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.
The DSC-W200 has a very small flash, and the distance at which
this subject is photographed is close to the limit of what the
flash can illuminate when the camera sensitivity is set to 100
ISO. With this shot, while there is no obvious light falloff
in the corners of the frame, the overall image brightness is
a touch dark. Still, at this sensitivity, the W200 yields its
best image quality.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f2.8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter
Speed:
1/40 sec.
Resolution:
4000 x 3000
Flash:
On
Quality:
12M
ISO:
100
File Size:
3.8 MB
Focal Length:
35 mm (35 mm Eq.)
Observed at 100% (see image
crop below) the image reveals a very reasonable level
of detail. Nevertheless, the image also shows some of the
effect of the compression — in this case at a 9:1 ratio
— in the paint-like look of the backdrop cloth.
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.
Zoomed in, the brightest aperture available to the lens
becomes f5.5 and a 100 ISO sensitivity is too low to allow
for a reasonably bright image, forcing the use of Auto ISO
so the camera can adjust the sensitivity to increase the image
brightness. At 400 ISO, the image is acceptably bright, but
at the cost of a subtle, yet noticeable increase in noise
— coloured specs — visible in the shadowed areas
of the image that seem to cause a slightly larger file size.
Part of a large sunflower provides a macro subject for the
DSC-W200. The W200 is capable of macro focusing on a subject
that is 5 cm (1.95 inches) from the front element of the lens
when it is at the wide angle end, and 34 cm (13.5 inches)
at the telephoto end.
At the minimum focus distance, obtained when the zoom is
set to the wide angle end, the W200 captures a field of view
of 6 cm (2.34 inches), and some barrel distortion can be seen,
depending on the subject.
Although the image is in focus,
the effect of the strong JPEG compression the camera applies
is clearly visible in the fuzziness of the details in the image,
as can be seen below when it is seen at 100%. But, as noted,
when printed or when seen at less than full scale, the image
size is quite good.
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.
Given a well-lit subject, the Multi metering of the DSC-W200
produces a well-balanced image. Although the subject contains
some strong contrasts, the chromatic aberration — a
purple fringe — is very light and is only barely noticeable
below the beams that form the building canopy.
At normal distances, images show little or no barrel distortion,
and although the sharpness is a touch softer at the wide end
at the widest aperture, this image which is captured using
a smaller aperture shows a very reasonable level of detail.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f5.5
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/500 sec.
Resolution:
4000 x 3000
Flash:
Off
Quality:
12M
ISO:
100
File Size:
3.1 MB
Focal Length:
35 mm (35 mm 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.
At the maximum telephoto, the 12.1 megapixel resolution of
the CCD allows the camera to record the small sign on the
right side door (see below). The exposure is good,
albeit revealing little inside the building, as it gives preference
to the brightly lit exterior.
At an 11:1 ratio, however, the compression applied to the
image is quite strong and its effect can be seen in a softening
of the smaller details, such as the texture of the concrete
surfaces.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f5.6
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/400 sec.
Resolution:
4000 x 3000
Flash:
Off
Quality:
12M
ISO:
100
File
Size:
3.3 MB
Focal Length:
105 mm (35 mm
Eq.)
NIGHT PHOTO
As this camera is capable of long exposures,
a couple of photos taken at night are included.
Equipped with a Manual mode that allows exposures as long
as 30 seconds, and which provides control over most other
photographic parameters such as white balance and sensitivity,
the DSC-W200 is perfectly capable of capturing interesting
night time shots.
All long exposures captured with the camera are automatically
processed for noise reduction, using a dark frame process
that captures a second image without opening the shutter,
allowing the camera to determine where the noise is, and then
delete it from the image prior to saving it.
Aperture: f2.8; shutter
speed: 13 sec., 100 ISO.
With this subject, the DSC-W200
produces a bright, almost overexposed, image after a 13 second
long exposure at 100 ISO. Even after noise reduction, the
image retains a very reasonable level of detail, although
some compression artefacts can be detected.
Test Photos
