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 built-in flash of the Samsung L700 adds enough light
at a sensitivity of 50 ISO so that the image is acceptably
bright, allowing the camera, even when set to Auto ISO, to
maintain the lowest sensitivity and keep noise to a minimum.
The metering obviously tries to balance the ambient artificial
light with the light coming from the flash, imparting the
image with a warmer colour tone.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f 2.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter speed:
1/30 sec.
Res:
3072 x 2304
Flash:
On
Quality:
Super Fine
ISO:
50
File Size:
2.54 MB
Focal Lgth:
35 mm (35 mm Eq.)
Sharpness is reasonable but globally
on the soft side, possibly a result of the compression process.
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 brightest aperture is f4.9, causing
the camera to increase the sensitivity to 100 ISO to boost
the effect of the flash and produce a brighter image. In turn,
the brighter image yields colours that are more vibrant, and
closer to what the eye perceives.
The increased sensitivity causes a bit of noise to appear
in the shadow and dark areas, but it is minimal.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f 4.9
Exposure:
Program
Shutter speed:
1/60 sec.
Res:
3072 x 2304
Flash:
On
Quality:
Super Fine
ISO:
100
File Size:
2.78 MB
Focal Lgth:
105 mm (35 mm Eq.)
Aperture: f2.8, shutter speed: 0.4 sec., 50 ISO.
MACRO PHOTO
The Macro mode of the L700 allows the camera
to focus on a subject that is 5 cm (2 inches) front the front
element of the lens when the zoom is at the wide angle end
and 40 cm (15.6 inches) at the telephoto end. At the shortest
distance and the wide angel end, the camera captures a field
of view of 5.3 cm (2.06 inches) horizontally.
When the subject is this close, the wide angle barrel distortion
can become noticeable when there are straight image elements
aligned on the edges of the frame.
BUILDING PHOTO
This image is our "outdoor" test. The architecture
of the building, in particular its angled girders, immediately
show the presence of jaggies. The shadowed entrance can also
often reveal the quality of the exposure.
The wide angle shot reveals a slight barrel distortion,
discernible when there are verticals aligned on the edges
of the frame. However, there is no visible chromatic aberration
Overall, sharpness is on the soft side, noticeable when the
image is seen at 100% on a monitor, but that seems to be more
due to the relatively strong compression than the lens.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f7.1
Exposure:
Program
Shutter speed:
1/250 sec.
Res:
3072 x 2304
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Super Fine
ISO:
50
File Size:
2.78 MB
Focal Lgth:
35 mm (35 mm Eq.)
The exposure the Multi metering
yields is excellent, and the colour rendition accurate.
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 setting, the camera yields an exposure
that shows detail in both high and low lights, with no over-
or underexposed zones. Similarly, colours are true to those
the camera recorded in the wide angle shot.
No distortion is noticeable, nor is there any chromatic aberration.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4.9
Exposure:
Program
Shutter speed:
1/380 sec.
Res:
3072 x 2304
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Super Fine
ISO:
50
File Size:
2.75 MB
Focal Lgth:
105 mm (35 mm Eq.)
NIGHT PHOTO
Since this camera is capable of long exposures,
a photo taken at night is included here.
Aperture: f2.8; shutter
speed: 15 sec, 50 ISO, Night Scene mode.
While most modes are limited
to a maximum exposure time of 1 second, the Samsung L700 allows
an exposure time as long as 15 seconds when used in the Night
mode. Regrettably, this mode does not provide any control
over the white balance, and the results it yields vary according
to the type of lighting in the subject.
In this case, the light sources in this subject are a mix
of incandescent, fluorescent combined with sodium vapour street
lighting, which result in an image that has a strong yellow
cast.
As with the white
balance, ISO sensitivity is also under the control of the
camera. However, the camera maintains it at 50 ISO, preventing
the intrusion of noise into the image.
The Samsung L700 uses a noise reduction system that captures
a second frame without opening the shutter with the same exposure
time as the actual image. The noise data recorded over the
course of the second exposure is then used to eliminate it
from the first prior to saving it. The result is a rather
good image that while being a bit less sharp still retains
a very reasonable level of detail.
Test Photos
