Compared to... (contd.)
Now we'll compare the Olympus C-5050 Zoom to a few other four megapixel digital cameras from our test archives. Here we're comparing colour and resolution to the Sony DSC-F717, Nikon Coolpix 5000 and Canon PowerShot G3.
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.
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Olympus C-5050 Zoom | Sony DSC-F717 |
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Nikon Coolpix 5000 | Canon PowerShot G3 |
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 |
Olympus |
Sony
DSC-F717 |
Nikon |
Canon |
Black | 25,26,26 | 23,22,24 | 19,20,19 | 34,34,34 |
Middle Gray | 105,104,103 | 92,92,94 | 91,91,91 | 102,105,105 |
White | 222,218,217 | 195,193,192 | 209,209,205 | 212,212,212 |
Magenta | 236,46,124 | 180,26,96 | 219,37,93 | 208,45,115 |
Red | 223,44,48 | 170,19,21 | 207,26,23 | 203,34,44 |
Yellow | 217,206,53 | 190,184,45 | 212,189,47 | 208,192,30 |
Green | 8,148,69 | 34,137,76 | 0,130,68 | 23,138,73 |
Cyan | 14,176,226 | 38,160,192 | 1,153,200 | 5,152,218 |
Blue | 50,40,105 | 53,34,106 | 33,44,98 | 37,49,122 |
The C-5050 Zoom produced a good color if a little saturated for some tastes, it's a fairly similar response to the Nikon Coolpix 5000 which was surprising because Olympus have always tended towards less saturation. Remember that you have a lot of latitude (+/-5 levels) in color saturation adjustment.
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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Olympus C-5050 Zoom | ||
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Sony DSC-F717 | ||
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Nikon Coolpix 5000 | ||
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Canon PowerShot G3 |
Measurable findings (three measurements taken for each camera)
Camera | Measurement | Absolute Res. | Extinction Res. |
Olympus C-5050 Zoom | Horiz LPH | * 1450 | 1800 |
Vert LPH | 1300 | 1800 | |
5° Diagonal LPH | + 1000 | n/a | |
Sony DSC-F717 | Horiz LPH | 1450 | 1800 |
Vert LPH | 1300 | 1800 | |
5° Diagonal LPH | + 1000 | n/a | |
Nikon Coolpix 5000 | Horiz LPH | * 1350 | 1500 |
Vert LPH | * 1200 | 1500 | |
5° Diagonal LPH | + 1000 | n/a | |
Canon PowerShot G3 | Horiz LPH | 1250 | 1400 |
Vert LPH | 1200 | 1400 | |
5° Diagonal LPH | 1000 | n/a |
* Moiré is visible, # Jagged edges to diagonals, + Chart maximum
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.
Impressive, the C-5050 Zoom manages to match our current five megapixel 'king of the castle', the Sony DSC-F717. Resolution is on par and the detail carried through to extinction is slightly better resolved (although this is probably just down to sharpening). Proof by this stage of the reviuew, if it were required, that the Olympus F1.8 - F2.6 lens in combination with the new smaller 1/1.8" CCD sensor are more than capable of what we would expect from a five megapixel prosumer digital camera.
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