Resolution Chart Comparison
Comparison cameras:
- Canon PowerShot G9 (12MP, 6x zoom)
- Canon PowerShot G7 (10MP, 6x zoom)
- Fujifilm FinePix F50fd (12 MP, 3 x zoom)
- Nikon COOLPIX P5100 (12 MP, 3.5 x zoom)
Shots here are of our standard resolution chart (version two). This 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. So a value of 15 equates to 1500 lines per picture height. (Note that on version two of our chart the vertical resolution 1000 - 2000 lines have been horizontally flipped but are otherwise identical). 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 auto, settings all factory default. If possible aperture was selected for optimum sharpness. Exposure compensation +0.3 EV to +1.3 EV.
Resolution chart crops
Measurable findings
| Camera |
Measurement |
Absolute
resolution |
Extinction
resolution |
| Canon PowerShot G9 |
Horiz LPH |
1950 |
2400* |
| Vert LPH |
1900 |
2400* |
| 5° Diagonal LPH |
+ 1000 |
n/a |
| Canon PowerShot G7 |
Horiz LPH |
1775 |
2225* |
| Vert LPH |
1850 |
2350* |
| 5° Diagonal LPH |
+ 1000 |
n/a |
| Fujifilm FinePix F50fd |
Horiz LPH |
2100 |
2850* |
| Vert LPH |
2000 |
2850* |
| 5° Diagonal LPH |
+1000 |
n/a |
| Nikon COOLPIX P5100 |
Horizontal LPH |
1850 |
2375* |
| Vertical LPH |
1800 |
2375* |
| 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) |
As we'd expect the G9 offers a very small resolution increase over its predecessor (thanks to the extra pixels), but it's very, very unlikely you'll see this in your pictures. The G9 - like many modern high resolution compacts - appears to use a fairly light anti-aliasing filter, so you get lots of high frequency detail but there is a touch of moiré.
The G9 doesn't produce the cleanest results we've ever seen (there's quite a lot of sharpening going on there) but we've seen many that are worse (and of course you always have the option to shoot raw). There's not a huge difference between the G9 and the Nikon P5100, but Fujifilm has shown once again how well the combination of Super CCD and a sharp lens does in this test, pulling an astonishing amount of detail from the test chart (how that translates into image quality for real world photos is more questionable). |
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