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.
To capture the photos for this section of the review, the
TIFF format was used. The TIFF format is uncompressed, and
while it generates large-size files, it also produces images
that are supposed to be the highest quality possible with
the camera.
Likewise, the CCD sensitivity has been set to 50 ISO so as
to minimize noise.
Left to its default settings, the exposure produced by the
camera is a touch too dark.
Photo
Information
Format:
TIFF
Aperture:
f 2.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter speed:
1/30 sec.
Res:
3072 x 2304
Flash:
On
Quality:
Uncompressed
ISO:
50
File Size:
20.8 MB
Focal Lgth:
38 mm (35mm Eq.)
To increase the brightness of the
image, an exposure compensation setting of +1EV is used.
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.
Zoomed in, the V700 yields an image that has colours that
are as faithful as those the camera captured at the wide angle
end. However, here again an exposure compensation of +0.7
EV is used to brighten up the image.
The V700 captures a very detailed image, and the textures
of the cloth and the old photo paper envelope are clearly
visible. Likewise, noise is minimal, even in shadow areas.
Using either the Manual focus mode, or the Macro mode which
is activated using the 4-direction control, the camera makes
it possible to focus on a subject that is 4 cm (1.56 inch)
from the subject when the zoom is set to the wide end, or
25 cm (9.75 inches) when it is set to its maximum telephoto
setting.
At the closest focus distance, this yields a horizontal field
of view of 4.4 cm (1.7 in.) at the wide angle end, and
8.7 cm (3.4 in.) at the telephoto end.
With macro shots captured at the
wide angle end, a certain amount of barrel distortion can be
observed. Therefore, with subjects that contain vertical or
horizontal elements that may appear close to the edges of the
frame, it is preferable to move back from the subject, and use
the zoom a little bit, which avoids any distortion and also
allows using the flash.
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.
Spring in Vancouver often means that there is a high white
cloud cover which diffuses the light, creating a milky white
background. Under these conditions, any chromatic aberration
becomes immediately noticeable, and tends to be accentuated.
Indeed, examined at 100%, a slight chromatic aberration is
detectable in the wide angle image, appearing as a purple
fringe below the beams that form the building's canopy.
Photo
Information
Format:
TIFF
Aperture:
f5.7
Exposure:
Program
Shutter speed:
1/80 sec.
Res:
3072 x 2304
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Uncompressed
ISO:
50
File Size:
20.8 MB
Focal Lgth:
38 mm (35mm Eq.)
The Multi metering pattern, which
has a tendency to give greater importance to the centre of the
frame, captures a correctly exposed 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.
Photos captured at the maximum telephoto setting show that
the zoom has no pin cushion distortion.
Once again the multi metering pattern evaluates the scene
properly, and yields an image that shows a lot of detail in
the shadow areas while avoiding any overexposure of the bright
foreground. In fact, the balance between light and dark is
good enough to not only reveal the fire panel in the entrance,
but also makes the small sign on the glass door nearly legible.
Photo
Information
Format:
TIFF
Aperture:
f5.1
Exposure:
Program
Shutter speed:
1/80 sec.
Res:
3072 x 2304
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Uncompressed
ISO:
50
File Size:
20.8 MB
Focal Lgth:
114 mm (35mm Eq.)
While the image contains no chromatic
aberration, a bit of noise can be seen in some of the shadow
areas.
NIGHT PHOTO
Since this camera is capable of long exposures,
a photo taken at night is included here.
The Night scene mode
of the Samsung V700 provides a maximum exposure time of 6
seconds, and does not allow the user to control either CCD
sensitivity, or white balance. The Manual mode, on the other
hand, provides a maximum exposure time of 15 seconds, and
full control over both ISO and sensitivity.
This makes it possible to capture the image shown here, using
the largest aperture, a 50 ISO sensitivity to limit noise,
and a 15 second exposure so that the image is bright.
Immediately after
capturing the exposure, the V700 captures a second exposure
of the same duration, but without opening the shutter, which
allows the sensor to accumulate the intrinsic electronic noise.
This information is then used to delete the noise from the
first exposure prior to saving it, but effectively doubles
the time required for any night time photo.
The system is very efficient, and even if some noise can
be detected in a 400 ISO exposure, the image remains
quite useable.
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Test Photos
