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.
When the camera is set to 64 ISO, the sensitivity setting
the least prone to noise, the tiny flash of the DMC-LS1 lacks
sufficient power to provide a bright image, except at the
widest aperture. Even then, a better image usually results
if the exposure compensation is increased to +1/3EV as was
done here.
When the subject is more distant, the sensitivity is best
increased to 100 ISO, and exposure compensation to +2/3 EV.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f2.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/60 sec.
Res.:
2304 x 1728
Flash:
On
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
64
File Size:
1.31 MB
Focal Length:
35 mm (35mm Eq.)
Albeit compressed, the compression
used with this camera does not lower the image quality and detail
remains in the 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.
Zoomed, the lens' maximum (biggest) aperture drops to the
equivalent of f5. As the flash's output is marginal at f2.8
at the wide angle end, at f5 and without increasing exposure
compensation the image is noticeably too dark.
For this shot, exposure compensation is set to +1/3 EV and
the sensitivity to 100 ISO.
With these settings, the DMC-LS1 produces a bright and crisp
image that shows a lot of detail.
For the DMC-LS1, the specifications indicate the minimum
focus distance as 5 cm (2 inches) when the camera is set to
the Simple or Macro modes, and the zoom is at the widest angle.
In fact, the specifications are a bit conservative and the
camera is able to focus as close as 4 cm (1.56 inch), yielding
a field of view of 5 cm (2 inches) when measured horizontally.
At the telephoto end, the camera needs to be as far as 30
cm (11.7 inches) and yields a field of view of 10 cm (3.9
inches).
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.
Taking advantage of a sunny break in the weather, the building
is captured with its facade receiving direct sunlight, but
with a mostly cloudy sky behind. But, even under these somewhat
difficult conditions, the metering of the DMC-LS1 produces
a bright and well-exposed image.
Set to the least compression, Fine, the images are quite
sharp and detailed, free of any compression artifact, and
have no chromatic aberration.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f5.6
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/250 sec.
Resolution:
2304 x 1728
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
64
File Size:
1.43 MB
Focal Length:
35 mm (35mm 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.
Although some direct sunlight is available for this image,
the stabilizer helps ensure that the image is sharp by absorbing
any unintentional movement made while holding the camera.
Here again the metering yields a well-exposed image that
shows detail in both the shadow and directly lit areas of
the frame.
And, as can be seen below, set to 64 ISO the only detectable
noise is in the deepest shadows.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f5
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/250 sec.
Resolution:
2304 x 1728
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
64
File Size:
1.58 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., 64 ISO.
Eight seconds is the longest
exposure time possible with the LS1, and it is only available
when the Night Scenery mode is used. Even then, the
camera must be tricked into extending the length of the exposure
as its metering of the subject evaluates it as requiring a
6 second exposure time which would have produced a dark image.
To force the camera to its maximum exposure time of 8 seconds,
the lens is covered — while the scene is metered as
the shutter release is held half pressed — and then
uncovered for the exposure when the release is fully depressed.
Since the focus is set to infinity in this mode, the resulting
image is focused correctly.
Worth noting, the Night Scenery
mode uses Auto white balance and does not provide a way to
change it, hence the strong yellow cast of the image.
Besides forcing the sensitivity to 64 ISO to keep noise to
a minimum over the course of the exposure, the camera automatically
applies noise reduction to all photos captured with a shutter
speed of 1 second or longer.
Aa can be seen here the resulting image is a good one, but
only a bit brighter than what can be seen naturally.
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Test Photos
