Compared to...

Colour Chart Comparison

Using the test charts in our review database we can compare the FinePix F601 Zoom to three other compact digital cameras: Canon PowerShot S40, Pentax Optio 430 and Olympus C-40Z (D-40Z).

Colour charts are shot in daylight, Auto White Balance, EV compensation +0.3 (all cameras), measured light ~10 EV. This test is also dependent on the accuracy of the camera's auto white balance, the colour charts are shot in daylight but some camera's white balance is better than others. All cameras are given 20 seconds to "settle" before the shot is taken.

Fujifilm FinePix F601 Zoom	Canon PowerShot S40
Pentax Optio 430	Olympus C-40Z

In the table below we're only measuring colour. The RGB values were measured from a VGA reduced image (to average colours, remove noise and eliminate JPEG artifacts) using the Eyedropper tool in Photoshop with a 5 by 5 Average Sample Size.

The F601Z exhibits the strongest colour of any other camera here, saturation for primary colour channels almost always around the 230 level (a little high for my tastes). Again you can see the orange cast visible in the pure red patch, this caused by the high level of green. With such strong colour response I would have liked to have seen Fujifilm providing an in-camera colour saturation control.

Resolution Comparison

Shots here are of the PIMA/ISO 12233 standard resolution test chart (more of which are available in our comparison database). This resolution chart allows us to measure the actual performance of the lens and sensor system. It measures the ability of the camera to resolve lines at gradually higher resolutions and enables us to provide a definitive value for comparison purposes. Values on the chart are 1/100^th lines per picture height. So a value of 8 equates to 800 lines per picture height.

Studio light, cameras set to auto, all settings factory default. Exposure compensation +0.7 EV for all cameras.

Horizontal resolution	Vertical resolution	5 degree diagonal res.
Fujifilm FinePix F601 Zoom (crops from 6 megapixel output image )
Canon PowerShot S40
Pentax Optio 430
Olympus C-40Z (D-40Z)

Measurable findings (three measurements taken for each camera):

Definition of terms:

As we expected an identical performance to the 6800Z it replaces. In this situation Fujifilm's SuperCCD does manage to 'draw out' more resolution that the equivalent traditional CCD. Resolution is clearly up there with the majority of consumer level four megapixel digital cameras.