Resolution Chart Comparison
Comparison cameras:
- Panasonic DMC-LX3 (10MP, 2.5x zoom)
- Canon Powershot G10 (14.7MP, 5x zoom)
- Nikon Coolpix P6000 (13.4MP, x zoom)
- Panasonic DMC-LX2 (10MP, 4x zoom)
Shots here are of our standard resolution chart (version one or 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.
| Panasonic DMC-LX3 (4,821 KB; 10 MP) | Canon PowerShot G10 (4,602 KB; 14.7 MP) |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Nikon Coolpix P6000 (3,382 KB; 13.4 MP) | Panasonic DMC-LX2 (4,821 KB; 10 MP) |
Resolution chart crops
| Panasonic DMC-LX3 | Canon PowerShot G10 |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Nikon Coolpix P6000 | Panasonic DMC-LX2 |
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|
| Panasonic DMC-LX3 | Canon PowerShot G10 |
| Nikon Coolpix P6000 | Panasonic DMC-LX2 |
Measurable findings
| Camera | Measurement | Absolute resolution |
Extinction resolution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic DMC-LX3 | Horiz LPH | 2150 | 2400 |
| Vert LPH | 2150 | 2500 | |
| Canon PowerShot G10 | Horiz LPH | 2450 | * 2750 |
| Vert LPH | 2500 | * 2750 | |
| Nikon Coolpix P6000 | Horiz LPH | 2250 | *2450 |
| Vert LPH | 2250 | *2400 | |
| Panasonic DMC-LX2 | Horiz LPH | 1550 | * 2050 |
| Vert LPH | 1650 | * 2100 |
| * | 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) |
| 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) |
Unsurprisingly, the LX3 cannot compete with the two higher pixel-count cameras when shooting a high-contrast test chart at lowest sensitivity settings. It's a good result for a 10 megapixel camera, though it's worth noting the aliasing patterns that start to appear from around 1900 line pairs onwards - suggesting the image processing is working pretty hard to render this much detail. The LX3 is also producing pretty obvious sharpening halos on the borders between black and white regions (it's particularly obvious around the text).
