Open discussion - Nikon S10 better than Kodak Z612

[abheekg]

Dear Friends and seniors
I ran a test of the two cameras that I had access to - a kodak z612 and

a nikon S10 and i want to share with you the results of my test.
I also have a few questions regarding the exif data of the two images

taken by the cameras.

exif software used : opanda iexif 2.21

This taken at complete wideangle by the z612



[IMG]http://inlinethumb58.webshots.com/6649/2626216680100660256S600x600

Q85.jpg[/IMG]

exif :

[Image]
Make = EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Model = KODAK Z612 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA
Orientation = top/left
X Resolution = 230
Y Resolution = 230
Resolution Unit = inch
YCbCr Positioning = centered
Exif IFD Pointer = Offset: 504

[Camera]
Exposure Time = 1/30"
F Number = F2.8
Exposure Program = Normal program
ISO Speed Ratings = 80
Exif Version = Version 2.21
Date Time Original = 2007-06-05 01:08:21
Date Time Digitized = 2007-06-05 01:08:21
Components Configuration = YCbcr
Shutter Speed Value = 5 TV
Aperture Value = 3 AV
Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV
Max Aperture Value = F2.83
Metering Mode = Pattern
Light Source = unknown
Flash = Flash fired, auto mode
Focal Length = 5.85mm
Maker Note = 10714 Byte
Flashpix Version = Version 1.0
Color Space = sRGB
Exif Image Width = 2832
Exif Image Height = 2128
Interoperability IFD Pointer = Offset: 11892
Exposure Index = 80
Sensing Method = One-chip color area sensor
File Source = DSC
Scene Type = A directly photographed image
Custom Rendered = Normal process
Exposure Mode = Auto exposure
White Balance = Auto white balance
Digital Zoom Ratio =
Focal Length In 35mm Film = 35mm
Scene Capture Type = Normal
Gain Control = None
Contrast = Normal
Saturation = Normal
Sharpness = Normal
Subject Distance Range = unknown

[Interoperability]
Interoperability Index = ExifR98
Interoperability Version = Version 1.0

[Thumbnail Info]
Compression = JPEG Compressed (Thumbnail)
Orientation = top/left
X Resolution = 72
Y Resolution = 72
Resolution Unit = inch
JPEG Interchange Format = Offset: 12196
JPEG Interchange Format Length = Length: 3056

[Thumbnail]
Thumbnail = 160 x 120

This taken at complete wideangle by the nikon S10



[IMG]http://inlinethumb42.webshots.com/6185/2939723040100660256S600x600

Q85.jpg[/IMG]

exif :

[Image]
Image Description =
Make = NIKON
Model = COOLPIX S10
Orientation = top/left
X Resolution = 300
Y Resolution = 300
Resolution Unit = inch
Software = COOLPIX S10V1.0
Date Time = 2007-06-05 00:50:27
YCbCr Positioning = co-sited
Exif IFD Pointer = Offset: 284

[Camera]
Exposure Time = 1/60"
F Number = F3.5
Exposure Program = Normal program
ISO Speed Ratings = 101
Exif Version = Version 2.2
Date Time Original = 2007-06-05 00:50:27
Date Time Digitized = 2007-06-05 00:50:27
Components Configuration = YCbcr
Compressed Bits Per Pixel = 4
Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV
Max Aperture Value = F3.48
Metering Mode = Pattern
Light Source = unknown
Flash = Flash fired, auto mode
Focal Length = 6.3mm
Maker Note = 2298 Byte
User Comment =


Flashpix Version = Version 1.0
Color Space = sRGB
Exif Image Width = 2816
Exif Image Height = 2112
Interoperability IFD Pointer = Offset: 1026
File Source = DSC
Scene Type = A directly photographed image
Custom Rendered = Normal process
Exposure Mode = Auto exposure
White Balance = Auto white balance
Digital Zoom Ratio =
Focal Length In 35mm Film = 38mm
Scene Capture Type = Normal
Gain Control = Low gain up
Contrast = Normal
Saturation = Normal
Sharpness = Normal
Subject Distance Range = unknown

[Interoperability]
Interoperability Index = ExifR98
Interoperability Version = Version 1.0

[Thumbnail Info]
Compression = JPEG Compressed (Thumbnail)
X Resolution = 300
Y Resolution = 300
Resolution Unit = inch
JPEG Interchange Format = Offset: 8180
JPEG Interchange Format Length = Length: 3650

