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.
At this distance the built-in flash of the N1 provides a
sufficient amount of light to cover the subject uniformly
and the camera remains at the lowest sensitivity level of
64 ISO.
The image the camera yields is detailed, and even with the
mix of fluorescent and incandescent lighting, the colours
produced by the auto white balance are generally accurate.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f2.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter
Speed:
1/40 sec.
Resolution:
3264 x 2448
Flash:
On
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
64
File Size:
2.96 MB
Focal Length:
38 mm (35mm Eq.)
ZOOM PHOTO
The intent with this photo is to test the sharpness of the image
at the zoom's maximum setting, with the camera remaining at the
same distance as in the preceding photo.
At the full telephoto setting of the zoom, the maximum aperture
of the lens is only f5.4, and in combination with the limited
power of the flash, the image is noticeably darker than the
wide angle shot.
Here again the N1 is set to Auto ISO, and the camera increases
sensitivity up to 100 ISO to produce a brighter image. As
can be seen below, the image is noise-free, and is quite detailed.
The Macro Mode of the
DSC-N1 allows the camera to focus on a subject that is 6 cm
(2.34 in.) from the lens while the zoom is at the wide angle
end, and 34 cm (13.26 in.) when the zoom is at the maximum
telephoto setting.
At the wide angle end, the N1 captures a field of view of
approximately 6.2 cm at the closest distance from the subject.
Some barrel distortion is visible in the image, and while
the centre of the image is sharp, the sharpness drops off
progressively towards the edges of the frame.
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.
With the benefit of bright sunshine, the N1 produces an excellent
image that is very detailed.
Strong contrast areas in the image, such as the deep shadows
under the beams that form the building's canopy, show no sign
of chromatic aberration.
The image also shows the Multi metering to be very accurate.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/640 sec.
Resolution:
3264 x 2448
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
64
File Size:
3.53 MB
Focal Length:
38 mm (35mm Eq.)
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.
With the lens set to the maximum telephoto, the Multi metering
again produces a very good exposure, as both the directly
lit zones and the shadow areas contain details and there is
no over or underexposure.
No noise is detectable in the image, even in the shadows,
and in view of the limited magnification provided by a 3X
zoom, the level of detail in the image is excellent.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/125 sec.
Resolution:
3264 x 2448
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
64
File Size:
3.57 MB
Focal Length:
114 mm (35mm Eq.)
NIGHT PHOTO
As this camera is capable of long exposures,
a photo taken at night is included.
Offering a maximum exposure
time of 30 seconds when set to the Manual mode and with an
effective noise reduction system, the Sony DSC-N1 is able
to capture excellent night scenery photos.
The long exposure time available to the photographer means
that smaller apertures — usually more suited to scenery
shots as they offer a greater depth of field — can be
used, and still result in a bright and interesting image.
Aperture: f8, shutter speed:
20 sec., 64 ISO.
As noted above, the DSC-N1
uses a dark frame noise reduction system* that is very effective
and does not lower the overall image sharpness significantly.
*
A dark frame noise reduction system works by capturing
a second frame of the same duration as the long
exposure, and then using the noise captured during
the second "dark" exposure to eliminate
it from the first image prior to the image being
saved.
Test Photos
