Resolving Fine Lines

For our resolution test, we reset the cameras to their default settings and then, used the highest resolution and quality setting. The Fuji and Olympus cameras were set to Tungsten WB. For more information, refer to our Testing Procedures page. When reading this chart, the numbers represent lines per picture height (LPH). For example, the number 15 would represent 1,500 LPH. Below are 200% crops of the test. Click on a crop to see the full chart at 100%.

Fuji A330
+0.6 EV

Click to enlarge.
Kodak CX7330
+1.0 EV

Click to enlarge.
Olympus D-540
+1.0 EV

Click to enlarge.

Although the Fuji A330 resolution chart appears to have the least amount of contrast, it also shows the highest resolution of 1,150 LPH. The Olympus D-540 is able to resolve fine lines until 1,050 LPH. Finally, the Kodak CX7330 showed a fairly poor performance-retaining detail until 950 LPH. Notice that all three cameras produce moiré near their resolution limits.

Fuji A330
+0.6 EV

Click to enlarge.
Kodak CX7330
+1.0 EV

Click to enlarge.
Olympus D-540
+1.0 EV

Click to enlarge.

The resolution advantage that the Fuji A330 had in the horizontal crops is lost in these vertical crops. All three cameras show a resolution of 1,050 LPH, which is fairly decent for three megapixel cameras. However, we think that the Fuji A330 wins out over the Kodak and Olympus cameras with its higher overall resolution.

The Timing Tests Color Reproduction
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  • akaristos2 - Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - link

    Any sources in Europe where it could be had for 129 euros? Much appreciated a reply. Thanks
  • akaristos2 - Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - link

    Where can I gt a Ricoh Caplio RX and at what price point. Thanks for a reply.
  • cryptonomicon - Wednesday, January 5, 2005 - link

    the a340 will probably enter the price point soon too, i got it for $161 at ritz's / wolf's.
  • tmim16 - Monday, January 3, 2005 - link

    I got the Fuji A330 for my wife back in May for her birthday not knowing that much about it, but man were we impressed! I got it as a mother's day newegg special for $180 including a 128MB xd card.

    Even though I'm not in the market for another camera, I would have liked to see a couple more compared.
  • orenb - Monday, January 3, 2005 - link

    Zepper, the Ricoh Caplio RX can be had for €129 in Europe, which is not that far off $150.

    As for not having it in the US, well, that's a bummer. Having to settle for plastic toys that take almost a whole second to actually shoot sucks, especially when one has to pay roughly the same price as the RX.

    Both Ricoh and American residents are losing big time from this, the former loses a huge market, the latter loses some really cool and innovative cameras, but since Ricoh can't handle the demand in Europe (at least in the UK and Germany they can't), I bet they have a good reason to wait with a US launch.
  • unclebud - Monday, January 3, 2005 - link

    "Nice article... would have been nice to see it BEFORE the holidays though ;) "
    what i was thinking (although i have 6 or 7 digicams and ain't gone buy another one for more than a hundred)
  • Zepper - Monday, January 3, 2005 - link

    Almost no Ricoh product is available in the USA as Ricoh has chosen not to compete here in the consumer market (perhaps you weren't aware that AT was an American web site). I guess it's not too hard to get their copiers here though.
    . Not to mention that the price of the few Caplio RXs I've found such as on eBay is about twice that of the units under test - apples and oranges...
    .bh.
  • spug1 - Sunday, January 2, 2005 - link

    ...geez everyone!! Get off their back. It would be an impossible job to do all of the cameras at this price point! Kodak, fuji and olympus are big names, which people will often go to straight away....so its allowing the customer to make an educated choice on popular brands. I sell a large range of cameras at my shop, and I most always recomend the a330. Its a beautiful little camera, and IMO the best bang 4 buck at this price!!
  • Souka - Sunday, January 2, 2005 - link

    Title should be "Three $150 digi-cams compared"

  • Z80 - Saturday, January 1, 2005 - link

    I'm on my third Fuji digital camera and they have all been great performers! They all still work too! The latest model I purchased last year just before Christmas was the FinePix S5000 with 10x optical zoom. I've found that the xD-Picture Card memory helps lengthen battery life to where I can shoot well over 100 photos without recharging the batteries. Also, the Fuji cameras all appear to have better jpeg compression that other cameras because my photo files at 3.1 or 4.2 Megapixel take less space than other cameras. When my family got together and compared photos after our Christmas party last weekend, my Fuji consistently took better photos than the other cameras. Even the Canon Digital Rebel that my nephew didn't really know how to use.

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