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 photos of the subject presented here were captured using
the uncompressed TIFF format so as to ensure the highest image
quality possible.
With the zoom set to the widest angle, the built-in flash
lights the subject easily and without any light falloff in
the corners of the frame.
Photo
Information
Format:
TIFF
Aperture:
f2.8
Exp:
Multi-segment
Shutter Spd:
1/40 sec
Res:
3056 x 2296
Flash:
On
Quality:
No compression
ISO:
80
File Size:
20.2 MB
Focal Lgth:
37.5 mm (35mm
Eq.)
As can be seen below in this section
cropped from the full size image, some noise can be seen in areas
with uniform colour.
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.
Set to the maximum magnification, the 5X zoom of the Optio
750Z captures a relatively small section of the subject, and
in turn the Auto white balance
yields white colours that contain a little less yellow than with
the wide angle shot.
Photo
Information
Format:
TIFF
Aperture:
f4.6
Exp:
Multi-segment
Shutter Spd:
1/125 sec
Res:
3056 x 2296
Flash:
On
Quality:
No compression
ISO:
80
File Size:
20.2 MB
Focal Lgth:
187.5 mm (35mm
Eq.)
Seen at full scale, the image reveals
a very good level of detail. Not only is the weave of the drop
cloth quite visible, so is the texture of the paper and the printing
pattern used to create the background colour for the text printed
on the envelope.
Aperture: f7.8, shutter speed:1/40 sec., Super Macro
mode.
MACRO PHOTO
The Optio 750Z has 2 distinct Macro modes: a standard one
and a Super Macro mode. The Standard Macro mode allows
the lens to focus on a subject positioned between 15 and 65 cm
(0.5 to 2.13 feet) from the front element of the lens; yielding
a filed of view when the lens is set to the wide angle end of
14 cm (5.46 inches) and 4.5 cm (1.75 inch) at the telephoto end.
The second Macro mode, Super Macro,
automatically locks the lens at the wide angle end, making it
possible for the camera to focus on a subject 2 to 65 cm (0.8
inch to 2.13 feet) from the front element of the lens. At this
distance, the field of view captured is 3.5 cm (1.36 inch) when
measured horizontally, and in this mode some barrel distortion
is noticeable.
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.
Here in Canada, winter has set in and albeit rare in balmy
Vancouver, these photos were captured with some snow on the
ground, making the exposure
even more of a challenge for the camera. The highly reflective snow
can easily cause the metering to produce an underexposed photo,
and to avoid
this +0.7EV of exposure compensation is used.
Photo
Information
Format:
TIFF
Aperture:
f4
Exp:
Multi-segment
Shutter Spd:
1/200 sec
Res:
3056 x 2296
Flash:
Off
Quality:
No compression
ISO:
80
File Size:
20.2 MB
Focal Lgth:
37.5 mm (35mm
Eq.)
The use of exposure compensation
is important to ensure that snow looks white, not grey, and that
the building itself is exposed as correctly as it would be if
there were no snow.
The photo shows no chromatic aberration, and with this subject no serious
barrel distortion. However, some noise which looks like film grain, is
detectable in areas of uniform colour.
ZOOM PHOTO
At the full magnification of the zoom a bit of pincushion distortion becomes
noticeable. Pincushion distortion is an optical aberration that cause straight
lines to bow inwards towards the centre of the image, as can be seen by
the vertical image elements that are aligned near the edges of the frame.
Nevertheless, the exposure is quite good and the camera captures quite
a bit of detail.
Photo
Information
Format:
TIFF
Aperture:
f4.6
Exp:
Multi-segment
Shutter Spd:
1/30 sec
Res:
3056 x 2296
Flash:
Off
Quality:
No compression
ISO:
80
File Size:
20.2 MB
Focal Lgth:
187.5 mm (35mm
Eq.)
NIGHT PHOTO
As this camera is capable of a long exposure, a photo
taken at night is included.
With the Optio 750Z a 15 second
maximum exposure time is possible with either the Manual mode,
or the Shutter Priority mode. Moreover, all exposures longer
than 1 second are automatically processed to reduce the noise
that accumulates over the course of the exposure.
As always the lowest sensitivity, in this case 80 ISO, is the least prone
to noise and therefore produces the best results after noise reduction.
Set to 80 ISO, and using the widest
aperture (f2.8) and the longest exposure time, the Optio 750Z
produces a bright image. Although brighter than what the eye
perceives, the 15 second exposure reveals a lot of detail and
is more interesting than a darker exposure would be. Still, the
noise reduction processing appears to lower the image sharpness
to some extent, imparting the photo with a bit of a "watercolour" look,
most noticeable when the image is seen at 100%, but much less
noticeable when printed.
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Test Photos
