Compared to the Nikon D1x (contd.)

Studio scene comparison

This is our standard studio scene comparison shot taken from exactly the same tripod within about a minute of each other (tripod was moved closer to the subject to compensate for the difference in multiplier between the D60 and D1x). Lighting: 2 x 800W studio lights with dichroic daylight filters bounced off a white ceiling reflector. Crops magnified 200%.

  • Canon EOS-D60: Parameters: Standard, Self-Timer, Mirror-Lockup Enabled,
    White balance: Manual Preset, Manual Exposure, Manual Focus, Canon EF 50 mm F1.4 lens,
    Large/Fine JPEG
     
  •  Nikon D1x: Tone: Normal, Sharpening: Normal, Colour space: sRGB, Self-Timer,
    Anti Mirror Shock Mode: On, White Balance: Manual Preset, Manual Exposure, Manual Focus,
    Nikkor 50 mm F1.4D lens, Large/Fine JPEG
Canon EOS-D60 Nikon D1x
ISO 100, F10, 1 sec ISO 125, F10, 1 sec

Both cameras do an excellent job of pulling the detail out of the image, there are several areas of fine detail where the D1x's additional horizontal resolution is able to better define horizontal elements. However, the overall conclusion must be that the D60 with it's superior vertical resolution is better able to resolve the full six megapixels of resolution. Colour balance is more interesting, the D1x producing a brighter and more vivid image, the D60's image looking more neutral (of course you could get a more vivid D60 image by creating a parameter set with the 'saturation +1' setting).