Skip to main content

Nightshots Comparison (Round Two): G1 vs DP1 vs GX200 vs G10 vs LX3

R0010765 (Medium)

I love GX200 because it feels great to take pictures with a light-weight camera of a DSLR feel. It would be even better if it gives DSLR-comparable results. Is this still a wishful thinking with the coming of G1?

For its smaller size (though not by much), G1 compares flavourably to mainstream DSLRs, which many expect to be moving towards smaller sizes. With a bigger sensor that boasts better image features, it also compares flavourably to serious compacts with a 1/1.8" sensor. Proper DSLRs aside, G1 is supposed to produce much better images. Does it deliver?

sensor size

Sensor size [to proportion but actual sizes are smaller]:
Outer (blue) - Full Frame sensor 35 x 24mm
3rd inner (green) - DP1 Foveon 20.7 x 13.8mm
2nd inner (yellow) - G1 4/3 System 17.3 x 13mm
Most inner (red) - GX200, G10. LX3 1/1.8" 7.18 x 5.23mm

chi version (nightshot 2)Surely, from the many users' samples, we can safely conclude that the images are great. However, is the better quality commensurate with its better pixel density (5 MP/cm2; sensor size 17.3 x 13mm) (and a dearer price)? The following photos compare it with the higher grade DP1 (1.6 MP/cm2; sensor size 20.7 x 13.8 mm) and the most popular serious compacts [GX200 28MP; G10 34MP; LX3 24MP per cm2] (NOTE: GRD images not available, pardon me).

Comments

Anonymous said…
The images are scaled and quite heavily compressed. There are more jpeg artifacts than noise.
That way the comparison doesn't really show anything.

Plus, the exposures are not always the same. Some shots are brighter than others, which has quite an influence on noise.

And btw: The Sigma ISO800 shot doesn't work.
Nevin said…
Thank you. THe DP1 ISO800 link fixed.

I wrote in my last comparison post that "the photos are resized( and compressed), yes. But they suit the need: they give an impression of what the photos are like in a real life situation in which they are viewed not at 100% magnification but at a normal size.

Bear in mind that noise may not be a bad thing when doing the comparison. And small sensor compacts, however serious, are not endowed with a good ability to see at night. Don't judge them only by what they cannot do but more by what they can."
Anonymous said…
Canon G10 @ ISO80 ist the best compact camera ever:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canong10/page17.asp

By using the RAW-Mode a DOX you can improve that quaulity! :*

Popular posts from this blog

New Low Prices

The window shopping some hours ago has almost provoked my AgIDS illness.  Just in case you’re in Hong Kong or are coming here, and have the money to burn (All in HK$/ body only): GX200 = $3,280 GRD2 = $3,380 LX3 = $3,180 G10 = $3,280 Prices are available form a gear shop on the 1st floor of the Mongkok Computer Centre.   Besides these new low prices, I found that Wing Shing Photo (55-57Sai Yeung Choi St., MK Tel: 2396 6886/ 91-95 Fa Yuen St., MK  Tel: 2396 6885) is offering a Sony A700 + Carl Zeiss Lens package for HK$9,980 (hopefully, a bargain will make it some hundreds cheaper).

Eye Contact

(Leica D-lux 5) The digital era may make it easier to end up with fave shots. Even lousy photos may be turned likable after a few clicks in the post-processing workflow. But if digital advancement or amendments have any bearing on the cultivation of personal style, no photographers will need to discover his or her own photographer’s eye. Undoutedly, this is out of the question. Only with a trained photographer’s eye can we give a thinking gaze and capture an eternal moment, in our unique style. Style is the soul of a great photo. A few posts have been written in GXG to touch on the topic of photographer’s eye. Instead of finding an answer, which would require academic discussions, the posts are intended to give my general reflections and spark interests in moving towards further exploration of the topic.  The posts can be viewed after the links: 1) Photographer's Eye: Storytelling 2) Photographer's Eye: Little Show of Observing 3) Photographer's Eye: Sight-Worthy 4

Ricoh Camera Giveaways and the New GRD Bet

The recent months have seen Ricoh’s heavy-handed promotional efforts.  Apart from the photo contest in collaboration with Greenpeace concluded some weeks ago in Hong Kong, there are three more chances for aspiring photographers to get free Ricoh cameras.  There are lots of Ricoh's cameras to be given away. (A poster about the photo contest co-organised by Ricoh, Greenpeace and Jurlique for Hong Kong only, which was concluded in May.  Winners are to be awarded with airtickets plus hotel accommodation, several fully-geared GX200 and CX1 cameras) Ninth Ricoh Photo Contest The first one is open to contestants from around the world, namely, the Ninth Ricoh Photo Contest to close on 21 August 2009.  The theme of the contest is easy on the surface, but actually requires some effort to ponder on and express in the final image. The prizes are: Main Award: GR DIGITAL II + optional lenses and accessories (one person) Special Award: GR DIGITAL II (5 persons) Photo St