Samples from an Olympus 5060 (5.1 Mp and 4x optical zoom, f2.8 - f4.8) and an Olympus e100rs (1.5 Mp 10x stabilized optical zoom. f2.8 - f3.5)
I've been harping about the low-light performance of the 5060, so here are some examples — compared to my e100rs which has done about 90 weeks of weekly newspaper work in all kinds of lighting conditions.
Most shots here are indoors or in (west coast Canada) December light, late afternoon.
I'll agree: in small rooms, with f2.8 and built-in flash, the 5060 is fine — and I've included examples.
But turn the flash off, zoom in (and lose your f2.8) or try to stop action and you're in trouble in low light.
1311Ag05
Update: The 5060 died x2 of button/dial failure — but I blew off the dust and it came back to life! I took it on a short trip and it did very well in full sun. 'Got it home and it died again. I hear the new "fix" is a good one, so I'll probably spend the $200 to get it repaired.
Date(s): December, 2003. Album by Barry Stewart. Photos by Barry Stewart. 1 - 20 of 20 Total. 1652 Visits.
PC034435 One of many places where the e100 shines... 1/25th of a second but at 10x optical (382mm) at f3.5. Hand held. To get the same close-up with the 5060 (at the same f-stop) I'd have to be "in" the band.
PC145009 e100rs. Hand held at 1/30th. With some Photoshopping, this ended up on the front page at Hopestandard.com.
This shot was only at medium zoom on the e100, so the 5060 could have done the same shot but would have been at f4.5 or so. Motion blur would have been a guarantee, without flash.
PC280357 Pick the three worst sledding shots (one worst no-flash and two worst with-flash) and you'll know how the 5060 performs in low light outside. Both cameras were given +1 overexposure for the snow.
PC280356 1/100th, f2.8. On aperture mode to keep it at f2.8.(ISO 400 for all snow shots.)
All snow action shots were set up by locking onto a certain spot and letting the kids come to it. (As a result, the cameras were metering on plain snow.)
PC280358
PC285354 1/400th, f2.8, 186mm.
Which camera?
Target For this entire wall test, the 5060's sharpness was set at -2. ("0" didn't seem to make a difference in the Photoshop lumin test.) Both cameras set at auto white balance.
1-15P1010374 5060, at its ideal setting, according to the meter. 1/15th, 2.8. (All shots at ISO 400.) Photoshop luminosity = 155
