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.
At this distance, with the zoom set to wide angle which
has a relatively large maximum aperture, the flash of the
S90 has little trouble providing a sufficient amount of light.
Nevertheless, when the subject is a bit more distant, and
the ambient light softer, the images tend to be darker, and
contain a bit more noise. Sharpness on the other hand, be
it at this distance or farther, is a bit soft.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f2.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/40 sec.
Res:
2304 x 1728
Flash:
On
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
80
File Size:
1.54 MB
Focal Length:
39 mm (35mm Eq.)
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 S90 produces a good photo that shows a lot
of detail, and is quite well-lit, despite the fact that at
the telephoto end the lens' maximum aperture is f5.2; however,
this subject is relatively close by at around 1.95 m (6.5
ft). With subjects that are farther, the best results are
obtained if the ISO option in the menu is set to Auto, and
the camera allowed to increase sensitivity up to 320 ISO,
even if there is a gain in the amount of noise in the image.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f5.2
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/50 sec.
Res:
2304 x 1728
Flash:
On
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
80
File Size:
1.79 MB
Focal Length:
117 mm (35mm Eq.)
Aperture: f6.3, shutter
speed: 1/2 sec., 80 ISO.
MACRO PHOTO
When the Macro mode is active, the Sony DSC-S90 has a minimum
focus distance of 10 cm (4 inches) when the lens is at the
equivalent of 50 mm (1.3X), which means that a small amount
of zoom can be used to narrow the field of view captured.
With the zoom at the 1.3X setting, and the camera placed
at the minimum distance of 10 cm, the field of view the S90
captures is approximately 8.5 cm (3.3 inches) wide.
While this field of view may not
be one of the narrowest, the S90's Manual mode makes it easy
to control the exposure and use one of the smallest aperture
possible so that the depth of field — the in-focus zone
in the image — is maximized. But, as the smallest aperture
will usually lead to a relatively slow shutter speed, the use
of a tripod, or a sturdy mini-tripod, may be advisable.
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.
The mix of white cloud and blue sky softens the lighting,
making it easier for the metering to yield a well-balanced
exposure. But the white clouds that are the backdrop of the
building's beams also highlight the fact that given the right
conditions, the S90's photos can reveal a slight chromatic
aberration which appears as a purple line underscoring the
supporting I beam of the canopy.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f5.6
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/320 sec.
Res:
2304 x 1728
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
80
File Size:
1.7 MB
Focal Length:
39 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.
Zoomed in, the S90 captures a good image that contains a
lot of detail in the directly lit foreground, and in the deep
shadows behind the green-tinted glass doors. Moreover, although
the zoom only offers a 3X magnification, the image is crisp
enough that the sign encouraging visitors to use the left
door to enter the building is almost legible.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f5.2
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Sp:
1/200 sec.
Res:
2304 x 1728
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
80
File Size:
1.7 MB
Focal Lgth:
117 mm (35mm Eq.)
NIGHT PHOTO
As
this camera is capable of long exposures, a photo taken
at night is included.
Set to Manual mode, the DSC-S90
is able to capture exposures as long as 30 seconds. A 30-second
exposure time is enough to allow for a photo to be captured
at the full telephoto setting of the zoom which has a maximum
aperture of f5.2, and in turn produce a much more interesting
image.
The CCD sensitivity is forced to 80 ISO, the level that is
least affected by noise, and the white balance is set to Incandescent,
as it yields the most realistic colours.
Aperture: f5.2, shutter
speed: 30 sec., 80 ISO
Since the S90 uses a dark frame
noise reduction system, capturing a 30-second exposure means
that the camera automatically follows it by a second 30-second
exposure with the shutter closed so it can capture the inherent
noise the CCD gathers over this time. The noise captured during
that second exposure is then identified and used to eliminate
noise from the first.
With the S90 the process is effective, and the photo shows
reduced noise albeit at the cost of some detail.
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Test Photos
