Resolution Chart Comparison
Comparison cameras:
- Panasonic DMC-FZ30 (8MP, 12x zoom)
- Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200 (8MP, 7x zoom)
- Nikon Coolpix 8700 (8 MP, 10x zoom)
- Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F828 (8 MP, 7.1x zoom)
- Canon PowerShot Pro 1 (8 MP, 7.1x zoom)
- Panasonic DMC-FZ20 (8MP, 12x zoom)
Shots 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 1/100th lines per picture height. Thus a value of 15 equates to 1500 lines per picture height.
Studio light, cameras set to auto, settings all factory default. If possible aperture was selected for optimum sharpness. Exposure compensation +0.7 EV to +1.3 EV.
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|---|---|
| Panasonic DMC-FZ30 (2,845 KB; 8 MP) | Nikon Coolpix 8700 (2,179 KB; 8 MP) |
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| Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200 (1,712 KB; 8 MP) |
Canon PowerShot Pro1 (2,801 KB; 8 MP) |
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| Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F828 (3,116 KB; 8 MP) | Panasonic DMC-FZ20 (1,846 KB; 5 MP) |
Resolution chart crops
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| Panasonic DMC-FZ30 | Nikon Coolpix 8700 |
|---|---|
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| Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200 | Canon PowerShot Pro 1 |
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| Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F828 | Panasonic DMC-FZ20 |
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| Panasonic DMC-FZ30 | Nikon Coolpix 8700 |
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| Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200 | Canon PowerShot Pro 1 |
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| Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F828 | Panasonic DMC-FZ20 |
Measurable findings
| Camera | Measurement | Absolute resolution |
Extinction resolution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic DMC-FZ30 | Horiz LPH | 1750 | +2000 |
| Vert LPH | 1800 | +2000 | |
| 5° Diagonal LPH | + 1000 | n/a | |
| Konica Minolta A200 | Horiz LPH | *1650 | *1900 |
| Vert LPH | *1500 | *1850 | |
| 5° Diagonal LPH | #+ 1000 | n/a | |
| Canon PowerShot Pro 1 | Horiz LPH | 1700 | 1950 |
| Vert LPH | 1650 | * 1950 | |
| 5° Diagonal LPH | #+ 1000 | n/a | |
| Nikon Coolpix 8700 | Horiz LPH | 1600 | * 1900 |
| Vert LPH | 1500 | 1850 | |
| 5° Diagonal LPH | +1000 | n/a | |
| Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F828 | Horiz LPH | 1650 | * 1950 |
| Vert LPH | 1550 | 1950 | |
| 5° Diagonal LPH | +1000 | n/a | |
| Panasonic DMC-FZ20 | Horizontal LPH | 1350 | 1650 |
| Vertical LPH | 1300 | 1600 | |
| 5° Diagonal LPH | +1000 | n/a |
| * | Moiré is visible |
|---|---|
| # | Jagged diagonals |
| + | Chart maximum |
| LPH | Lines per Picture Height (to allow for different aspect ratios the measurement is the same for horizontal and vertical) |
| 5° Diagonal | Lines set at 5° diagonal |
| Absolute res. | Point at which all lines of a resolution bar are still visible and defined, beyond this resolution loss of detail occurs (below Nyquist frequency). |
| Extinction res. | Detail beyond camera's definition (becomes aliased) |
| n/a | Not Available (above the capability of the test chart) |
| n/v | Not Visible (not visible on test results) |
The FZ30 sets new standards for resolution in this class of camera, with clean, moiré-free results that pretty much go off the end of the chart. And the best news is you can eek even more resolution out of the lens/sensor combination by shooting RAW (as long as you've got a copy of Photoshop or Elements and the latest ACR plug-in) - see the next page for details.
