Resolution Chart Comparison

Comparison cameras:

  • Kodak EasyShare P850 (5 MP, 10x zoom)
  • Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H1 (5 MP, 12x zoom)
  • Canon PowerShot S2 IS (5 MP, 12x zoom)
  • Panasonic DMC-FZ5 (5 MP, 12 x zoom)
  • Kodak EasyShare DX7590 (5 MP, 10x zoom)
  • Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z5 (5 MP, 12x zoom)

Shots here are of our standard resolution chart (version one or two). This 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 15 equates to 1500 lines per picture height. (Note that on version two of our chart the vertical resolution 1000 - 2000 lines have been horizontally flipped but are otherwise identical). For each camera the relevant prime lens was used. The chart is shot at a full range of apertures and the sharpest image selected.

Studio light, cameras set to auto, settings all factory default. If possible aperture was selected for optimum sharpness. Exposure compensation +0.7 EV to +1.3 EV.

Kodak P850 (2,037 KB; 5 MP) Canon S2 IS (1,896 KB; 5 MP)
Konica Minolta Z5 (1,858 KB; 5 MP) Kodak DX7590 (1,418 KB; 5 MP)
Panasonic DMC-FZ5 (1,802 KB; 5 MP) Sony DSC-H1 (2,029 KB; 5 MP)

Resolution Chart Crops

Kodak P850 Canon S2 IS
Panasonic DMC-FZ5 Kodak DX7590
Konica Minolta Z5 Sony DSC-H1
Kodak P850 Canon S2 IS
Panasonic DMC-FZ5 Kodak DX7590
Konica Minolta Z5 Sony DSC-H1

Measurable findings

Camera Measurement
Absolute
resolution
Extinction
resolution
Kodak P850 Horizontal LPH 1200 1450
Vertical LPH 1150 1450
5° Diagonal LPH +1000 ‡ n/a
Sony Cyber-shot H1 Horizontal LPH 1350 1600
Vertical LPH 1450 1650
5° Diagonal LPH +1000 n/a
Canon PowerShot S2 IS Horizontal LPH 1350 ‡ * 1550 ‡
Vertical LPH * 1500 ‡ * 1650 ‡
5° Diagonal LPH +1000 ‡ n/a
Panasonic DMC-FZ5 Horizontal LPH 1350 1650
Vertical LPH 1300 1600
5° Diagonal LPH +1000 n/a
Kodak DX7590 Horizontal LPH 1200 *1400
Vertical LPH 1200 *1450
5° Diagonal LPH +1000 n/a
Konica Minolta
DiMAGE Z5 		Horizontal LPH *1300 *1500
Vertical LPH *1250 *1500
5° Diagonal LPH *1000 n/a

* Moiré is visible
+ Chart maximum
‡ Jagged diagonals
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 res. Point at which all lines of a resolution bar are still visible and defined, beyond this resolution loss of detail occurs (below Nyquist frequency).
Extinction res. Detail beyond camera's definition (becomes aliased)
n/a Not Available (above the capability of the test chart)
n/v Not Visible (not visible on test results)

Like the EasyShare big zoom models before it, the P850 struggles to keep up with the best cameras in this class (and in fact has lower resolution than the DX7590), though to be fair there's not a great deal in it. The P850 results are fairly clean (free of moiré), though looking at them closely you can see that they are quite soft, and there is evidence of fairly harsh sharpening.