[Thumbnail]
Thumbnail = 160 x 120

[MakerNote (Nikon)]
Makernote Version =
ISO Speed Used = 0
Colour Mode = VIVID
Quality = FINE
White Balance = AUTO
Sharpening = AUTO
Focus Mode = AF-C
Flash Setting = NORMAL
000A = 5644/1000
ISO Selection = AUTO
ThumbOffset = 2182
001A =
Image Adjustment = AUTO
Auxiliary Lens (Adapter) = OFF
Manual Focus Distance = 0
Digital Zoom Factor = 1
Auto Focus Area = 00, 00, 00, 00
Lighting Type =
0091 =
Saturation = Normal
Noise Reduction = OFF


----------------------------

My question :

Which of the two cameras do you think has better wideangle capabilities

after comparing the two images and examining the exif data ?


------------------------------

This taken at maximum optical zoom by z612 :



[IMG]http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/5176/2111401190100660256S600x600

Q85.jpg[/IMG]

exif :

[Image]
Make = EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Model = KODAK Z612 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA
Orientation = top/left
X Resolution = 230
Y Resolution = 230
Resolution Unit = inch
YCbCr Positioning = centered
Exif IFD Pointer = Offset: 504

[Camera]
Exposure Time = 1/200"
F Number = F4.8
Exposure Program = Normal program
ISO Speed Ratings = 125
Exif Version = Version 2.21
Date Time Original = 2007-06-05 01:11:53
Date Time Digitized = 2007-06-05 01:11:53
Components Configuration = YCbcr
Shutter Speed Value = 7.67 TV
Aperture Value = 4.5 AV
Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV
Max Aperture Value = F4.76
Metering Mode = Pattern
Light Source = unknown
Flash = Flash fired, auto mode
Focal Length = 70.2mm
Maker Note = 10714 Byte
Flashpix Version = Version 1.0
Color Space = sRGB
Exif Image Width = 2128
Exif Image Height = 2832
Interoperability IFD Pointer = Offset: 11892
Exposure Index = 125
Sensing Method = One-chip color area sensor
File Source = DSC
Scene Type = A directly photographed image
Custom Rendered = Normal process
Exposure Mode = Auto exposure
White Balance = Auto white balance
Digital Zoom Ratio =
Focal Length In 35mm Film = 420mm
Scene Capture Type = Normal
Gain Control = Low gain up
Contrast = Normal
Saturation = Normal
Sharpness = Normal
Subject Distance Range = unknown

[Interoperability]
Interoperability Index = ExifR98
Interoperability Version = Version 1.0

[Thumbnail Info]
Compression = JPEG Compressed (Thumbnail)
Orientation = top/left
X Resolution = 72
Y Resolution = 72
Resolution Unit = inch
JPEG Interchange Format = Offset: 12196
JPEG Interchange Format Length = Length: 3619

[Thumbnail]
Thumbnail = 160 x 120


----------------------------------------

This taken at complete optical zoom by S10



[IMG]http://inlinethumb21.webshots.com/6612/2460384440100660256S600x600

Q85.jpg[/IMG]

exif :

[Image]
Image Description =
Make = NIKON
Model = COOLPIX S10
Orientation = right/top
X Resolution = 300
Y Resolution = 300
Resolution Unit = inch
Software = COOLPIX S10V1.0
Date Time = 2007-06-05 00:54:12
YCbCr Positioning = co-sited
Exif IFD Pointer = Offset: 284

[Camera]
Exposure Time = 1/120"
F Number = F3.5
Exposure Program = Normal program
ISO Speed Ratings = 302
Exif Version = Version 2.2
Date Time Original = 2007-06-05 00:54:12
Date Time Digitized = 2007-06-05 00:54:12
Components Configuration = YCbcr
Compressed Bits Per Pixel = 4
Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV
Max Aperture Value = F3.48
Metering Mode = Pattern
Light Source = unknown
Flash = Flash fired, auto mode
Focal Length = 63.3mm
Maker Note = 2298 Byte
User Comment =


Flashpix Version = Version 1.0
Color Space = sRGB
Exif Image Width = 2816
Exif Image Height = 2112
Interoperability IFD Pointer = Offset: 1026
File Source = DSC
Scene Type = A directly photographed image
Custom Rendered = Normal process
Exposure Mode = Auto exposure
White Balance = Auto white balance
Digital Zoom Ratio =
Focal Length In 35mm Film = 380mm
Scene Capture Type = Normal
Gain Control = High gain up
Contrast = Normal
Saturation = Normal
Sharpness = Normal
Subject Distance Range = unknown

