2. Outdoor Test And Prints

Canon PowerShot S200 / Ixus V²

Fuji FinePix 50i

Kodak EasyShare LS420²

Minolta Dimâge X

Details at actual size

Canon PowerShot S200 / Ixus V²	Fuji FinePix 50i
Kodak EasyShare LS420²	Minolta Dimâge X

The Fuji FinePix shot was taken at the highest resolution available, 2400 x 1800 pixels. As can be seen - and this is hardly surprising - exceeding the actual size of the sensor tends to degrade the image, and working at a sensor resolution higher than 2 megapixels adds noise to the photo. The same photo taken at a resolution of 1600 x 1200 dpi still contains noise, but there is less of it. Fortunately, these pixels disappear in a print.

Of the four prints, those made by the S200/Ixus V² appeared to be the sharpest and the colors the truest. It is the ideal camera for photos that are only meant to be displayed full screen on a computer or TV monitor.

Once the prints are produced, the differences disappear. Yet Canon maintains the advantage, regardless of the format. Although in prints measuring 10 x 15 centimeters, no camera is sub-standard. The Canon and Minolta produce truer colors, but the Kodak and Fuji prints still compare well.

In A4 format, the Kodak camera produces noise, there is less detail and the outlines of objects are not as sharp.

With the Dimâge X, the enlargement emphasizes a lack of clarity in the test photo. This clearly illustrates one of the defects of this camera, in that it is quite difficult to focus correctly. You may find yourself with a soft-focus or out-of-focus picture even though the focus looked fine on the viewfinder screen.

With the Fuji, there was no trace of noise, and the print obtained was excellent, very sharp and extremely detailed. The colors were not quite as true, however, as in the Kodak camera, and the photo was too blue.

The Canon photograph was closest to that of the Fuji, but this time the colors were correct.