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.
The RAW format (*.SR2) is used for both the wide angle shot
and the telephoto shot of the still life so as to retain all
the details captured by the camera. The value of the RAW format
lies in the fact that the image can be "processed"
prior to re-saving it into a more common and well-supported
format such as TIFF.
Photo
Information
Format:
RAW
Aperture:
f2.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/30 sec.
Res:
3888 x 2592
Flash:
On
Quality:
Lossless compression
ISO:
160
File Size:
RAW: 20.6 MB
TIFF: 28.8 MB
Focal Length:
24 mm (35mm Eq.)
As can be seen, even at the widest
angle of 24 mm, the built-in flash provides a good coverage
of the field of view and there is no detectable light falloff
in the corner of the frame.
We can also note that at the widest angle the image sharpness
is a bit soft overall, and even softer in the corners of the
image.
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.
The image captured at the maximum telephoto setting of the
zoom is impressive by its sharpness, rendering textures and
fine details with great precision. The metering is excellent,
producing a well-balanced exposure, and image noise is undetectable
even in dark areas.
Photo
Information
Format:
RAW
Aperture:
f4.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/50 sec.
Res:
3888 x 2592
Flash:
On
Quality:
Lossless compression
ISO:
160
File Size:
RAW: 20.6 MB
TIFF: 28.8 MB
Focal Length:
140 mm (35mm
Eq.)
Note that in the image shown above,
the jaggies that can be seen in the metallic edges of the Yashicaflex
are the result of the resizing used to present it. As can be
seen below when viewed at full scale the image is flawless.
Aperture: f4.8, shutter
speed: 1/50 sec, 160 ISO.
MACRO PHOTO
The DSC-R1's Macro mode is more of a close-up mode. The R1
is limited to a minimum distance of 35cm (13.8 in) to a subject
— as measured from the sensor's focal plane —
when the zoom is set to the wide angle, and 40cm (15.75 in.)
when the zoom is at the telephoto end. The smallest field
of view the R1 can capture is when the zoom is at the telephoto
end, approximately 15 cm (6 inches) with no distortion, while
the wide end captures 25 cm (10 inches) and has barrelling.
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.
Set to wide angle, the DSC-R1 has a focal length equivalent
to a 24mm, a very wide angle that is able to capture large
sections of the building, on either side of of its entrance
lobby.
With this exposure it is possible to see that the R1 strains
a bit when the subject contains widely contrasting areas.
Bright areas of the frame are overexposed — the pale
blue sky of this late Fall day is rendered white — while
the dark areas such as the entrance and paved foreground are
a bit underexposed.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f5.6
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/250 sec.
Res:
3888 x 2592
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
160
File Size:
3.7 MB
Focal Length:
24 mm (35mm Eq.)
Also worth noting, the wide angle
image exhibits no barrel distortion, and the very slight chromatic
aberration that can be occasionally observed near the edges
of the frame is undetectable closer to the centre of the image.
The image sharpness, however, is a touch soft at the widest
angle, most notably in the corners.
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.
Fully zoomed in, the entrance of the building dominates
the frame, and the bright sky is eliminated which lessens
the contrast in the frame. The resulting exposure is much
improved over the wide angle shot and reveals a lot of detail,
such as the sign on the door, and details inside the building.
Noise is also minimal, even in the shadow areas.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Sp:
1/60 sec.
Res:
3888 x 2592
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
160
File Size:
4.5 MB
Focal Lgth:
140 mm (35mm Eq.)
NIGHT PHOTO
As
this camera is capable of long exposures, a photo taken
at night is included.
When it is set to the Twilight
mode, the maximum exposure time of the DSC-R1 is a short 2
seconds making it only workable for comparatively brightly
lit subjects. Nevertheless, it allows modification to the
white balance — unusual for a Scene mode — while
forcing sensitivity to 160 ISO so as to avoid noise, both
good features.
Aperture: f9; shutter speed:
30 sec., 160 ISO.
Using the Manual mode however, it
is possible to use much longer exposure times, up to 30 seconds
timed and exposure, or a flexible Bulb setting that can be as
long as 3 minutes if the optional remote control is used.
To capture this image an exposure
time of 30 seconds and an aperture of f10 were used. This
allowed the camera to capture a bright image of the downtown
buildings, approximately 2.5 kilometres (1.55 miles) away.
The white balance is set to incandescent, and the result is
an image that has natural looking colours.
A noise reduction system — automatically applied to
images captured at shutter speeds longer than 1/6 second at
160 ISO — is efficient, and the image remains quite
sharp, even with the most distant parts of the subject.
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Test Photos
