An In-Depth Look at 4 Ultra-compact Digicams
by Stephen Caston on July 18, 2005 12:05 AM EST- Posted in
- Digital Camera
Resolving Fine Lines
For our resolution test, we reset the cameras to their default settings and then used the highest resolution and quality setting. The cameras were set to either manual or tungsten WB, and the lowest ISO setting. For more information, refer to our Testing Procedures page. When reading this chart, the numbers represent lines per picture height (LPH). For example, the number 16 would represent 1,600 LPH. Click the "Download" links below to see each chart at 100%.| Canon SD400 (+1.3 EV) |
Nikon S1 (+1.3 EV) |
Olympus IR-300 (+1.5 EV) |
Sony T33 (+1.3 EV) |
| Download | Download | Download | Download |
| Click on links to view. | |||
| Canon SD400 |  |
| Nikon S1 |  |
| Olympus IR-300 |  |
| Sony T33 |  |
| Resolution (LPH) | |
| Canon SD400 | 1,350 |
| Nikon S1 | 1,200 |
| Olympus IR-300 | 1,200 |
| Sony T33 | 1,250 |
The Canon SD400 proves to have the highest resolution in our first set of crops, resolving lines out to 1,350 LPH before reaching resolution extinction. The runner-up was the Sony DSC-T33 with a resolution of 1,250 LPH. Both the Nikon S1 and Olympus IR-300 charts resolve lines out to 1,200 LPH.
Canon SD400 |
Nikon S1 |
Olympus IR-300 |
Sony T33 |
| Resolution (LPH) | |
| Canon SD400 | 1,350 |
| Nikon S1 | 1,300 |
| Olympus IR-300 | 1,200 |
| Sony T33 | 1,300 |
After analyzing the vertical test pattern above, all 4 cameras have the same or better resolution compared to the horizontal test pattern. Overall, the Canon SD400 has the highest resolution out of the bunch. The Canon SD400 and the Sony DSC-T33 produce the cleanest charts with minimal noise or other artifacts. The Nikon S1 and Olympus IR-300 both show more visible noise in their charts and the IR-300 even produces some rather noticeable JPEG artifacts.
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R3MF - Monday, July 18, 2005 - link
< owns a panasonic fx8, and loves it.sciwizam - Monday, July 18, 2005 - link
Nice, I just ordered a SD400 yesterday!bigpow - Monday, July 18, 2005 - link
Panasonic FX7 >> Canon SD400 & it's cheaperFricardo - Monday, July 18, 2005 - link
Heh. Just a day or two after I asked for an SD400 review you guys come up with this. Thanks.astralusion - Monday, July 18, 2005 - link
excellent review...i'd been waiting for a full sd400 review, also just wanted to say that your selection of Duke for your sample pictures was an excellent choice.UNCjigga - Monday, July 18, 2005 - link
As a long-time Canon customer, no surprise here. Right now, Canon makes the best consumer-level digicams period. Sony may be close to catching up, and Nikon may have been the shizznit a few years ago, but right now Canon has a considerable lead.I really want to get the SD400...but I'm wondering if I should hold out for a newer Canon with wifi.
Johnmcl7 - Monday, July 18, 2005 - link
I've been really impressed with Canon's pocket cameras, I bought their Ixus 500 (the European version of the SD500 I think) as I wanted a camera I could keep in my pocket and have with me all the time, as much as I like my big Fuji it's simply to o big to carry over my shoulder all the time. It's great it takes CF cards, so it can share with the Fuji plus it doesn't leave me regretting too much that I didn't take the Fuji.The build quality does feel good but it's really let me down recently, there's a little bit of plastic which broke on the door which holds the memory card door shut, so the camera has had to go back for repair - really missed having it to hand while out at the weekend, looking forward to getting it back.
John
blwest - Monday, July 18, 2005 - link
#4 both of those cameras suck more than the Olympus and would thus be a waste of time to review. A piece of %$@#$ is a piece of @#$#@.cheesus - Monday, July 18, 2005 - link
I agree -- great review. However, I was a bit disappointed to see that the Panasonic FX-7 was left out of the review. It's a similarly-priced 5MP ultracompact that has some of the best resolution and color reproduction I've seen. Also comes with optical image stabilization, which i can't say for the other cameras here. I understand that you can't review every ultracompact, but I think the FX-7 beats the SD400 in terms of image quality any day.Larso - Monday, July 18, 2005 - link
Yes, great review. But it fails to recognize one weakness with the Canon SD400, that sharpness is lacking in the corners of the image (at wideangle).I decided to buy the camera anyway because of its excellent performance and nice case, and I'm extremely happy with it!