EP1 images as good as HDR images

EP1 images as good as HDR images

21 Friday 2009

EP1 Images As Good As HDR Images

Most cameras have problems in taking images where there are great differences between bright and dark areas. When I used the EP1, I was amazed at the quality of the image.

I shot ALMOST the same scenery with several cameras: EP1, D700, G9. With E30, the same scenery was taken at a later time.

Although not scientific or rigorous enough, I have tried to compare these cameras as close as I could.
-Used Photomatix for HDR.
-Downloaded from camera using same adobe downloader, since some downloader cause some minor processing.
-All settings at P setting. autowhite balance/(manual for EP1). autoexposure.
Non HDR photos taken from E30, D700, G9 not shown as photos no where near HDR range. Surprised that even E30 non HDR cannot match EP1 colors. Of course, the differences in lenses, and settings under P mode, may account for some of the dissimilarity of conditions.

EP1: no HDR, downloaded from camera: 14-42mm microlens. 18mm. manual white balance. ISO 200. f3.5. 1/500". P setting.


EP1: with HDR:14-42mm microlens. P setting.


G9: with HDR. 7.4mm lens (fixed lens). ISO 80. f2.8. 1/800". P setting.


Oly E30: with HDR. 18-180mm lens. at 44mm. ISO200. f10. 1/400". P setting.


D700: with HDR. 28-300mm tamron lens, at 28mm. ISO 800. f14.1/800". P setting.


The images taken with EP1 appears very good, showing the high dynamic range of the camera, and nearly as good as EP1 images that are HDRed..

There will be many questions regarding the comparions, but I thought the EP1 image quality was excellent enough to warrant this article(although EP1 is a mite slow compared to DSLR, but the speed is acceptable).