Compared to...
Here we will use our standard color and resolution charts to compare the Fujifilm FinePix F700 (6 & 3 mp), Fujifilm FinePix S5000 Zoom (6 & 3 mp), Fujifilm FinePix S602 Zoom (6 mp), Canon PowerShot S50 (5 mp reference) and Canon PowerShot A70 (3 mp reference).
Note that because the S5000 has an effective pixel count of three million (photosites) but a native image size of six million (pixels) we have had to compare the camera to both a three megapixel and five megapixel (as close to six as you can get for normal CCD's) digital camera.
Color Chart Comparison
Color charts are shot in daylight, Auto White Balance, +0.3 EV compensation (apart from the HP 935 which has +0.5 EV compensation). All cameras are given 20 seconds for their white balance systems to settle before the shot is taken (often we will take up to eight shots and select the 'average' AWB result).
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| Fujifilm FinePix F700 | Fujifilm FinePix S5000 Zoom |
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| Canon PowerShot S50 | Fujifilm FinePix S602 Zoom |
In the table below we're only measuring color. The RGB values were measured from a VGA reduced image (to average colors, remove noise and eliminate JPEG artifacts) using the Eyedropper tool in Photoshop with a 5 by 5 Average Sample Size.
| Patch | Fujifilm FinePix F700 |
Fujifilm FinePix S5000 Zoom |
Canon PowerShot S50 |
Fujifilm FinePix S602 Zoom |
| Black | 19,24,25 | 22,26,24 | 33,34,34 | 25,25,25 |
| Middle Grey | 105,110,116 | 102,109,114 | 96,100,103 | 100,104,109 |
| White | 223,228,232 | 218,225,228 | 207,209,210 | 207,214,218 |
| Magenta | 252,50,156 | 243,55,139 | 200,44,119 | 217,53,119 |
| Red | 251,44,52 | 242,48,45 | 197,36,47 | 225,47,36 |
| Yellow | 228,217,54 | 221,208,53 | 203,193,24 | 225,200,65 |
| Green | 2,163,63 | 8,155,68 | 9,135,70 | 18,145,82 |
| Cyan | 0,189,209 | 0,184,221 | 6,144,213 | 0,168,219 |
| Blue | 35,40,140 | 46,48,127 | 29,41,109 | 42,48,131 |
Both the FinePix F700 and S5000 deliver almost identical color response, and both have far too much saturation of the red channel on the magenta and red patches. This will undoubtedly lead to over-saturated reds for bright red objects such as a red rose in sunlight.
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, all settings factory default. Exposure compensation +0.7 EV for all cameras (to compensate for the white background). Click on the camera name below the crops to download the full resolution chart (large JPEG's).
Comparison: Six megapixel (SuperCCD) vs. Five megapixel
| Horizontal resolution | Vertical resolution | 5 degree diagonal res. |
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| Fujifilm FinePix S5000 Zoom @ 6 mp (1,460 KB) | ||
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| Fujifilm FinePix F700 @ 6 mp (1,356 KB) | ||
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| Canon PowerShot S50 (2,011 KB) | ||
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| Fujifilm FinePix S602 Zoom (2,365 KB) | ||
Comparison: Three megapixel (SuperCCD) vs. Three megapixel
| Horizontal resolution | Vertical resolution | 5 degree diagonal res. |
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| Fujifilm FinePix S5000 Zoom @ 3 mp (814 KB) | ||
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| Fujifilm FinePix F700 @ 3 mp (768 KB) | ||
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| Canon PowerShot A70 (1,196 KB) | ||
Measurable findings (three measurements taken for each camera)
| Camera | Measurement | Absolute Res. | Extinction Res. |
| Fujifilm FinePix F700 (@ 6mp) |
Horizontal LPH | 1350 | * 1650 |
| Vertical LPH | 1200 | * 1650 | |
| 5° Diagonal LPH | + 1000 | n/a | |
| Fujifilm FinePix S5000 Z (@ 6mp) |
Horizontal LPH | 1100 | * 1300 |
| Vertical LPH | * 1000 | * 1300 | |
| 5° Diagonal LPH | * 900 | * 1000 | |
| Canon PowerShot S50 | Horizontal LPH | 1450 | * 1650 |
| Vertical LPH | 1350 | * 1700 | |
| 5° Diagonal LPH | + 1000 | n/a | |
| Canon PowerShot A70 | Horizontal LPH | * 1100 | 1300 |
| Vertical LPH | 1000 | * 1300 | |
| 5° Diagonal LPH | # 900 | n/a |
* Moiré is visible, + Chart maximum, # Jagged diagonals
Definition of terms
| 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 Resolution | Still defined detail (below Nyquist frequency*) |
| Extinction Resolution | Detail beyond camera's definition (becomes a solid grey alias) |
| n/a | Not Available (above the capability of the test chart) |
| n/v | Not Visible (not visible on test results) |
image detail. Beyond the Nyquist frequency aliasing occurs.
Interesting and disappointing at the same time, the S5000's resolution is fairly close to that of a normal CCD three megapixel digital camera (in this case the PowerShot A70). However it's quite far from the F700 and certainly not representative of the capability of SuperCCD to achieve improved horizontal and vertical resolution. We can only assume that this is a limitation of the 10x zoom lens.














































































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