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.
As always with this type of camera, all the test photos captured
with the DMC-L10 were captured using the RAW format, with
or without a JPEG copy of the image. The photos shown here
are no different, and were shot using the RAW format, converted
without alteration to TIFF using SilkyPix so they could be
closely inspected, and then reproduced for this page in a
format suitable for the internet, all the while making sure
the process did not change the image noticeably.
Photo
Information
Format:
RAW
Aperture:
f3.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/30 sec.
Res.:
3648 x 2736
Flash:
On
Quality:
Uncompressed
ISO:
100
File Size:
RAW: 11.72 MB
TIFF: 28.59 MB
Focal Length:
28 mm (35 mm Eq.)
Using the kit lens at the wide angle, the built-in flash
of the DMC-L10 can cause a small lens shadow at the bottom
of the frame, as can be seen here. Otherwise, at 100 ISO,
the flash provides even coverage and the auto white balance
yields natural colours.
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.
The telephoto end of the lens allows us to appreciate the
level of detail the 10 megapixel sensor is able to capture,
even when using a relatively short zoom such as this one.
The colours the camera produces are totally comparable to
those captured at the wide angle end, although there are sharp
differences in the content of the frame, and noise is effectively
undetectable.
Moreover, although no additional sharpening was applied during
RAW processing, the image exhibits excellent sharpness.
The kit lens supplied with the DMC-L10 does not really
have a macro capability. Nevertheless, it is able to sharply
focus on a nearby subject. In this case, the subject was approximately
10 cm (3.9 in.) distant while using a focal length that is
equivalent to a 50 mm. The width of the field of view captured
by the lens is approximately 12 cm (5 in.).
As always with digital SLR cameras, much more impressive
results can be obtained if a proper Macro lens is used.
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.
Inspecting this image at 100% on a monitor reveals the excellent
level of detail captured by the camera. Similarly, the exposure
is excellent and the sharpness of the lens at the wide angle
end is evidenced by the definition of the building's canopy
beams, and the leaves on the trees in the background. A very
slight and faint chromatic aberration can be detected below
the building's beams, where they meet the sky, but there is
no distortion.
Photo
Information
Format:
RAW
Aperture:
f6.3
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/200 sec.
Resolution:
3648 x 2736
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Uncompressed
ISO:
100
File Size:
RAW: 11.79 MB
TIFF: 28.59 MB
Focal Length:
28 mm (35 mm Eq.)
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.
At the maximum telephoto end of the kit lens, the zoom is
equivalent to a 100 mm focal length, which is not a great
magnification. Even though the shadowed entrance area of the
building occupies a greater portion of the frame, the metering
is able to avoid either underexposing the inside of the building,
or overexposing the outside.
As can be seen below, the resolution of the sensor is sufficiently
high to capture fine details, even with a 100 mm focal length,
and the small sign on the right door of the building is legible.
Photo
Information
Format:
RAW
Aperture:
f8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/100 sec.
Resolution:
3648 x 2736
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Uncompressed
ISO:
100
File Size:
RAW: 11.83 MB
TIFF: 28.59 MB
Focal Length:
100 mm (35 mm Eq.)
At this focal length, there is no
chromatic aberration, even with violently contrasting subjects,
nor is there any pincushion distortion. Some shadow noise is
detectable, however.
NIGHT PHOTO
As this camera is capable of a long exposure,
a photo taken at night is included.
Aperture: f6.3; shutter
speed: 60 sec, 100 ISO.
While exposures as long as 8 minutes
are possible in the Manual mode, using the B mode, one has
to use the optional remote control to control the exposure
time and avoid any camera shake. Without it, timed exposures
as long as 60 seconds are still possible, more than ample
time to capture a bright and interesting image of this relatively
dark subject at 100 ISO.
For this image, the white balance is set to incandescent,
a setting that in our opinion tends to produce images that
have colours closer to what is perceived at night when the
subject is lit by artificial light.
Interestingly, to capture this image the noise
reduction system — which captures a second frame with
the same exposure parameters but without opening the shutter
so as to gather noise — was not employed. Indeed, with
this shot, the noise the camera picked up at 100 ISO remained
very minimal and did not warrant processing.
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Test Photos
