m***@potd.com.au
2009-03-23 00:35:07 UTC
First some background as to why I ended up with a P&S...... I
recently purchased a Waverunner for a bit of fun and also for
transport to get to some new locations that would otherwise be out of
reach, or simply just be too much coin and mucking around to get there
for quick photo trips.
With the Waverunner came the need for a waterproof camera solution.
It fits all my big kit in it no problems, but that is stowed away in
waterproof gear sacks and difficult (and risky) to access when
traveling.... hence the need for a smaller, waterproof option that I
could use on the fly.
I will admit that I am a pixel peeper and like to achieve the best
image quality that I can get from any camera that I use. I looked at
the waterproof compact cams but the image quality was not up to what I
was willing to accept (pre-release of Canon's new one) ....so I looked
at other compacts with the view of adding a waterproof housing.
After much deliberation, I decided that all compacts were "so-so" and
that I would just use my back-up 20D on the ski and consider it
sacrificial. I purchased a Lowepro Top Loader Zoom bag for the 20D
and 17-40 and set off. Well it kinda gets heavy having around the
neck after while so the 20D was discounted as a "ski-cam" and I
purchased a Canon G10 and housing. The housing fits very snugly into
the clove compartment so I had my waterproof solution.
At this point I still considered that the G10 image quality was "so-
so", but at least I could take happy snaps while on the ski and get
the big kit out when ashore.
My first action with the G10 was to set about seeing just how much
image quality I could squeeze out of it's tiny, yet pixel-packed
sensor (15mp).
Initially I was disappointed and thought that I had done the wrong
thing, as I was never going to be happy with the images. But through
testing I discovered that the IQ is quite good good, provided that I
followed some simple rules....
Rule 1: Shoot at f3.5 The G10's lens f-stop range is 2.8 - 8.0, but
diffraction plays a huge part with this lens at tiny apertures. I
guess that with any lens/sensor combo this small an f-stop like f8 is
going to be very tiny indeed. From tests I determined that the G10's
lens is sharp from wide-open to 3.5 and closing down any more simply
makes the image soften.
Small sensor cams have always provided lots of DOF (to the point that
it is difficult to control at times), so 3.5 is quite capable of
providing DOF from close foreground to infinity. Even wide open
provides good DOF and I have no problem going there when the light is
low.
It should be noted that when zoomed the lens's widest aperture is
f4.5. This adjustment is made automagically as you zoom and
thankfully 4.5 provides the best IQ at the longer focal lengths, so
it's basically a "set and forget" when it comes to aperture on the
G10.
Rule 2: Shoot at base ISO. ISO80 is the base for this cam and where
it provides the best IQ. There is some raw sensor noise visible at
this low ISO (to be expected with 15mp packed in), but Canon's in
camera processing cleans it well and it's not an issue if shooting
JPEG. ISOs up to 400 are quite acceptable but beyond that is asking
too much for a small sensor/high megapixel cam IMO.
If shooting RAW the same applies and different RAW conversion programs
treat the noise differently. IMO Canon has the done the best here
with their DPP handling the noise well. Having said that, DPP does
not provide the best IQ overall, as that gong is solidly held by DXO.
So I am happy to accept a little residual noise for the other benefits
that DXO provides... such as detail, lens correction, CA correction,
sharpness etc. To be honest, the noise that the G10 creates is not
objectional and I liken it more to a fine film grain than "noise" as
such.
Rule 3: Shoot RAW + JPEG. Having the JPEG available for the quick
happy snap and the RAW available for those shots were you you want to
squeeze the wringer is very handy.
Rule 4: Spend the $$$$ on DXO to process the G10 RAW files. DXO
really does take this cam to a new level.
So now that I have had this cam a month or so.... and now that I have
tested it considerably.... I have decided that the it's a little
ripper! and capable of mixing it with the big boys if treated right.
So much so, I have created a "mini-kit" to take with me everywhere.
This kit consists of the G10, lens adapter for filters, Lee Graduated
ND filters, underwater housing, compact tripod and even a single row
panorama head (home made).
Does this kit replace my 1Ds2? No, not for my full-on landscape
stuff, but it does mean that when I am out and about and I find that
"by chance" shot, I am well equipped to get an image that would
otherwise be missed..... the fact that it's not lacking too much IQ in
comparison makes me feel a whole lot better about it too!
Here are some pix from early tests and some more recent "for real"
efforts.....
Loading Image...
Loading Image...
Loading Image...
Loading Image...
Loading Image...
