The subject was shot from a distance of 20m. All photos below are crops from the photo above (red circle). Note that the purpose of this test is to show that at the beginning unsharp photos from a DSLR camera can be satisfiably sharp. Most photos from DSLR cameras need additional sharpening with some software.
A crop from the original
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| Sony H1. Observe the sharpness and saturation. No colors can be distinguished but those from chromatic aberration. |
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| Canon S2 IS. Sharpness is weak, but there remained some green tint. |
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| Canon EOS 350. Lack of sharpness and contrast in comparison to both compacts, but the branch remained the green color and some details. Also, the lens EF 75-300mm has lower chromatic aberration. |
Basic processing
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| Sony H1. Some additional sharpness could be applied and correct the lens error. |
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| Canon S2 IS. More details remained. |
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| Canon EOS 350D. Sharpness could be added even more, but the branch is clearly well defined. |
Additional manipulation
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| Sony H1. Another proof that the in-camera processing of the H1 limits our manipulation possibilities as we again lost a lot of middle tones. |
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| Canon S2 IS. More tonal values remained, more details are visible. |
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| Canon EOS 350D. Details are well preserved. |
A crop from the original
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| Sony H1. Again, huge loss of detail. |
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| Canon S2 IS. A little more details are visible. |
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| Canon EOS 350. When comparing all three photos we notice a lack of sharpness on the photo from a DSLR camera. In other words, many users could persuade you that compacts have better sharpness. Fortunately now we know where the catch is. If we want out-of-the-box pictures with vivid colors, high contrasts and sharp edges, we have to set correspondent parameter in the menu. But by doing so, we will loose a lot of detail, which we could later use at post-processing in our software "digital dark room". |
Basic processing
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| Sony H1. |
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| Canon S2 IS. |
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| Canon EOS 350D. It's like looking at three photos from the same camera, but with three different settings of sharpness, hue and saturation. |
Additional manipulation
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| Sony H1. |
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| Canon S2 IS. |
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| Canon EOS 350D. After manipulation, each camera performs in a separate way, but the final quality of the photo is defined when it comes out of the camera. Compact cameras give us sharp, vivid and attractive photos out-of-the-box. With DSLRs we have two choices. One is to increase parameters of sharpness, saturation, hue and contrast in the camera's menus. The second possibility is to make precise editing of each file on the computer, in a "digital dark room". |
DSLR could perform even better, if...
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... I would use an even superior lens. On the left is EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L, on the right is EF 75-300mm f/3.5-5.6 IS. So believe me when I say your DSLR camera functions properly, don't panic if photos are not sharp as soon as they are taken. You have to exploit all the data that is available to you when a photo is shot. At the same time you can see where compact cameras are more suitable. It is important to ask yourself what you will need the camera for well before the purchase. Don't switch to the DSLR world without accepting additional work in post-processing, in the opposite, compact cameras could be fun, are easy to handle and produce attractive photos out-of-the-box. Reach to a DSLR camera if you master compact cameras, are addicted to photography or want maximum out of all of this. Top quality is available only there!
We've discussed about basic differences between compacts and DSLRs regarding image quality. I wanted to prove that DSLRs do not make unsharp photos! They can produce stunningly sharp photos. You just have to make it happen!
Entering the DSLR world is not easy and brings many problems. With more to come as you will start complaining over cheap lenses. I already hear voices murmuring about unsharp photos, with lots of vignetting and troubles with focusing with their kit lenses and how they were much more satisfied with their little compact camera. In fact, very likely the lens on their compact camera was much better than their lenses for a DSLR camera. Unfortunately, photography has become a fashion victim and lots of people buy DSLRs, thinking they've bought the best thing on the market. Well, it might as well be, but only if we know how to handle with such equipment. There are just too many so called "problems", which in reality are nothing but ignorance or lack of knowledge of users. Lately, there were many customers, who really needed a compact camera, but bought a DSLR camera which was supposed to be better, or others, who wanted a DSLR camera, but were told the compacts make more pleasant photos. Both were right if they knew what the camera will be used for and what the skills of the customers are.
I will write more about other problems with our photo techniques in the following articles. I've noticed that with the present technological switch the photography returned to its beginning. Learn the basics!
page 1 / differences in pictures
