In Part 3 and Part 3s of the shootout, I compared ability of the DP1 to capture detail to that of the Canon 5D with 28mm f/2.8 lens and Olympus E-420 with 14-42mm lens. Based on those comparisons, it seemed that the DP1 is capturing a good bit less detail than the 12MP 5D combination. However, would a 12MP small sensor compact camera also capture more detail than the DP1? That is the question I set out to answer here in Part 7. As in Part 6, the DP1 will be compared to the 12MP Canon Powershot G9 and the 10MP Leica D-LUX 3 (Leica's version of the Panasonic LX2).

I tested each camera in turn to see what f-stop would be optimal for sharpness across the frame. For both the Canon and Leica, the best results were obtained at f/4. Stopping down to f/4.5 of f/5 (f/4.9 with the Leica) resulted in very slightly better performance in the extreme corners with a slight drop in performance in the center of the frame. Stopping down beyond f/4 did not appreciably help further eliminate C.A. in the Canon or Leica images. The Sigma was a consistent performer across a variety of apertures, and I finally settled on f/5.6. The Canon was at ISO 80, the Leica and Sigma at ISO 100. Each camera was allowed to determine shutter speed and white balance automatically.

The tripod location was fixed for the Leica and Sigma images and then moved for the Canon image in order for that capture to have a similar field of view to the others, given a change from 28mm equivalent (Leica and Sigma) to 35mm equivalent (Canon) angle of view.

The Canon and Leica files were processed in Adobe Lightroom, latest version, with default settings. The Sigma file was processed in Sigma Photo Pro with +0.5 Exposure to give a similar apparent exposure to the other files. The only other change from default settings was a -0.4 Sharpness adjustment in order to decrease the apparent sharpening artifacts. I experimented with sharpening settings from -1.0 to 0 and determined that -0.4 did not adversely affect overall detail captured in any way. The DP1 file was processed at native size (4.6MP).

Leica and Sigma files were upsized to 109.35% and 160.71%, respectively, using Genuine Fractals 5. This resulted in an output size of 12MP, matching the native output of the Canon G9. Genuine Fractals maintains detail well during upscaling, sacrificing perhaps a touch of detail when compared against Photoshop Bicubic. I tried both methods for this comparison, and the only significant difference was that the Bicubic method resulted in more jaggies along diagonals in the DP1 image. The All three files were given the same final sharpening step in Photoshop CS3 (Smart Sharpen, amount 50, radius 0.3). This resulted in a similar degree of sharpening (all being a bit oversharpened) amongst the three images, as determined by comparing halos throughout each image.

The DP1 and D-LUX3 samples shown below represent 100% crops of images that have been upsized to match the native G9 output size (12MP).
The specific area of examination is depicted by the yellow box in the resized photo preceding each set of crops.





Some C.A. is present in the G9 crop, and a trace in the D-LUX crop as well. Shadow detail is smeared in the D-LUX3 crop. The G9 crop is holding the most detail.





Again the G9 is showing a bit of C.A. around the sign here, but the more impressive difference is just how much detail the G9 is capturing even out towards the edge of the frame.





The DP1 is the most consistent here in the extreme corner, but the G9 is still capturing more detail. The Leica has fallen well behind here, though it clearly faces the greatest challenge of the three given the 28mm equivalent diagonal angle of view with a 16:9 aspect ratio. To put this in perspective, Canon representives have stated in the past that Canon's advanced compacts currently do not go wider than 35mm equivalent because of technical difficulty maintaining performance beyond that point.





A bit more softness is apparent in the upper left extreme corner of the Canon image. Once again, the DP1 is consistent.





Here the Canon again has captured the most detail, but again it is affected by C.A. in high contrast areas, as is the Leica. Both the G9 and D-LUX3 are also showing color aliasing effects here, whereas the DP1 is showing a bit of luminance aliasing.





Moving towards the left edge, we can see again that the G9 and D-LUX3 suffer C.A., and the G9 captures the most detail. Additionally, this crop nicely demonstrates that the G9 shadows are the noisiest, the DP1 shadows the cleanest, and the D-LUX3 shadows the most smeared of the three.





More of the same here. G9 has the most detail, C.A., and shadow noise.




