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
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 wide angle flash photo the camera yields when the sensitivity
is set to 64 ISO — so as to limit noise to the minimum
— is too dark. To increase the effectiveness of the
flash, sensitivity is therefore set to Auto, allowing the
camera to increase it as required.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f2.8
Exp:
Program
Shutter Spd:
1/40 sec
Res:
3648 x 2736
Flash:
On
Quality:
***
ISO:
200
File Size:
2.1 MB
Focal Lgth:
38 mm (35 mm Eq.)
Using a sensitivity of 200 ISO,
the camera yields an image that is sufficiently bright, but
which still shows light falloff in the corners. Sharpness is
good and the image shows a high level of detail, and little
noise is detectable in the shadow areas.
ZOOM PHOTO
Now we zoom in on the on the centre of the image above to gauge the sharpness
of the image at the zoom's maximum setting. The camera remains at the same
distance as in the preceding photo.
At the telephoto end, the underpowered flash has the additional
burden of a limited aperture of f5.4. Only by allowing the
sensitivity to increase up to 400 ISO is the image sufficiently
bright.
Worth noting, at this sensitivity level noise is still minimal
although it can be detected in the background cloth. Nevertheless,
the sharpness is still quite good.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f5.4
Exp:
Program
Shutter Spd:
1/125 sec
Res:
3648 x 2736
Flash:
On
Quality:
***
ISO:
400
File Size:
2.5 MB
Focal Lgth:
114 mm (35 mm
Eq.)
Aperture: f8.0, shutter speed: 1.3 sec. 64 ISO, Manuel
mode.
MACRO PHOTO
Set to Macro, the Optio A30 can focus
on subjects 12 to 40 cm (4.7 to 16 inches) from the front
of the lens when it is at the wide angle position. With this
mode, the zoom can be partially used to close in on the subject
a bit more. The width of the field of view is 7.2 cm (2.88
inches) minimum, at a focal length of 11.5 mm, equivalent
to 55.3 mm in 35 mm.
Using the Super Macro mode, the
zoom is locked at the wide angle position and the lens can be
as close as 6 cm (2.4 inch) from the subject. The width of the
field of view the camera captures then is 6.2 cm (2.58 inches)
and barrel distortion is visible. The Manual shooting mode can
be used to select the smallest aperture to maximize the depth
of field.
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 the wide angle shot of the building, a bit of
vignetting — a loss of brightness in the corners of
the image — can be seen. The exposure however, is excellent,
and well-balanced between bright and dark zones.
Sharpness is good at the centre of the frame, but clearly
softens towards the corners.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f2.8
Exp:
Program
Shutter Spd:
1/640 sec
Res:
3648 x 2736
Flash:
Off
Quality:
***
ISO:
64
File Size:
2.2 MB
Focal Lgth:
38 mm (35 mm Eq.)
At this focal length, barrel distortion
can be seen if straight lines in the subject happen to be aligned
near the edges of the frame, and some chromatic aberration can
be detected.
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.
Zoomed in, the imperfections observed with the wide angle
shot dissipate. The telephoto end of the zoom is free of distortion,
is sharp from corner to corner, and displays neither vignetting,
nor any chromatic aberration.
And while the magnification of the 3X zoom of the A30 is
not particularly powerful, the camera's high resolution makes
it possible to discern the small sign on the right door very
clearly.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f5.4
Exp:
Program
Shutter Spd:
1/100 sec
Res:
3648 x 2736
Flash:
Off
Quality:
***
ISO:
64
File Size:
2.4 MB
Focal Lgth:
114 mm (35 mm
Eq.)
NIGHT PHOTO
As this camera is capable of a long exposure, a photo
taken at night is included.
Aperture: f2.8; shutter
speed: 4 sec, 200 ISO.
The Night Scene
mode of the Optio A30 allows a maximum exposure time of 4
seconds — the longest exposure time possible with this
camera — an exposure time that can be selected using
the Shutter Priority and Manual
modes as well.
While the Night Scene mode allows setting the sensitivity
and the white balance, the Manual mode has the advantage of
allowing the user to capture an exposure that is brighter
than what the A30's program will capture, and thereby capture
more detail.
Still, with such a short maximum exposure
time, the A30 can only be used to capture relatively well-lit
subjects. Moreover, it is necessary to increase sensitivity
to 200 ISO, as with the shot shown here, to obtain an interesting
image that is not too impacted by noise. Beyond this sensitivity,
coloured pixels remain quite visible, even after noise reduction,
and the quality of the image is lowered.
Worth noting, with a subject such as this, setting the white
balance to incandescent yields colours that are quite close
to reality.
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Test Photos
