still picture quality at DVinfo.net

George Beck · April 25th, 2004, 10:41 AM

I saw a few pics taken with dv953, and the quality was pretty poor =/

is this the case with gs120/gs200 too?

has anyone taken pics that show the best quality images the cams can produce, and willing to show them?
how about using the macro-zoom?

Young Lee · April 25th, 2004, 12:03 PM

The PC330 (3 megapixels) would be good for taking pics.

George Beck · April 25th, 2004, 01:41 PM

I'm not worried about the number of pixels, the GS400 makes 4 Mega stills,, BUT... looks at that one taken with the DV953:
http://www.fortvir.net/albums/album05/DV953003.jpg

it's big enough, but does not look very "sharp"... looks like it was put through a filter of a photoshop to look a bit like a painting.

maybe thats a result from the AXIS ? (the pixel shift)
(after all each CCD has only 800 000 pixels)

Tommy Haupfear · April 25th, 2004, 01:43 PM

The reviews at dvspot have sample stills from the camcorders and I believe they just added a GS200 review.

Just about every camcorder has a lousy megapixel still image but if you reduce the resolution to 640x480 you can get some decent shots suitable for email and web.

http://www.dvspot.com/features

Here are a few 640x480 (VGA) stills I took with my past DV953.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-...Picture360.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-...Picture455.jpg

Tommy Haupfear · April 25th, 2004, 01:44 PM

Quote:

maybe thats a result from the AXIS ? (the pixel shift)
(after all each CCD has only 800 000 pixels)

I also think that has something to do with the unacceptable 3MP images from the DV953 (and 3.1MP from the GS100). Of course other camcorders with true 2MP CCDs still deliver lousy pics compared to even the most budget megapixel digital camera.

Guy Bruner · April 25th, 2004, 02:26 PM

George,
The pictures taken with the DV953 at 3 Mpxl are interpolated up from about 2.1 Mpxl (3x700K). That gives the details an oil painted look. As Tommy says, the 640x480 mode to SD card or the 720x480 to tape (or in the case of widescreen--872x480) are better, IMO. I have printed some of the 872x480 grabs to 4x6 paper and they look pretty good. However, a good 2 Mpxl digital camera will blow anything the 953 does away.

George Beck · April 25th, 2004, 04:30 PM

Thank you for the information. I guess the Multi Mega pixel still captures are more or less marketing scheme =/

Altho it's not that bad, if you reduce the size of the large still, you get decent image....

like:
http://www.alienminds.ca/dv953_fix.jpg

I can imagine from now the 4 Mega still of GS400.... =/
which effectively will be probably about 1 Mega.

George Beck · April 25th, 2004, 06:03 PM

I was just looking at the Canon's Xi stills...
looks like there's a lot less noise there.

Why do you think that is?
different interpolation algorithm? different CCDs?

Frank Granovski · April 25th, 2004, 06:24 PM

Video cams only have the "stills gimmick" to please consumers. For stills, buy a still camera; for video, buy a video camera. :-))

Tommy Haupfear · April 25th, 2004, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Why do you think that is?
different interpolation algorithm? different CCDs?

The Optura Xi is a true 2MP single CCD and will yield slightly better stills than Canon or Panasonics pixel shifted 3CCD configurations. I had the Xi and its still are still far from great but at least its an improvement.

I'm with Frank, a dedicated still cam is definitely required but in a pinch camcorder stills (VGA) can be handy.

April 25th, 2004, 10:41 AM	#1
George Beck Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 244	still picture quality I saw a few pics taken with dv953, and the quality was pretty poor =/ is this the case with gs120/gs200 too? has anyone taken pics that show the best quality images the cams can produce, and willing to show them? how about using the macro-zoom?

April 25th, 2004, 12:03 PM	#2
Young Lee Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 268	The PC330 (3 megapixels) would be good for taking pics.

April 25th, 2004, 01:41 PM	#3
George Beck Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 244	I'm not worried about the number of pixels, the GS400 makes 4 Mega stills,, BUT... looks at that one taken with the DV953: http://www.fortvir.net/albums/album05/DV953003.jpg it's big enough, but does not look very "sharp"... looks like it was put through a filter of a photoshop to look a bit like a painting. maybe thats a result from the AXIS ? (the pixel shift) (after all each CCD has only 800 000 pixels)

April 25th, 2004, 01:43 PM	#4
Tommy Haupfear Wrangler Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 1,415	The reviews at dvspot have sample stills from the camcorders and I believe they just added a GS200 review. Just about every camcorder has a lousy megapixel still image but if you reduce the resolution to 640x480 you can get some decent shots suitable for email and web. http://www.dvspot.com/features Here are a few 640x480 (VGA) stills I took with my past DV953. http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-...Picture360.jpg http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-...Picture455.jpg

April 25th, 2004, 02:26 PM	#6
Guy Bruner Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Ashford, AL Posts: 937	George, The pictures taken with the DV953 at 3 Mpxl are interpolated up from about 2.1 Mpxl (3x700K). That gives the details an oil painted look. As Tommy says, the 640x480 mode to SD card or the 720x480 to tape (or in the case of widescreen--872x480) are better, IMO. I have printed some of the 872x480 grabs to 4x6 paper and they look pretty good. However, a good 2 Mpxl digital camera will blow anything the 953 does away.

April 25th, 2004, 04:30 PM	#7
George Beck Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 244	Thank you for the information. I guess the Multi Mega pixel still captures are more or less marketing scheme =/ Altho it's not that bad, if you reduce the size of the large still, you get decent image.... like: http://www.alienminds.ca/dv953_fix.jpg I can imagine from now the 4 Mega still of GS400.... =/ which effectively will be probably about 1 Mega.

April 25th, 2004, 06:03 PM	#8
George Beck Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 244	I was just looking at the Canon's Xi stills... looks like there's a lot less noise there. Why do you think that is? different interpolation algorithm? different CCDs?

April 25th, 2004, 06:24 PM	#9
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Video cams only have the "stills gimmick" to please consumers. For stills, buy a still camera; for video, buy a video camera. :-))