Compared to...

Now we'll use the data in our review database to compare the S602Z's colour and resolution to three other digital cameras: the Canon PowerShot G2, Sony DSC-S75 and Nikon Coolpix 995.

Colour Chart Comparison

Colour charts are shot in daylight, Auto White Balance, EV compensation +0.3 (all cameras), measured light ~10 EV. This test is also dependent on the accuracy of the camera's auto white balance, the colour charts are shot in daylight but some camera's white balance is better than others. All cameras are given 20 seconds to "settle" before the shot is taken.

Fujifilm FinePix S602 Zoom Canon PowerShot G2
Sony DSC-S75 Nikon Coolpix 995

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

Patch Fujifilm FinePix
S602 Zoom		 Canon
PowerShot G2		 Sony
DSC-S75		 Nikon
Coolpix 995
Black 25,25,25 45,43,42 22,23,25 25,25,23
Middle Gray 100,104,109 107,106,110 92,95,96 103,103,102
White 207,214,218 208,210,208 193,195,194 215,215,211
Magenta 217,53,119 196,37,116 200,7,130 207,38,117
Red 225,47,36 195,30,35 204,0,25 197,31,50
Yellow 225,200,65 205,195,20 185,189,15 216,188,36
Green 18,145,82 43,152,68 35,140,34 8,136,61
Cyan 0,168,219 23,196,234 41,154,199 52,164,196
Blue 42,48,131 61,56,133 33,25,150 41,33,84

As we've already noted the S602Z's reds do have a fairly strong orange tinge to them.

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.

Horizontal resolution Vertical resolution 5 degree diagonal res.
Fujifilm FinePix S602 Zoom (6 mp)
Canon PowerShot G2 (4 mp)
Sony DSC-S75 (3 mp)
Nikon Coolpix 995 (3 mp)

Measurable findings (three measurements taken for each camera):

Camera Measurement Absolute Res. Extinction Res.
Fujifilm FinePix S602Z Horiz LPH 1200 1400
Vert LPH 1200 1450
5° Diagonal LPH 900 n/a
Canon PowerShot G2 Horiz LPH 1250 * 1450
Vert LPH 1200 * 1500
5° Diagonal LPH 1000 n/a
Sony DSC-S75 Horiz LPH 1050 * 1400
Vert LPH 1050 * 1400
5° Diagonal LPH 1000 n/a
Nikon Coolpix 995 Horiz LPH * 1000 1300
Vert LPH * 1000 1350
5° Diagonal LPH * 900 n/a

* Moiré is visible

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 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.

As we've seen before the SuperCCD algorithm does a good job at continuing our resolution chart detail beyond what we'd expect from the 3.1 megapixel sensor. This puts the S602Z's absolute resolution as better than three megapixel and just slightly less than four megapixel.