[Interoperability]
Interoperability Index = ExifR98
Interoperability Version = Version 1.0

[Thumbnail Info]
Compression = JPEG Compressed (Thumbnail)
X Resolution = 300
Y Resolution = 300
Resolution Unit = inch
JPEG Interchange Format = Offset: 8180
JPEG Interchange Format Length = Length: 5554

[Thumbnail]
Thumbnail = 160 x 120

[MakerNote (Nikon)]
Makernote Version =
ISO Speed Used = 0
Colour Mode = VIVID
Quality = FINE
White Balance = AUTO
Sharpening = AUTO
Focus Mode = AF-S
Flash Setting = NORMAL
000A = 5644/1000
ISO Selection = AUTO
ThumbOffset = 2182
001A =
Image Adjustment = AUTO
Auxiliary Lens (Adapter) = OFF
Manual Focus Distance = 0
Digital Zoom Factor = 1
Auto Focus Area = 00, 00, 00, 00
Lighting Type =
0091 =
Saturation = Normal
Noise Reduction = OFF

---------------------------------------

My question :

Is the maximum optical zoom of z612 and of the S10 really as quoted i.e

12x and 10x respectively ?

---------------------------------------

Now I come to the most baffling part of my test.
I have clicked the following two pics at full optical + digital zoom by

both the cameras.

The Kodak z612 produces and image whose size is about 300 KB while the

Nikon S 10 produces an image of about 1.06 MB size.

The focal length of the image produced by z612 is 70.2

mm ( 420 mm in 35 mm equivalent) while that of the image by S10 is

253.2 mm ( 1520 mm in 35 mm equivalent) .

Does that mean that the Nikon S 10 is prdoucing this photo at complete

optical zoom ( that is it is not digitally zooming at all ) ?

Does this also mean that the optical zooming abilities of

the S10 is far more than that of the z612 or for that matter any other

camera of this class ??

Take a look yourself :

full optical+digital zoom by z612



[IMG]http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/3459/2039624150100660256S600x600

Q85.jpg[/IMG]

exif :

[Image]
Make = EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Model = KODAK Z612 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA
Orientation = top/left
X Resolution = 230
Y Resolution = 230
Resolution Unit = inch
YCbCr Positioning = centered
Exif IFD Pointer = Offset: 504

[Camera]
Exposure Time = 1/200"
F Number = F4.8
Exposure Program = Normal program
ISO Speed Ratings = 125
Exif Version = Version 2.21
Date Time Original = 2007-06-05 01:08:54
Date Time Digitized = 2007-06-05 01:08:54
Components Configuration = YCbcr
Shutter Speed Value = 7.67 TV
Aperture Value = 4.5 AV
Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV
Max Aperture Value = F4.76
Metering Mode = Pattern
Light Source = unknown
Flash = Flash fired, auto mode
Focal Length = 70.2mm
Maker Note = 10714 Byte
Flashpix Version = Version 1.0
Color Space = sRGB
Exif Image Width = 768
Exif Image Height = 1024
Interoperability IFD Pointer = Offset: 11892
Exposure Index = 125
Sensing Method = One-chip color area sensor
File Source = DSC
Scene Type = A directly photographed image
Custom Rendered = Normal process
Exposure Mode = Auto exposure
White Balance = Auto white balance
Digital Zoom Ratio = 4.2x
Focal Length In 35mm Film = 420mm
Scene Capture Type = Normal
Gain Control = Low gain up
Contrast = Normal
Saturation = Normal
Sharpness = Normal
Subject Distance Range = unknown

[Interoperability]
Interoperability Index = ExifR98
Interoperability Version = Version 1.0

[Thumbnail Info]
Compression = JPEG Compressed (Thumbnail)
Orientation = top/left
X Resolution = 72
Y Resolution = 72
Resolution Unit = inch
JPEG Interchange Format = Offset: 12196
JPEG Interchange Format Length = Length: 2841

[Thumbnail]
Thumbnail = 160 x 120


----------------------------------------------

full optical + digital zoom by Nikon S10 :



[IMG]http://inlinethumb39.webshots.com/2726/2438583660100660256S600x600

Q85.jpg[/IMG]

exif :

