Fujifilm X20 review – Noise, resolution and sensitivity
Image: The ‘low’ noise reduction has removed the faint cast of chroma noise in this image, but has also removed fine details
Resolution charts from the X20 show impressive results. In contrast to models that show a more defined point beyond which the camera is unable to resolve any more detail, the X20 continues to resolve details in much finer areas, albeit with less consistency. The camera comfortably resolves detail up to around 24lppm – as we’d expect from such a camera – although even at around 30lppm the chart is still being resolved. This is around the same level of detail as the Nikon D5200 DSLR can resolves, and this has 24.1-million-pixel sensor, although here there is more consistency.
The camera’s noise reduction system proves why shooting raw images and taking processing into your own hands is often advisable. On the lowest of three settings, images are left free from chroma noise but an unappealing texture tends to be left behind, possibly one that has been exacerbated by sharpening. With care and attention it is easy to improve on this through manual processing.
These images show 72ppi (100% on a computer screen) sections of images of a resolution chart, captured with the lens set to around 50mm (equivalent) and f/5.6 . We show the section of the resolution chart where the camera starts to fail to reproduce the lines separately. The higher the number visible in these images, the better the camera’s detail resolution is at the specified sensitivity setting.
