Compared to... (contd.)
Now we'll compare the HP Photosmart 850 to a few other four megapixel digital cameras from our test archives. Here we're comparing color and resolution to the Canon PowerShot G3, Nikon Coolpix 4500 and Sony DSC-S85.
Color Chart Comparison
Color charts are shot in daylight, Auto White Balance, EV compensation +0.3 (except the 850 which only has 0.5 EV exposure compensation steps), measured light ~10 EV. This test is also dependent on the accuracy of the camera's auto white balance, the color 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.
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HP Photosmart 850 * | Canon PowerShot G3 |
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Nikon Coolpix 4500 | Sony DSC-S85 |
* The HP 850 image appears brighter because it only allows 0.5 EV exposure compensation steps, not our normal 0.3 EV.
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 |
HP |
Canon PowerShot G3 |
Nikon |
Sony DSC-S85 |
Black | 36,35,38 | 34,34,34 | 25,27,27 | 17,17,19 |
Middle Gray | 130,129,127 | 102,105,105 | 101,100,102 | 76,81,79 |
White | 255,254,252 | 212,212,212 | 211,210,209 | 188,189,189 |
Magenta | 254,36,129 | 208,45,115 | 203,38,118 | 170,12,124 |
Red | 254,27,55 | 203,34,44 | 189,22,43 | 176,0,40 |
Yellow | 255,244,80 | 208,192,30 | 193,183,27 | 181,180,14 |
Green | 0,160,102 | 23,138,73 | 29,140,61 | 24,131,27 |
Cyan | 0,171,231 | 5,152,218 | 60,167,205 | 23,158,175 |
Blue | 28,36,116 | 37,49,122 | 54,47,112 | 23,31,112 |
* The HP 850 image appears brighter because it only allows 0.5 EV exposure compensation steps, not our normal 0.3 EV.
It's pretty difficult to make any serious comparison when we can't reproduce the same exposure as the other cameras, that said you can see that the shade of each patch is approximately the same as the other cameras. The difference between 0.3 and 0.5 EV exposure compensation is enough to push several of the patches to clipping on the 850.
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).
Horizontal resolution | Vertical resolution | 5 degree diagonal res. |
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HP Photosmart 850 | ||
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Canon PowerShot G3 | ||
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Nikon Coolpix 4500 | ||
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Sony DSC-S85 |
Measurable findings (three measurements taken for each camera)
Camera | Measurement | Absolute Res. | Extinction Res. |
HP Photosmart 850 | Horiz LPH | * 1200 | 1350 |
Vert LPH | 1100 | 1350 | |
5° Diagonal LPH | 1000 | n/a | |
Canon PowerShot G3 | Horiz LPH | 1250 | 1400 |
Vert LPH | 1200 | 1400 | |
5° Diagonal LPH | # 1000 | n/a | |
Nikon Coolpix 4500 | Horiz LPH | * 1200 | * 1350 |
Vert LPH | 1100 | 1300 | |
5° Diagonal LPH | 1000 | n/a | |
Sony DSC-S85 | Horiz LPH | 1250 | * 1650 |
Vert LPH | 1200 | 1650 | |
5° Diagonal LPH | 1000 | n/a |
* Moiré is visible, # Jagged edges to 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 gray 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.
All things considered the HP 850 puts in a respectable performance, at least as much resolution as the Nikon Coolpix 4500, although with possibly more visible moire and some artifacts. This is a fairly impressive performance considering that the HP 850 only represents the second generation of HP's new line of digital cameras, at least they are moving forward.
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