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.
The DMC-TZ1 has a small built-in flash, and to help it along,
the sensitivity is set to Auto, which allows the camera to increase
it to enhance the brightness of the image. In this case however,
the camera steadfastly stays at 80 ISO, and the resulting image
is touch too dark so an +1 EV of exposure compensation is used
to make the image a bit brighter.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f2.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/30 sec
Res.:
2560 x 1920
Flash:
On
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
80
File Size:
2.33 MB
Focal Length:
35 mm (35 mm Eq.)
Set to the Fine image quality,
the TZ1 applies a compression that is in the range of 6:1, and
the image retains a lot of detail.
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 maximum telephoto setting, and once again with the
sensitivity set to Auto, the TZ1 increases it to 125 ISO to
compensate for the slight loss of brightness of the f4.2 aperture.
The result is a bright image and no compensation is necessary.
As can be seen below, the image is quite detailed, although
the depth of field is a bit shallow.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4.2
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/30 sec
Res.:
2560 x 1920
Flash:
On
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
125
File Size:
2.25 MB
Focal Length:
350 mm (35 mm Eq.)
Aperture: f2.8, shutter speed 1/320 sec., 80 ISO.
MACRO PHOTO
The Macro mode, which is selected by the Mode Dial, is officially
described as allowing the camera to focus on a subject thay
is 5 cm (2 in.) from the front of the lens at the wide angle
end. Yet, at this distance, the zoom can be used partially
— to the equivalent of a 61 mm focal length —
before the camera looses focus, and therefore the magnification
effect is greater than stated. The result is that the TZ1
is able to capture a field of view of 3.8 cm (1.5 in.) and
produce very detailed images.
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.
Captured on a cloudy day, the building is photographed on
a bright, nearly white backdrop that presents a serious challenge
to the metering system as it must find a combination of aperture
and shutter speed that will result in an image that avoids
overexposing the sky or underexposing the building.
The TZ1 produces as good an image as can be expected, and
only the branches of the trees in the distance show overexposure.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f2.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/160 sec
Resolution:
2560 x 1920
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
80
File Size:
2.34 MB
Focal Length:
35 mm (35 mm Eq.)
The building itself, however, dominant
in the frame, is generally well exposed. Even under these demanding
circumstances, it can be seen that there is no chromatic aberration
in the image.
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, the TZ1 can only capture a portion
of the entrance. Nevertheless, the deep shadows in the entrance
combined with ambient glare has an impact on the metering
and it produces a slightly over-bright image. To correct this,
an exposure compensation of -1 EV is used to make more details
visible.
The result is an image that is superbly detailed and which
contains little noise.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4.2
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/30 sec
Resolution:
2560 x 1920
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
80
File Size:
2.37 MB
Focal Length:
350 mm (35 mm 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.
The DMC-TZ1 is a fully automatic
camera: the user has no direct control over the selection
of aperture or shutter speed. Moreover, in all but two of
its shooting modes the maximum exposure time is 1 second,
too short to allow for useable night shots.
Furthermore, of the two modes that offer a longer exposure
— Night Scenery and Starry Sky — only the Starry
Sky mode allows an extended shutter speed to be selected.
The other, Night Scenery, is automatic, and limited to a maximum
exposure time of 8 seconds.
The Starry Sky mode, however, only
offers presets of 15, 30 or 60 seconds. And, without any means
to tweaking the exposure by varying the aperture, the resulting
images can turn out to be either too bright, or not bright
enough, as can be seen in the images below. In addition, this
mode is not white balanced for incandescent lighting, and
the resulting images have a noticeable yellow cast.
Starry Sky mode: 15 sec.
Starry Sky mode: 30 sec.
Starry Sky mode: 60 sec.
With the limited exposure options of the TZ1, the Night Scenery modes turns
out to produce the best image. An exposure time of 8 seconds
is sufficient for this subject, and the white balance the
mode uses tends to produce a more natural looking image.
The camera automatically processes the image for noise reduction,
but the process clearly lowers the definition of the image
as well (see below). Worth noting, however, is that
if the image is printed out to a 6 x 4 size, the blurring
caused by the noise reduction process is not visible, and
the image is very pleasant.
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Test Photos
