9. Noise, Even On The Prints
The LS420 produced the least attractive photo in each test. As usual with this type of equipment, the default white balance was used for tests under artificial light. Finally, as with the 50i, the LS420 suffers from excessive noise in the images. The noise was not so important in the 50i due to the large size of the prints, 2400 x 1800 pixels. That is not the case with the LS420, however, which works best at 1752 x 1168 pixels. As a result, there is granularity even on A4 prints. It is the only camera whose prints are not indistinguishable from those made from a conventional camera.
Furthermore, the automatic flash often does not operate, even when the lighting conditions are inadequate. It is very difficult to get the correct focus at a distance of less than 20 centimeters (8 inches), artifacts were sometimes visible and many of the photos were underexposed. To top it off, the LS420 was also the slowest of the cameras tested. At 4.4 seconds, it takes twice as long to power up as, for instance, the Canon and Minolta models. Photos take 2 seconds to record.
The LS420 has an attractive footprint and other nice features for its price range, but it is rather disappointing when compared to what Canon and Minolta are offering although the price is fairly similar. Nevertheless, it could be adequate for your needs if you only intend to print in 10 x 15 cm format.
