550D + 17-40L/4 Vs K-x + 16-45/4 & ISO Shootout

Long Time No Measurbation! It's time to do it again! ;-D

Test Conditions:-

1. Light Source and Environment: Diffused Daylight Indoor; Bright Cloudy Outside; Cameras on Sturdy Tripod.

2. 550D Settings: Av Exposure Mode at f/8, Evaluative Metering, No Exposure Compensation, AWB, Single Central Point One-Shot AF, Large Fine JPEG, "Standard" Picture Style with Default Parameters (Factory Default), 2 sec. Self-Timer with Mirror Lock (Set Separately in Custom Function), Lens Peripheral Illumination Correction Off, Auto Lighting Optimizer Off, High ISO Noise Reduction Low, Lens at 40mm. All EXIF Data Preserved.

3. K-x Settings: Av Exposure Mode at f/8, Evaluative Metering, No Exposure Compensation, AWB, Single Central Point Single AF, Large Fine JPEG, "Bright" Picture Style with Default Parameters (Factory Default), 2 sec. Self-Timer with Mirror Lock, Lens Distortion and CA Correction Off, High ISO Noise Reduction Low (Starting from ISO400, Set in Custom Function), Lens at 45mm. All EXIF Data Preserved.

4. Uploaded samples are resized to 4,000 pixels in width and in the same size, for easy and meaningful comparisons. Click on any of the thumbnails to Download and Enlarge.

Okay, let's go!

ISO	550D + EF 17-40L F4 @ 40mm & f/8	K-x + DA 16-45 F4 @ 45mm & f/8
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6400

Some of My Quick Findings..

1. The overall colour tone of the K-x pics is slightly warmer, which is closer to what my eyes could see.

2. However, the 550D combo do have slightly better colour accuracy of which the colours re-produced are yet a bit closer and more faithful to the original colours. Do note that the Colour Modes chosen for both cameras are Factory Default ones which are somehow ex-exaggerated in colours as designed and intended.

3. At the same ISO speeds, the 550D pics have more colour noise in shadows whereas the K-x pics have more visible luminance noise in shadows.

4. 550D pictures do have slight edge in resolution when viewed in full and at pixel level, even up to ISO 800. However, if the two sets of pictures are resized down to at about 10+ Megapixels, the difference would not be so noticeable.

Btw, above are just my own quick observations and findings. If you don't fully agree with me, your take now! (and you're feel to do so! It's so easy! :-))


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