Now just left of center, the D-LUX3 and DP1 are capturing a similar amount of detail. The G9, meanwhile, goes a step further.

A DP1 review at DPReview recently concluded "Class leading detail in ISO 100 images" and "Resolution is as good as it gets in compact cameras." However, based on my tests, the DP1 simply cannot match the G9 (at its widest setting) for absolute detail captured at base ISO in good light. Which compact delivers the best overall image quality? Easy, in my opinion, DP1. Most detail resolved? G9.

As always, the RAW files are available for your interest/investigation:

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This content has been moved to the new SeriousCompacts.com.

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Part 1 - Introduction
Part 2 - High ISO Noise
Part 3 - Dynamic Range

When I shop for a pocket camera, there are three questions I ask.

1) How well does the camera allow me to do my part? This is largely dependent on features such as those that follow:
- Aperture-priority, shutter speed priority, and true manual mode (independent aperture and shutter speed control)
- Focal length range
- Maximum lens aperture
- RAW capability
- Manual focus capability
- Quality of LCD and/or viewfinder
- Ergonomics
- Physical controls
- Operational speed (including autofocus speed, shutter lag, RAW buffer, etc)
- Camera size

2) How well does the camera do its part when I do mine? This consists of the following:
- Lens sharpness, distortion, contrast, bokeh, color
- Sensor ability to capture detail in optimal light
- Sensor detail relative to noise in suboptimal light
- Sensor dynamic range (effect of lens omitted here for discussion)
- Sensor effects on color
- Presence and effectiveness of image stabilization
- Battery life
- Weather resistance

The two categories above are largely what define the "seriousness" of a compact to me. Yet there is another category.

3) How well does the camera do its part if I don't want to do my part? Here we consider such features as face detection, which are of greatest importance to the person who doesn't want complete control over the picture-taking process.

One area which broadly falls under categories 2 & 3 is that of in-camera JPEG handling. There is no doubt that some compact camera photographers prefer to do "serious" work while shooting in JPEG mode, whereas others prefer RAW. For the former group, the in-camera handling of JPEGs is critical and raises the following questions:
- How flexible are in-camera settings for sharpness and noise reduction?
- How flexible are in-camera settings for color and contrast?
- What other operations is the camera performing with regards to tone mapping, and how much control can I exert over these?

What does all this have to do with the Fuji F100fd, and does the F100fd deserve to be called a "serious compact"? The second question is worth asking because the F100fd lacks important features from category 1, namely control of aperture/shutter speed and RAW capability. In this sense, it isn't a very serious compact at all. It is the heir of the F20/F40 more so than that of the more capable F30. Yet, having viewed a number of image samples from the F100fd, it is clear to me that this camera has the potential to produce "serious" results. In fact, despite having left out aperture and shutter speed controls, Fuji is referring to the F100fd as "the ultimate ‘F Series’ digital camera."

Boiled down to it's essence, the F100fd offers the promise of two potentially exciting capabilities. First, it is said to have a 1/1.6" 8th Generation Super CCD sensor capable of both recording 12MP of detail as well as maintaining high detail relative to noise at high ISO values in low light. Second, Fuji claims that "[the wide dynamic range] technology, now perfected in the EISA Award-winning FinePix S5 Pro, has been brought to the consumer in the FinePix F100fd." Before dismissing these claims out of hand, one ought to give Fuji the respect they are due. In terms of detail/noise, Fuji truly brought high ISO performance to compact cameras with the F10/11 and refined this capability with the F30. With regards to high dynamic range imaging, Fuji again successfully pushed the field with their S3 and S5 DSLRs. However, with today's technology, the F100fd's 5x zoom and shirt pocket size means a small sensor size; and while 1/1.6" is larger than most other small sensors, it isn't that much larger. Putting 12MP in a small sensor means a tiny sensel size. Part 2 of this series will address the question, "Can the tiny-senselled F100fd have a detail/noise performance similar to that of the 6MP Fuji F30?" Part 3 will address the F100fd dynamic range claims. Disclaimer: I have no inside information from Fuji, nor have I had the priviledge to yet test the F100fd. What follows is simply a discussion of the known technology with a measured dose of good-natured speculation.