Compared to... (Canon PowerShot G5)
On the next two pages you will find studio comparisons between the Minolta
DiMAGE A1, Canon PowerShot G5 and Fujifilm FinePix S7000 Zoom. The PowerShot
G5 was chosen as a very popular prosumer five megapixel digital camera,
the FinePix S7000 as Fujifilm's latest prosumer and the first at this
level with a six megapixel sensor (and hence theoretically more resolution
than the DiMAGE A1). Exposure compensation was only applied to equalize
the tonal balance of the image between each camera (because of differences
of metering and tone curve).
Studio scene comparison
- Minolta DiMAGE A1: Aperture Priority mode, ISO 100, Default
Image Parameters,
Manual white balance, JPEG Large / Extra Fine, sRGB (Natural)
- Canon PowerShot G5: Aperture Priority mode, ISO 100, Default
Image Parameters,
Manual white balance, JPEG Large / Super Fine, +0.3 EV Exposure Compensation
- Lighting: Two daylight simulation continuous lights with softboxes
| Minolta
DiMAGE A1 |
Canon
PowerShot G5 |
| ISO 100, 1/60 sec,
F5.0 |
ISO 100, 1/80 sec,
F5.0 |
  |
| 2,659 KB JPEG |
2,391 KB JPEG |
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Firstly it's worth noting the slight difference in exposure between the
two cameras, the PowerShot G5 required a +0.3 EV exposure compensation
to achieve the same tonal balance in the image. The DiMAGE A1 is clearly
cleaner at ISO 100 than the PowerShot G5, this supports the results of
our noise level tests earlier in this review. That said the G5 does have
an ISO 50 option which will keep noise to a minimum (sample below), although
this is only useful in good light.
The PowerShot G5 also appears to have more sophisticated Bayer interpolation
and image processing algorithms than the DiMAGE A1 which can at times
exhibit colored artifacts on fine detail as well as clipping the edge
of detail (where the G5 has a smooth transition). From an absolute resolution
point of view the PowerShot G5 does perform better, color response is
similar and the G5's tone is slightly flatter than the DiMAGE A1 (although
both cameras provide tone control).
Also available for download
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