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.
To capture this series of images, the RAW image format of
the DMC-L1 was used, and processed using the excellent software
included with the camera so as to obtain the highest image
quality possible. Aperture Priority mode was used to control
the depth of field.
During the RAW image processing, the white balance was tweaked,
as was the sharpness as the camera does not process the image
for sharpness.
Photo
Information
Format:
RAW
Aperture:
f7.1
Exposure:
Aperture Priority
Shutter Speed:
1/30
Res.:
3136 x 2352
Flash:
On
Quality:
Uncompressed
ISO:
100
File Size:
RAW: 14.3 MB
TIFF: 21.2 MB
Focal Length:
28 mm (35 mm Eq.)
The light supplied by the flash
is uniform, and there is no trace of light falloff in the
corners. Similarly, there is no discernible noise image.
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.
With the zoom at its maximum focal length, the field of view
is comparable to a 100 mm lens on a 35 mm camera. While this
is a relatively modest telephoto, it is ideal for portraits.
As with the wide angle shot shown above, this shot is also
captured using Aperture Priority.
The RAW image is processed using the same settings as were
used with the wide angle shot, and the image reveals an excellent
level of detail.
Photo
Information
Format:
RAW
Aperture:
f5.6
Exposure:
Aperture Priority
Shutter Speed:
1/30
Res.:
3136 x 2352
Flash:
On
Quality:
Uncompressed
ISO:
100
File Size:
RAW: 14.3 MB
TIFF: 21.2 MB
Focal Length:
100 mm (35 mm
Eq.)
Although the optical quality of
the zoom is excellent, we did note that the images were a bit
crisper when the aperture was closed down, from f4 onwards.
The Leica D Vario-Elmarit 14-50 mm f2.8-3.5 supplied
with the DMC-L1 kit is not designed for macro photography.
Nevertheless, the Leica zoom allows a minimum focus distance
of 29 cm (11.6 inches) from the subject to the sensor's focal
plane from the wide angle end to the telephoto end.
This allows the capture of a field of view that is 10.6 cm
(4.24 inches) at the maximum telephoto (equivalent to 100
mm), which is sufficient to capture high quality close-ups.
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 a lens that corresponds to a 28 mm at the wide angle end,
the DMC-L1 is well-equipped to photograph landscapes or architecture.
The aspherical surfaces which are part of the composition of
the lens give it excellent optical qualities as there is no
barrel distortion. Moreover, there is no chromatic aberration,
even on the edges of strong contrasts.
Photo
Information
Format:
RAW
Aperture:
f8
Exposure:
Aperture Priority
Shutter Speed:
1/250
Resolution:
3136 x 2352
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Uncompressed
ISO:
100
File Size:
RAW: 14.3 MB
TIFF: 21.2 MB
Focal Length:
28 mm (35 mm Eq.)
The mid-afternoon light of the sun
is rendered perfectly by the Auto white balance, and colours
are reproduced very faithfully.
ZOOM PHOTO
Zooming in on the entrance of the building, the
shadowed entrance takes on a greater importance for the metering
and can cause an overexposure of sections that are directly
lit.
With this strongly contrasted subject, the 49-segment Intelligent
Multi metering of the L1 — the Porro-type finder is
used to capture this image — yields an excellent result.
There are no over- or under-exposed areas in the image, and
the camera captures a excellent level of detail, both in the
directly lit areas and in those that are in shadow. We can
also note the complete absence of any noise.
Photo
Information
Format:
RAW
Aperture:
f8
Exposure:
Aperture Priority
Shutter Speed:
1/80
Resolution:
3136 x 2352
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Uncompressed
ISO:
100
File Size:
RAW: 14.3 MB
TIFF: 21.2 MB
Focal Length:
100 mm (35 mm Eq.)
Similarly, we can also note the
absence of any chromatic aberration, or of pincushion distortion.
NIGHT PHOTO
As this camera is capable of a long exposure,
a photo taken at night is included.
Aperture: f10; shutter
speed: 60 sec, 100 ISO.
There are no limits when capturing
night shots with the DMC-L1. As is, the DMC-L1 is able to
capture timed exposures up to 60 seconds, long enough for
most subjects. And, equipped with the optional remote control,
the camera can capture exposures as long as 8 minutes, sufficient
for some astrophotography.
With this subject, a 60 second exposure at a tack sharp f10
aperture and at 100 ISO is enough to capture a bright and
detailed image. For this photo, the white balance is set to
incandescent so as to take into account the artificial light
sources.
The image the DMC-L1 yields is excellent and,
very surprisingly, free of noise. The DMC-L1 is equipped with
an advanced noise reduction system that not only processes
the image for chrominance noise, but separately processes
the image for luminance noise. Still, as with most noise processing
systems, the camera captures a second dark exposure —
an exposure of the same length without opening the shutter
— and then uses the noise content of the second exposure
to eliminate it from the first.
Worth noting here, not only has the process eliminated all
traces of noise, the image has lost none of its sharpness.
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Test Photos
