Flare and Chromatic Aberration: Flare and CA were tested by capturing an against-the-light scene with light seeping through obstacles. The cameras were once again set to the widest aperture and the lens at the wide-angle end. The resulting images showed flare and chromatic aberration, if any. While the Canon controlled flare very well, the Ricoh exhibited the least chromatic aberration.
Distortion: For this test, we photographed a test chart consisting of a uniformly spaced matrix (as in the case of an Excel document). Here too, the Sony came out with flying colours, followed by the Ricoh, and then the Nikon.
White Balance: To evaluate White Balance, we checked the values of red, green, and blue tones in Auto White Balance under natural light, since most artificial light sources emit inconsistent light. The Canon came out first, with the Olympus following closely.
Noise: For this, we photographed a subject with good features and compared noise in shadow areas at ISO 800 and 1600. We did not test higher ISOs since these are not likely to be used often, and the characteristics do not change much.
Value for Money
The Canon S110 retails at an MRP of 29,995, while the Nikon P330 is priced at Rs.16,950. The Olympus carries a price tag of Rs.24,990, while the Panasonic LX7 retails at Rs.34,990. The Ricoh GR is priced at Rs.52,995, and the Sony RX100 II carries a price tag of Rs.42,990. The broad range of prices makes it very difficult to evaluate value for money. But inexpensive does not always mean that the product offers the best value for money. So we decided to find out the price-performance ration, which indicates the real value each of these cameras offer for every rupee.
Our Verdict
As we said before, premium compact cameras have a very wide range of prices. Obviously, the most expensive cameras will have the most advanced features. This comparative review is an indicator of how the cameras perform without the prices hindering the ratings. So if you are not particular about the advanced features such as accessory shoe and large sensor, but would like to spend every penny wisely, then the above results would definitely help. Here the Canon PowerShot S110 wins the battle, with the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 II coming in a distant second, trailed by the Ricoh GR.
Sujith Gopinath
