 yields an image that is well
exposed as details can be seen in both shadow areas such as
the entrance, and areas that are directly lit by the sun.
Using the RAW mode, it is possible to eliminate most of the
shadow noise, and obtain a high quality image.
Photo
Information
Format:
RAW
Aperture:
f5.6
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/200
Resolution:
3648 x 2736
Flash:
Off
Quality:
—
ISO:
100
File Size:
RAW: 19.4 Mo
TIFF: 28.6 Mo
Focal Length:
35 mm (35 mm Eq.)
ZOOM PHOTO
The powerful zoom of the FZ30 makes it possible
to capture a small area of the entrance while remaining in
the same spot as for the wide angle shot presented above.
This JPEG Fine format image is shown here as a reference.
Shot at 100 ISO, it exhibits noise in the shadows and on the
doors' chromed handles as graininess.
Still, the multiple exposure mode yields an excellent exposure
which, as was the case with the wide angle shot, exhibits
a good balance between bright and dark areas.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f5.6
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/250
Resolution:
3648 x 2736
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
100
File Size:
4.7 MB
Focal Length:
420 mm (35 mm
Eq.)
Moreover, although there are strong
contrasts in the image, no chromatic aberration is detectable,
nor is there any pincushion distortion.
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: 5.6; shutter
speed: 8 sec, 100 ISO.
The DMC-FZ50 is equipped with a Starry Skymode that offers exposure times of 15, 30 or 60 seconds.
However, while the mode limits sensitivity to a maximum of
100 ISO to avoid noise, it also prevents any user control
over the white balance, a control that is often desirable
when capturing night photos that contain artificial lighting.
The alternative is the Manual mode, which not only provides
complete control over both the aperture and the shutter speed,
but also allows controlling the white balance as well as the
sensitivity, while still offering exposure times that are
as long as 60 seconds.
As we have observed with the DMC-FZ50, the
best results are obtained when the RAW format is used, and
the sensitivity left at its minimum of 100 ISO. Nevertheless,
as can be seen in the image below, cropped from the full size
image, even with noise processing some noise remains visible
as grain in the image.
Test Photos
