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 artefacts 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.
With its 8 megapixel CCD, the DSC-H9 yields an image that
has a file size that is smaller than the DSC-H5,
its parent camera and a camera that had a lower resolution.
And, although the image retains a reasonable level of detail
since the subject is nearby, some of the effects of the strong
compression the H9 applies to all its images can be detected.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f2.7
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/40 sec.
Res:
3264 x 2448
Flash:
On
Quality:
——
ISO:
80
File Size:
2.3 MB
Focal Length:
31 mm (35 mm Eq.)
The camera's white balance is set
to Auto, and although the colours it yields under this mixed
lighting are acceptable, some shot-to-shot variations are detectable.
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.
Zoomed in, the proximity of the subject and the magnifying
power of the 15X zoom lens allow for a very detailed image.
Still, the compression's "averaging" of the colour
hues of the image can be seen in the paint-like look of the
metallic trim of the old YashicaFlex's lens trim.
Set to the Macro mode, the DSC-H9 is able to focus on a subject
that is 1 cm (0.39 inch) from the front element of the lens
when the zoom is set to the widest angle, and 120 cm (46.8
inches) at the maximum telephoto.
At the minimum focus distance of 1 cm (0.39 inch) the field
of view the camera captures is approximately 5 cm (1.95 inches).
Barrel distortion is pervasive with
macro shots captured at the minimum distance and with the zoom
at the widest angle, and better results are obtained if the
camera is farther back and the zoom is used partially. The flash
can be used, as it was in the shot presented here, but if the
camera is too close to the subject the lens will cast a shadow,
as can be seen here.
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.
Wide angle shots of this type are not the H9's strong suit.
The heavy-handed compression removes much of the detail, producing
once again a file size less than what the 7 megapixel H5 yielded.
Purple fringing — a chromatic aberration — can
be seen below the supporting beam of the canopy, and marbling
can be seen in the blue green areas of the building's exterior.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f5
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/250 sec.
Res:
3264 x 2448
Flash:
Off
Quality:
——
ISO:
80
File Size:
2.2 MB
Focal Length:
31 mm (35 mm Eq.)
Below is another crop from this
wide angle shot, clearly showing the lack of sharpness that
can be seen on the edges of wide angle shots. Worth noting however,
when printed to a size such as 5 x 7 inch (12 x 18), the lack
of sharpness is not as noticeable. The section shown below is
taken from the left side of the frame, but the right side had
a similar lack of sharpness.
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.
The stabilized 15X telephoto of the H9 is able to capture
a clear image of the front doors of the building, and of some
of the items on the wall inside the entrance.
The maximum telephoto reveals the lens to have a bit of pincushion
distortion, noticeable here because of the door jamb that
is bowing toward the centre of the frame. And some purple
fringing is observable along the edge of the concrete ashtray
outside the doors.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4.5
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Sp:
1/160 sec.
Res:
3264 x 2448
Flash:
Off
Quality:
——
ISO:
80
File Size:
1.9 MB
Focal Length:
465 mm (35 mm Eq.)
The telephoto end of the DSC-H9's
zoom can produce images that show more detail than wide angle
shots, but the compression still takes a toll, as can be seen
in the softness of the items in the entrance.
NIGHT PHOTO
As
this camera is capable of long exposures, a photo taken
at night is included.
Aperture: f4.5; shutter
speed: 30 sec., 80 ISO.
Exposures as long as 30 seconds
are possible with the DSC-H9, and noise reduction is applied
to all long exposures.
The best results are achieved if the subject is not too detailed
and is captured at mid to full zoom. Very detailed subjects
tend to be adversely affected by the combination of noise
reduction and compression, resulting in an image that is quite
blurry, an effect that is even more noticeable with the wide
angle shots that are soft to begin with.
The photo shown here is an example
of this. This shipyard crane is very dimly lit, allowing for
a long exposure, and has a uniform colour and contains relatively
few details, characteristics which help minimize the impact
of the noise reduction processing and the compression. It
is photographed at 80 ISO to avoid noise as much as possible,
and using the maximum telephoto setting so as to have the
sharpest image.
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Test Photos