Loading Image...
Loading Image...
Cheers
Rusty
recently purchased a Waverunner for a bit of fun and also for
transport to get to some new locations that would otherwise be out of
reach, or simply just be too much coin and mucking around to get there
for quick photo trips.
With the Waverunner came the need for a waterproof camera solution.
It fits all my big kit in it no problems, but that is stowed away in
waterproof gear sacks and difficult (and risky) to access when
traveling.... hence the need for a smaller, waterproof option that I
could use on the fly.
I will admit that I am a pixel peeper and like to achieve the best
image quality that I can get from any camera that I use. I looked at
the waterproof compact cams but the image quality was not up to what I
was willing to accept (pre-release of Canon's new one) ....so I looked
at other compacts with the view of adding a waterproof housing.
After much deliberation, I decided that all compacts were "so-so" and
that I would just use my back-up 20D on the ski and consider it
sacrificial. I purchased a Lowepro Top Loader Zoom bag for the 20D
and 17-40 and set off. Well it kinda gets heavy having around the
neck after while so the 20D was discounted as a "ski-cam" and I
purchased a Canon G10 and housing. The housing fits very snugly into
the clove compartment so I had my waterproof solution.
At this point I still considered that the G10 image quality was "so-
so", but at least I could take happy snaps while on the ski and get
the big kit out when ashore.
My first action with the G10 was to set about seeing just how much
image quality I could squeeze out of it's tiny, yet pixel-packed
sensor (15mp).
Initially I was disappointed and thought that I had done the wrong
thing, as I was never going to be happy with the images. But through
testing I discovered that the IQ is quite good good, provided that I
followed some simple rules....
Rule 1: Shoot at f3.5 The G10's lens f-stop range is 2.8 - 8.0, but
diffraction plays a huge part with this lens at tiny apertures. I
guess that with any lens/sensor combo this small an f-stop like f8 is
going to be very tiny indeed. From tests I determined that the G10's
lens is sharp from wide-open to 3.5 and closing down any more simply
makes the image soften.
Small sensor cams have always provided lots of DOF (to the point that
it is difficult to control at times), so 3.5 is quite capable of
providing DOF from close foreground to infinity. Even wide open
provides good DOF and I have no problem going there when the light is
low.
It should be noted that when zoomed the lens's widest aperture is
f4.5. This adjustment is made automagically as you zoom and
thankfully 4.5 provides the best IQ at the longer focal lengths, so
it's basically a "set and forget" when it comes to aperture on the
G10.
Rule 2: Shoot at base ISO. ISO80 is the base for this cam and where
it provides the best IQ. There is some raw sensor noise visible at
this low ISO (to be expected with 15mp packed in), but Canon's in
camera processing cleans it well and it's not an issue if shooting
JPEG. ISOs up to 400 are quite acceptable but beyond that is asking
too much for a small sensor/high megapixel cam IMO.
If shooting RAW the same applies and different RAW conversion programs
treat the noise differently. IMO Canon has the done the best here
with their DPP handling the noise well. Having said that, DPP does
not provide the best IQ overall, as that gong is solidly held by DXO.
So I am happy to accept a little residual noise for the other benefits
that DXO provides... such as detail, lens correction, CA correction,
sharpness etc. To be honest, the noise that the G10 creates is not
objectional and I liken it more to a fine film grain than "noise" as
such.
Rule 3: Shoot RAW + JPEG. Having the JPEG available for the quick
happy snap and the RAW available for those shots were you you want to
squeeze the wringer is very handy.
Rule 4: Spend the $$$$ on DXO to process the G10 RAW files. DXO
really does take this cam to a new level.
So now that I have had this cam a month or so.... and now that I have
tested it considerably.... I have decided that the it's a little
ripper! and capable of mixing it with the big boys if treated right.
So much so, I have created a "mini-kit" to take with me everywhere.
This kit consists of the G10, lens adapter for filters, Lee Graduated
ND filters, underwater housing, compact tripod and even a single row
panorama head (home made).
Does this kit replace my 1Ds2? No, not for my full-on landscape
stuff, but it does mean that when I am out and about and I find that
"by chance" shot, I am well equipped to get an image that would
otherwise be missed..... the fact that it's not lacking too much IQ in
comparison makes me feel a whole lot better about it too!
Here are some pix from early tests and some more recent "for real"
efforts.....
Loading Image...
Loading Image...
Loading Image...
Loading Image...
Loading Image...
Loading Image...
Loading Image...
Cheers
Rusty