Lightmancer
Legend
- Location
- Sunny Frimley
- Name
- Bill Palmer
So. The catch-22 is that I now have the camera, but a) I am no longer on a beach b) it's tending into Autumn now, so conditions are not optimal for this sort of camera. That said, I took it with me when I walked the dog yesterday. Here's some results and thoughts.
1. SOOC, macro engaged
Good exposure and colours but aggressive noise reduction apparent here.
2. SOOC, macro engaged
Really clear that the NR is smashing the detail.
Here's the same shot with a bit of post processing:
Levels tweaked, with black and white point set, contrast boosted.
3. SOOC
4. Same shot, 100% crop:
...and for comparison, a 100% crop of the same subject shot using my X-Pro2 and Fujinon 60mm:
To be clear, there is little to no control over the image on the XP 90 - you can't adjust sharpness, contrast, noise, highlight or shadow detail, saturation or anything else; all you can do is set file size and compression, and "film type". All these shots were in Program mode - the only one that offers any form of control. It all confirms what I suspected. This is a consumer level camera that has one real use - it's a robust take-anywhere, good light, holiday camera. It aggressively stomps on noise, and smears the hell out of fine detail as a result - look at the cobwebs, and at the psychedelic grass in the background in the 100% crop of the statue. All that said, it is what it is, and as the "emptor" I'm happy that I have "caveated" realistically in buying what is, when all is said and done, a cheap camera for a specific purpose. I've now taken the battery out and put it in "deep store" until next year, when it should again come into it's element.
1. SOOC, macro engaged
Good exposure and colours but aggressive noise reduction apparent here.
2. SOOC, macro engaged
Really clear that the NR is smashing the detail.
Here's the same shot with a bit of post processing:
Levels tweaked, with black and white point set, contrast boosted.
3. SOOC
4. Same shot, 100% crop:
...and for comparison, a 100% crop of the same subject shot using my X-Pro2 and Fujinon 60mm:
To be clear, there is little to no control over the image on the XP 90 - you can't adjust sharpness, contrast, noise, highlight or shadow detail, saturation or anything else; all you can do is set file size and compression, and "film type". All these shots were in Program mode - the only one that offers any form of control. It all confirms what I suspected. This is a consumer level camera that has one real use - it's a robust take-anywhere, good light, holiday camera. It aggressively stomps on noise, and smears the hell out of fine detail as a result - look at the cobwebs, and at the psychedelic grass in the background in the 100% crop of the statue. All that said, it is what it is, and as the "emptor" I'm happy that I have "caveated" realistically in buying what is, when all is said and done, a cheap camera for a specific purpose. I've now taken the battery out and put it in "deep store" until next year, when it should again come into it's element.