Digital Photography Review
Nikon Coolpix 775 review
Page 15. Compared to...

 Digital Photography Review


Compared to... (contd.)

Now we can compare the Coolpix 775 to some data from our test archives. On this page we'll be comparing colour and resolution to the Canon Digital IXUS 300 (S300), Nikon Coolpix 950 and Olympus C-700UZ. I threw in the Olympus as a relatively in-expensive, recent, 2 megapixel digital camera.

Colour Chart Comparison

Colour charts are shot in daylight, Auto White Balance, EV compensation +0.3 (all cameras), measured light ~10 EV.

Nikon Coolpix 775 Canon Digital IXUS 300
Nikon Coolpix 950 Olympus C-700UZ

In the table below we're only measuring colour. The RGB values were measured from a VGA reduced image (to average colours and eliminate JPEG artifacts) using the Eyedropper tool in Photoshop with a 5 by 5 Average Sample Size.

Patch Nikon
Coolpix 775		 Canon Digital
IXUS 300 (S300)
  		Nikon
Coolpix 950 		Olympus
C-700 UZ
Black 16,20,19 21,21,21 20,20,20 21,25,25
       
Middle Gray 97,98,98

98,98,98

 105,108,108 94,104,109
       
White 202,204,200 213,213,209 198,198,198 194,204,210
       
Magenta 219,31,83 204,38,112 208,44,122 173,50,115
       
Red 212,17,9 201,30,40 215,31,41 173,24,24
       
Yellow 187,189,39 206,193,31 203,185,77

179,180,14
       
Green 0,156,77 25,131,63 0,148,67

32,130,51
       
Cyan

0,186,214

30,155,209

 39,170,204 43,174,225
       
Blue

26,41,100

24,30,93

 57,51,132 33,51,130
       

On the whole a fair performance, things which are most noticeable is the strength of the red and magenta patches, slightly subdued yellow and dark blue (though this is a common problem with digital cameras).

Resolution Comparison

Shots here 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. So a value of 8 equates to 800 lines per picture height.

Studio light, cameras set to auto, Exposure compensation +0.7 EV for all cameras.

Nikon Coolpix 775
Canon Digital IXUS 300 (S300 ELPH)
Nikon Coolpix 950
Olympus C-700UZ

Measurable findings (three measurements taken for each camera):

Camera Measurement Absolute Res.  Extinction Res. 
Nikon Coolpix 775 Horiz LPH 750  950 
Vert LPH 750  1000 
5° Diagonal LPH 800  900 
Canon Digital IXUS 300 Horiz LPH * 820  1000 
Vert LPH 800  1050 
5° Diagonal LPH 800  900 
Nikon Coolpix 950 Horiz LPH 750  1050 
Vert LPH 750  1050 
5° Diagonal LPH 800  n/a 
Olympus C-700 UZ Horiz LPH * 800  1000 
Vert LPH * 800  1050 
5° Diagonal LPH * 700  900 

* Moiré visible

Definition of terms:

LPH Lines per Picture Height (to allow for different aspect ratios the measurement is the same for horizontal and vertical)
5o Diagonal Lines set at 5o diagonal
Absolute Resolution Still defined detail (below Nyquist frequency*)
Extinction Resolution Detail beyond camera's definition (becomes a solid gray alias)
n/a Not Available (above the capability of the test chart)
n/v Not Visible (not visible on test results)

* Nyquist frequency defined as the highest spatial frequency where the CCD can still faithfully record
image detail. Beyond the Nyquist frequency aliasing occurs.

The Coolpix 775 was a bit of a disappointment when it came to absolute resolution, not really fairing any better than its older sibling the Coolpix 950 the camera seemed to be let down by its lens which left the image looking fuzzy. Note that the Coolpix 775 shot was taken with sharpening set to Normal.
From:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/NikonCP775/
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