Resolution Chart Comparison

Shots here are of our new 'version two' resolution chart which provides for measurement of resolution up to 4000 LPH (Lines Per Picture Height). A value of 20 equates to 2000 lines per picture height. For each camera the relevant prime lens was used. The chart is shot at a full range of apertures and the sharpest image selected. Studio light, cameras set to aperture priority (optimum aperture selected), image parameters default. Exposure compensation +0.7 EV to +1.3 EV.

Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro (5,259 KB; 12.1 MP)	Canon EOS 30D (2,409 KB; 8.2 MP)
Canon EOS 5D (3,552 KB; 12.8 MP)	Nikon D200 (2,728 KB; 10.0 MP)

Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro	Canon EOS 30D
Canon EOS 5D	Nikon D200

Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro	Canon EOS 30D
Canon EOS 5D	Nikon D200

Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro	Canon EOS 30D
Canon EOS 5D	Nikon D200

Measurable findings (three measurements taken for each camera):

Once again Fujifilm proves that the combination of pixel layout and processing used in its Super CCD cameras does bear fruit in higher than expected horizontal and vertical resolution, producing results that sit somewhere between the best 6 megapixel cameras and the majority of 10 megapixel competitors. This is tempered somewhat by the rather poor performance on diagonals, where Super CCD is at its weakest. It's worth noting that at 12Mp and at 6MP the S5 Pro does a slightly better job than its predecessor the S3 Pro.

As we've said before Super CCD always does well in these tests, and we suspect that most of the extra resolution comes from clever processing; there's nothing in 'real world' shots to suggest that the S5 Pro is capturing anything like the resolution of cameras like the D200 or EOS 5D, though it is certainly doing a better job than any of the conventional sensor 6MP SLRs.