[Image]
Image Description =
Make = NIKON
Model = COOLPIX S10
Orientation = right/top
X Resolution = 300
Y Resolution = 300
Resolution Unit = inch
Software = COOLPIX S10V1.0
Date Time = 2007-06-05 00:52:57
YCbCr Positioning = co-sited
Exif IFD Pointer = Offset: 284

[Camera]
Exposure Time = 1/120"
F Number = F3.5
Exposure Program = Normal program
ISO Speed Ratings = 256
Exif Version = Version 2.2
Date Time Original = 2007-06-05 00:52:57
Date Time Digitized = 2007-06-05 00:52:57
Components Configuration = YCbcr
Compressed Bits Per Pixel = 4
Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV
Max Aperture Value = F3.48
Metering Mode = Spot
Light Source = unknown
Flash = Flash fired, auto mode
Focal Length = 253.2mm
Maker Note = 2298 Byte
User Comment =


Flashpix Version = Version 1.0
Color Space = sRGB
Exif Image Width = 2816
Exif Image Height = 2112
Interoperability IFD Pointer = Offset: 1026
File Source = DSC
Scene Type = A directly photographed image
Custom Rendered = Normal process
Exposure Mode = Auto exposure
White Balance = Auto white balance
Digital Zoom Ratio = 4x
Focal Length In 35mm Film = 1520mm
Scene Capture Type = Normal
Gain Control = High gain up
Contrast = Normal
Saturation = Normal
Sharpness = Normal
Subject Distance Range = unknown

[Interoperability]
Interoperability Index = ExifR98
Interoperability Version = Version 1.0

[Thumbnail Info]
Compression = JPEG Compressed (Thumbnail)
X Resolution = 300
Y Resolution = 300
Resolution Unit = inch
JPEG Interchange Format = Offset: 8180
JPEG Interchange Format Length = Length: 3793

[Thumbnail]
Thumbnail = 160 x 120

[MakerNote (Nikon)]
Makernote Version =
ISO Speed Used = 0
Colour Mode = VIVID
Quality = FINE
White Balance = AUTO
Sharpening = AUTO
Focus Mode = AF-C
Flash Setting = NORMAL
000A = 5644/1000
ISO Selection = AUTO
ThumbOffset = 2182
001A =
Image Adjustment = AUTO
Auxiliary Lens (Adapter) = OFF
Manual Focus Distance = 0
Digital Zoom Factor = 4
Auto Focus Area = 00, 00, 00, 00
Lighting Type =
0091 =
Saturation = Normal
Noise Reduction = OFF

[ac.smith]

1. Wide-angle - Kodak by a very small margin.

2. Tele - Kodak by a larger margin and shows less CA.

3. Digital Zoom - Kodak by an even larger margin.

4. Digital zoom EXIF data - Kodak reports only the lens focal length, both actual and 35mm equiv. while separately showing the digital zoom as a magnification factor (4.2x in this case.) Nikon obviously does the multiplication and only reports the product (sounds like p___s envy to me on Nikon's part.)

[abheekg]

ac.smith wrote:

1. Wide-angle - Kodak by a very small margin.

2. Tele - Kodak by a larger margin and showa less CA.

3. Digital Zoom - Kodak by an even larger margin.

4. Digital zoom EXIF data - Kodak reports only the lens focal length, both actual and 35mm equiv. while separately showing the digital zoom as a magnification factor (4.2x in this case.) Nikon obviously does the multiplication and only reports the product (sounds like p___s envy to me.)

Pardon my stupidity but what do you mean in point no. 2 when you say that the kodak shows a less CA.
If kodak is reporting only lens focal length and the nikon is multiplying, then is this correct about the nikon ( i have divided the focal length values by 4 )

Nikon :

Focal Length = 253.2mm / 4 = 62.75 mm
Digital Zoom Ratio = 4x
Focal Length In 35mm Film = 1520mm / 4 = 380 mm

Kodak :

Focal Length = 70.2mm
Digital Zoom Ratio = 4.2x
Focal Length In 35mm Film = 420mm

[abheekg]

Also, why is the resultant image size bigger with the Nikon ?

[ac.smith]

1. Greater jpeg file compression on the Z612.

2. CA is the abreviation for chromatic aberation, essentially a failure of a lens to bring all colors into focus at the image plane. In general it's more of an issue with high zoom ratio lenses than on low zoom or fixed focal length lenses. On digital cameras this is most noticeable as a purple fringe at high contrast edges. It is, to my eye less noticeable on the Kodak compared to the Nikon. The CA on the Nikon appeared to produce a wider purple band and it was visible at lower contrasts.