Sony RX10 M3: JPG Compression Comparisons

Introduction | Test Photos - Extra fine | Test Photos - Fine | Test Photos - Standard | Conclusions | References

On this page and another one, I try to compare the JPG compression modes "Extra fine", "Fine", and "Standard" at various ISO values on the basis of photos that I took for comparing a "grass scene" with similar Photos taken with the Panasonic TZ202. On both pages, I use the same photos, but arrange them differently. Here, the main purpose is to find out how these structures are reproduced at various JPG compression modes - and also at various ISO values.

 

Introduction

It is not easy to find motifs where you can demonstrate how details get lost due to noise reduction at higher ISO values. Grass seen from a distance seems, according to my experience, to be a motif which is quite suitable for such purposes. It was, however, unclear to me, whether such photos are also usable for detecting differences in the compression modes...

 

Test Photos

For these tests, I took more or less identical photos of the same scene:

    

About the photos:

Settings: Aperture f/5.6, ISO values between 125 and 1600, EV -0.7, a focal length of 300 mm (equiv.)

JPG compression = Extra fine, Fine, and Standard

Contrast, sharpness, and saturation are on their default values.

Click the photo sections to open 100% versions of them in a new window. The original photos can be downloaded by clicking the links below the sections.

Section 1

Quality = Extra fine

 

Quality = Fine

 

Quality = Standard

         

ISO 125 (original)

 

ISO 125 (original)

 

ISO 125 (original)

   

ISO 200 (original)

 

ISO 200 (original)

 

ISO 200 (original)

   

ISO 400 (original)

 

ISO 400 (original)

 

ISO 400 (original)

   

ISO 800 (original)

 

ISO 800 (original)

 

ISO 800 (original)

   

ISO 1600 (original)

 

ISO 1600 (original)

 

ISO 1600 (original)

Section 2

Quality = Extra fine

 

Quality = Fine

 

Quality = Standard

         

ISO 125 (original)

 

ISO 125 (original)

 

ISO 125 (original)

   

ISO 200 (original)

 

ISO 200 (original)

 

ISO 200 (original)

   

ISO 400 (original)

 

ISO 400 (original)

 

ISO 400 (original)

   

ISO 800 (original)

 

ISO 800 (original)

 

ISO 800 (original)

   

ISO 1600 (original)

 

ISO 1600 (original)

 

ISO 1600 (original)

Section 3

Quality = Extra fine

 

Quality = Fine

 

Quality = Standard

         

ISO 125 (original)

 

ISO 125 (original)

 

ISO 125 (original)

   

ISO 200 (original)

 

ISO 200 (original)

 

ISO 200 (original)

   

ISO 400 (original)

 

ISO 400 (original)

 

ISO 400 (original)

   

ISO 800 (original)

 

ISO 800 (original)

 

ISO 800 (original)

   

ISO 1600 (original)

 

ISO 1600 (original)

 

ISO 1600 (original)

 

Conclusions

The test photos on this page are no "scientific work" and should have been done with a tripod and perhaps with manual focus.

JPG Compression: I cannot see any differences in the samples caused by differences in the JPG compression, and this seems to be independent of the ISO values.

After all, I do not have the impression that my photos are suitable for finding differences between the three compression modes, because there is already too much variance in the photos. Nevertheless, you can download the originals, and perhaps they are useful for making up your mind on your own...

ISO: Up to ISO 800, I find the results quite good, although ISO 400 is, of course, better than ISO 800. At ISO 1600, the "losses" of details due to noise reduction are clearly visible, although the results are still acceptable in many situations and a lot better than what the Panasonic TZ202 delivers.

I found, however, situations, in which the RX10 M3 showed stronger JPG artifacts than the TZ202 (for example, soil), probably because of its more aggressive processing. In my opinion, the TZ202 provided more acceptable results there.

My test also shows that the results depend very much on the object that you photograph.

 

References

 

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26.02.2019