Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 vs Samsung NX10 – Noise, resolution and sensitivity
Image: These images show 72ppi sections of images of a resolution chart, captured using the kit lens of both cameras. 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.
With a physically larger sensor and around two million more pixels, you might expect the Samsung NX10 to be able to resolve far more detail than the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2. In practice, though, there isn’t much difference between the amount of detail both cameras are able to resolve.
At ISO 100, JPEG images taken on both cameras are able to resolve detail to around 24 on our chart, although the NX10 just edges the G2 when it comes to images saved as raw files.
By ISO 400, the NX10 matches the G2’s JPEG files by reaching 22 on the resolution chart, but once again its raw files perform slightly better as they just about manage to resolve detail up to 26.
Noise reduction begins to take its toll on images from both cameras at ISO 800, with a slight softening of detail.
However, neither luminance nor chroma noise is too problematic in either case. The Samsung NX10 has a maximum sensitivity of ISO 3200. At this setting it performs slightly better than the G2, resolving more detail in both JPEG and raw files. Colour noise is kept to a minimum in images from both cameras, but luminance noise is noticeable.
Although a blur effect is applied to JPEG images taken at this setting, the results from both cameras have a soft, speckled appearance. By shooting raw and carefully processing raw files, colour noise can be almost completely removed from images taken at ISO 3200 in both cameras.
This leaves the user to decide whether to accept slightly less detail or speckled luminance noise.
The G2 has a higher maximum sensitivity than the NX10, reaching ISO 6400. The quality of JPEG images is compromised at this setting, and while colour noise is again kept to a minimum, detail is lost due to the luminance noise reduction. Clearly, the maximum sensitivity setting of the G2 should only be used as a last resort.
Image: Despite the Samsung NX10 having the larger image sensor, it doesn’t offer a much greater advantage at lower sensitivity settings. This image was taken at ISO 400, under tungsten lighting, with the same exposures on both cameras. The tungsten WB of the NX10 has also produced a more neutral result than the tungsten setting on the G2
