Noise, Resolution and Sensitivity
Even at high ISO, the J1 produces a relatively noise-free image
With the same internal construction as the V1, the J1 produces an identical noise and resolution performance. Although some people may be put off by the J1’s relatively low resolution, both detail and noise are well controlled.
It is only when images are examined at much larger sizes that individual pixels are noticeable, because, as with the V1, there is no blurring applied to disguise the pixelation.
Our resolution chart shows a score of 20 at ISO 100, with very little detail lost as the sensitivity increases, retaining a score of 16 at the ISO 6400 equivalent Hi setting. When you compare this to other compact system cameras, though, the resolved detail is very low.
The pixel density is around 2.1 million pixels per inch compared to nearly 6 million pixels per inch on the 10.1-million-pixel, 1/1.7in sensor of the Coolpix P7100. However, the J1’s sensor is still heavily populated even when compared to four thirds sensor models, which for a 16-million-pixel version equates to around 1.8 million pixels per inch.
Noise levels are well controlled with luminance noise only becoming visible above ISO 800 and colour noise at ISO 3200 and 6400. Using the in-camera High ISO noise reduction eradicates colour noise while keeping luminance noise to a manageable level, making all sensitivity settings very usable.
These images show 72ppi (100% on a computer screen) sections of images of a resolution chart, captured using a 30-110mm lens at an equivalent of 90mm. 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 at the specified sensitivity setting.
