January 2008
The power—and flaws—of 18x digital cameras
We test the Olympus SP-560 UZ, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18, and Fujifilm S8000fd
Olympus SP-560UZ
One drawback of a point-and-shoot camera is how its fixed lens limits the subjects you can capture when you shoot from up close or far away. A typical 3x zoom's widest
setting, equivalent to 35mm with a film camera, isn't wide enough to shoot a group of people from a few feet away. Similarly,
the typical maximum telephoto setting of a compact or subcompact, about 105mm, won't get you a close-up of your child scoring
the game-winning goal. (SLR cameras, which accept a variety of interchangeable lenses, don't have this limitation.)
For several years, camera makers have tried to minimize this problem by expanding camera optical zoom ranges to 5x, 10x, and higher. In recent months, three introduced cameras with the widest range yet: 18x. The Olympus SP-560 UZ and Fujifilm S80000fd have zooms equivalent to 27-486mm; the Panasonic DMC-FZ18 has one equivalent to 28-504mm. To see how much flexibility such lenses provide, read How Versatile is an 18x Lens?
WHERE'S THE BEEF?
A major concern with a groundbreaking design like this is how well the lens itself performs, especially at its widest and maximum-telephoto settings.
Of the three manufacturers, only Olympus made a definitive performance claim about its lens that we could check. Last summer, the company issued a press release announcing the SP-560 UZ. In a section titled "Amazing Focal Length Far and Wide," the company states: "The key component to quality imaging is precision optics, and the SP-560 UZ delivers. The compact lens construction combines high-refractive, aspherical and extra-dispersion (ED) lens elements to deliver edge-to-edge sharpness and clarity."
To test the SP-560 UZ's lens, we captured images in the JPEG file format and then analyzed them. Some of our results contradicted Olympus's claims of "edge-to-edge sharpness and clarity" throughout the range of focal lengths.
At its widest angle and middle focal lengths, the Olympus SP-560 UZ did indeed display very good sharpness and was comparable to other point-and-shoots. But at its maximum-telephoto focal length, its images weren't as sharp and suffered from other defects, including vignetting, geometric distortion, and chromatic aberration. (You can correct some of those problems, after the fact, using photo-editing software in your computer.)
Click on the image to view a larger version on your computer.You can view two of the sample JPG files we shot with the SP-560 UZ at its 486mm focal length that illustrate some of those
defects. Both targets we photographed for this test are widely used to assess the image quality of cameras. (You can click
on both images to see the full-sized images. Both are over 2MB in size.)
This image of patterns tests a camera's sharpness and its ability to minimize a defect known as chromatic aberration. Note how some of the figures further from the image's center are less sharp than those near the center. And some black edges of triangles and squares near the image's perimeter have a thin, purplish fringe (the chromatic aberration). Both of those defects were far less noticeable when we shot the same target with the SP-560 UZ's lens set to wide and middle focal lengths.
This image of a grid demonstrates a camera's distortion from edge to edge. Note how some lines are slightly curved, even though the target we photographed was composed only of straight lines. We saw minimal curvature when we photographed the same target with the SP-560 UZ's lens set to wide and middle focal lengths.
Click on the image to view a larger version on your computer.
BOTTOM LINE
At its maximum focal length, the Olympus SP-560 UZ doesn't live up to Olympus's claims. But two of its main competitors, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 and Fujifilm S8000fd, experienced similar problems when we tested them at their maximum-telephoto settings.
The current generation of 18x point-and-shoot cameras does provide greater flexibility than previous models without the expense and inconvenience of an SLR's interchangeable lenses. They also cost less than most SLRs. The Olympus SP-560 UZ is available online for $400 to $500. The Panasonic and Fujifilm are priced in the $300 to $400 range. If you choose one of those cameras, be aware that to correct the flaws we found, you'll need to use photo-editing software. And, because those cameras' maximum aperture settings aren't as wide as better SLR lenses', you'll need to use slower shutter speeds or higher ISO settings when shooting at the maximum telephoto focal lengths.
