Resolving Fine Lines
For our resolution test, we reset the cameras to their default settings and then, used the highest resolution and quality setting. The Fuji and Olympus cameras were set to Tungsten WB. For more information, refer to our Testing Procedures page. When reading this chart, the numbers represent lines per picture height (LPH). For example, the number 15 would represent 1,500 LPH. Below are 200% crops of the test. Click on a crop to see the full chart at 100%.| Fuji A330 +0.6 EV |
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| Kodak CX7330 +1.0 EV |
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| Olympus D-540 +1.0 EV |
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Although the Fuji A330 resolution chart appears to have the least amount of contrast, it also shows the highest resolution of 1,150 LPH. The Olympus D-540 is able to resolve fine lines until 1,050 LPH. Finally, the Kodak CX7330 showed a fairly poor performance-retaining detail until 950 LPH. Notice that all three cameras produce moiré near their resolution limits.
| Fuji A330 +0.6 EV |
Click to enlarge. |
| Kodak CX7330 +1.0 EV |
Click to enlarge. |
| Olympus D-540 +1.0 EV |
Click to enlarge. |
The resolution advantage that the Fuji A330 had in the horizontal crops is lost in these vertical crops. All three cameras show a resolution of 1,050 LPH, which is fairly decent for three megapixel cameras. However, we think that the Fuji A330 wins out over the Kodak and Olympus cameras with its higher overall resolution.
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Jeff7181 - Friday, December 31, 2004 - link
Nice article... would have been nice to see it BEFORE the holidays though ;)stephencaston - Friday, December 31, 2004 - link
#4,Unfortunately, when it comes to digital cameras, it is impossible to cover every camera at a specific price point. We had to make choices when picking which cameras to use and ended up choosing three cameras at $150 with very similar features to make the comparisons more relevant.
I did not mean to imply that this article will determine the best camera at $150. The article was meant to compare these three cameras to each other. I have amended the title accordingly to reflect this.
We always encourage people to do as much research as possible before buying a camera. There are so many different things to consider when reviewing digital cameras and each review site focuses on different areas.
PrinceGaz - Friday, December 31, 2004 - link
I'd take the Minolta DiMAGE X31 over any of the cameras reviewed any day; it's a lot more compact than them which is what many people desire when out and about, is reported to give a good picture for it's price and size, has lots of features, and at $150 is just as cheap as them. My DiMAGE X20 is a lovely little camera that does everything you could ask of it, and from what I've read the X31 makes a good thing better.I will reiterate a point I made when digicam reviews first appeared on AT, which is that unless you can review *every* model in depth to find which is the best in that category, then you are doing a dis-service to your readers by potentially not even looking at what might be the best camera in that range.
Specialist digicam websites review all cameras so that they can give an informed opinion on any new models, even if that means buying one themselves like AT might do for a computer product that free review samples weren't available for. What AT is doing with digicam reviews is just picking two or three models out of the many available and saying one of them is the best, when better ones you didn't even look at are available. AT does excellent reviews of computer components, but I'm afraid you'd have to be a fool to only use your recommendations when buying a digicam.
orenb - Friday, December 31, 2004 - link
The best digital camera at this price point is the Ricoh Caplio RX. 28-100mm zoom. Metal body. Almost no shutter lag. These three don't even come close.Prog.
Joony - Friday, December 31, 2004 - link
The Canon A400 should be in this review...cosmotic - Thursday, December 30, 2004 - link
Again, Kodak EasyShare is turned into an ad link and blends into the background of the table cell.