Noise
The noise test consists of pictures of our studio shot taken at increasing ISO levels to show the effect on the image. The pictures were taken after resetting the cameras to their factory default settings. The cameras were then set to record with the highest quality option using Tungsten WB (if possible). Click on a 100% crop below to view the full-size image.Unfortunately, none of these cameras have the option to change the ISO setting. Therefore, we are comparing the noise levels of images taken in Auto mode. From the EXIF information, we know that both the Fuji A330 and Olympus D-540 images were taken at ISO 100. In the User's Guide, Kodak indicates that the CX7330 uses an ISO rating between 100 and 200.
| Fuji FinePix A330 | Kodak CX7330 | Olympus D-540 |
 (ISO 100) Click to enlarge. |
 (ISO Unknown) Click to enlarge. |
 (ISO 100) Click to enlarge. |
It is clear from this crop comparison that the Olympus D-540 has produced the most noise in our sample shot. The difference between the Fuji A330 and the Kodak CX7330 is much harder to see. Both cameras are capable of producing a fairly low-noise image. If we had to choose one over the other, we would pick the Fuji camera due to the higher visibility of JPEG artifacts in the Kodak image.
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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. Thanksakaristos2 - 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.