If you go with an SLR, don't expect to use an 18x lens. Instead, you'll need separate lenses for wide-angle and telephoto shooting. Less expensive lower quality telephoto lenses that approach 400 to 500mm focal length are likely to suffer some of the same defects, though not quite as pronounced, as the point-and-shoots we tested. Getting that powerful a telephoto lens that doesn't produce such defects can cost you thousands of dollars.
For several years, camera makers have tried to minimize this problem by expanding camera optical zoom ranges to 5x, 10x, and higher. In recent months, three introduced cameras with the widest range yet: 18x. The Olympus SP-560 UZ and Fujifilm S80000fd have zooms equivalent to 27-486mm; the Panasonic DMC-FZ18 has one equivalent to 28-504mm. To see how much flexibility such lenses provide, read How Versatile is an 18x Lens?
WHERE'S THE BEEF?
A major concern with a groundbreaking design like this is how well the lens itself performs, especially at its widest and maximum-telephoto settings.
Of the three manufacturers, only Olympus made a definitive performance claim about its lens that we could check. Last summer, the company issued a press release announcing the SP-560 UZ. In a section titled "Amazing Focal Length Far and Wide," the company states: "The key component to quality imaging is precision optics, and the SP-560 UZ delivers. The compact lens construction combines high-refractive, aspherical and extra-dispersion (ED) lens elements to deliver edge-to-edge sharpness and clarity."
To test the SP-560 UZ's lens, we captured images in the JPEG file format and then analyzed them. Some of our results contradicted Olympus's claims of "edge-to-edge sharpness and clarity" throughout the range of focal lengths.
At its widest angle and middle focal lengths, the Olympus SP-560 UZ did indeed display very good sharpness and was comparable to other point-and-shoots. But at its maximum-telephoto focal length, its images weren't as sharp and suffered from other defects, including vignetting, geometric distortion, and chromatic aberration. (You can correct some of those problems, after the fact, using photo-editing software in your computer.)
)
Click on the image to view a larger version on your computer.This image of patterns tests a camera's sharpness and its ability to minimize a defect known as chromatic aberration. Note how some of the figures further from the image's center are less sharp than those near the center. And some black edges of triangles and squares near the image's perimeter have a thin, purplish fringe (the chromatic aberration). Both of those defects were far less noticeable when we shot the same target with the SP-560 UZ's lens set to wide and middle focal lengths.
This image of a grid demonstrates a camera's distortion from edge to edge. Note how some lines are slightly curved, even though the target we photographed was composed only of straight lines. We saw minimal curvature when we photographed the same target with the SP-560 UZ's lens set to wide and middle focal lengths.
)
Click on the image to view a larger version on your computer.BOTTOM LINE
At its maximum focal length, the Olympus SP-560 UZ doesn't live up to Olympus's claims. But two of its main competitors, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 and Fujifilm S8000fd, experienced similar problems when we tested them at their maximum-telephoto settings.
The current generation of 18x point-and-shoot cameras does provide greater flexibility than previous models without the expense and inconvenience of an SLR's interchangeable lenses. They also cost less than most SLRs. The Olympus SP-560 UZ is available online for $400 to $500. The Panasonic and Fujifilm are priced in the $300 to $400 range. If you choose one of those cameras, be aware that to correct the flaws we found, you'll need to use photo-editing software. And, because those cameras' maximum aperture settings aren't as wide as better SLR lenses', you'll need to use slower shutter speeds or higher ISO settings when shooting at the maximum telephoto focal lengths.
If you go with an SLR, don't expect to use an 18x lens. Instead, you'll need separate lenses for wide-angle and telephoto shooting. Less expensive lower quality telephoto lenses that approach 400 to 500mm focal length are likely to suffer some of the same defects, though not quite as pronounced, as the point-and-shoots we tested. Getting that powerful a telephoto lens that doesn't produce such defects can cost you thousands of dollars.
