Color (5.56)
Color reproduction is often a challenge for camera manufacturers. Many attempt to produce images with accurate tonal representation but also tend to enhance portrait and landscape photographs with slightly over-saturated red and green tones. The tendency to over-saturate pink and red tones is expected and is often desired by users who might seek vibrant and slightly embellished representations of scenes; however, our tests evaluate the camera’s accuracy in color reproduction.
Color accuracy evaluations are conducted with an industry standard GretagMacbeth color chart that is photographed in a controlled studio environment with tungsten softbox lamps. The resulting images are uploaded into Imatest Imaging Software which compares the tones rendered by the camera with the original colors displayed on the chart. The results from this comparison are listed below. Each color tile has three segments; the outermost square depicts the hues produced by the camera, while the vertical rectangle is the corresponding ideal. The inner square displays a color corrected version of the image captured by the camera.
The results in the modified color chart above are quantitatively displayed below, providing a more direct reading of color discrepancies. The squares within this chart are the colors produced by the Kodak EasyShare C360, while the circles are the ideal colors from the original chart. The longer the line connecting the two shapes, the more inaccurate this color was when reproduced by the C360.
Unfortunately there is no manual white balance on the C360, which is a shame considering the difficulty the camera had in reproducing accurate color tones when using the fully automatic setting. Our color tests were originally shot using the camera’s auto white balance setting; however, the produced colors strayed so significantly from the original that we reported the camera’s scores when using the tungsten white balance preset instead, as this was the most accurate reproduction of the scene we could attain.
The tungsten white balance setting improved upon the camera’s auto mode color score of 4.35, but still could only achieve a 5.56 overall mark. This is significantly lower than most EasyShare models we have tested and came as quite a surprise. Many of the C360’s rendered colors in all white balance modes were incredibly over-saturated and strayed substantially from their corresponding ideals. The inaccurate tonal reproductions spanned both warm and cool tones and seemed to be far more of an unrecognized flaw than a deliberate effort to embellish the shot. If you’re searching for a camera to photograph your artwork, house, garden, or anything grounded in a realistic portrayal of the scene, better look elsewhere.
Still Life Scene
The following photograph was captured by the Kodak EasyShare C360 using our standard and overtly colorful still life scene. Within the still life scene the C360 once again struggled with white balance when shooting in auto mode under tungsten lights, and inevitably produced scenes which were distinctly tinted orange. White balance on the Kodak EasyShare C360 appears to work best when shooting with presets. This shot was recorded using the camera’s tungsten setting.
Click on the above image to view a full resolution version (CAUTION: the linked file is very large!)
Resolution / Sharpness (3.38)
When testing the resolution and sharpness of an image, noticeable discrepancies will occur between the advertised resolution and the actual number of pixels used in the composition of a given frame. We test resolution and sharpness by recording a series of well exposed images at 300 Lux of an ISO resolution chart. The images are then uploaded into Imatest Imaging Software which reads the shot and measures the number of pixels actually used by the camera to form the image. Cameras which exceed 70% of their advertised pixel count are labeled “good” performers, while cameras which use 80% or more are “very good.” Any camera which exposes images with 90% or more of their marketed potential is rare and deemed “excellent.”
Click on the chart above to view full res version
Our tests concluded that the Kodak EasyShare C360 uses 68% or 3.38 megapixels of its 1/2.5-inch 5 MP CCD sensor to form images. While this is not one of the highest scores we have received, it lies just below the “good” mark and is certainly adequate. With the EasyShare Series 3 printer dock, which creates 4 x 6 inch prints, the available resolution will surely suffice. Users should not expect to notice a significant reduction in quality until they reach print sizes of 11 x 14 or significantly crop their images prior to printing.
Noise - Auto ISO (6.41)
The Kodak EasyShare C360 earned a strong score of 6.41 when using the camera’s automatic ISO setting. These tests were conducted in a controlled setup with tungsten lights. The auto ISO noise level score places this camera well above many point-and-shoot cameras we have tested, many of which struggle reading the available light in the scene and default to a higher ISO setting than is necessary. The C360 did not display the same problem and handled the bright conditions with ease. Compared to some other cameras in the same general price range, the C360 produced images with impressive clarity.
Noise - Manual ISO (8.97)
The C360 has manual ISO settings of 80, 100, 200 and 400 in all resolutions, and offers an ISO 800 rating with a reduced resolution of 1.8 MP. The chart below expresses the C360’s manual noise results, with the ISO ratings displayed along the horizontal axis while the resultant noise levels are plotted on the vertical axis.
Using the C360 ‘s manual ISO settings, the camera earned an 8.97 overall noise score, improving upon its impressive 6.41 auto ISO score. This means for those users who do wish to take a bit more of an active role in the photographic process and adjust the sensitivity ratings manually, the results will be rewarding. There is a noticeable jump in noise between the camera’s ISO 200 and 400 ratings; however, the 400 rating is still usable.
For comparison, the C360 produced less noise at both its ISO 80 and 100 ratings than the Canon PowerShot A510 and A520 produced at their less sensitive ISO 50 setting.
Low Light Performance (1.0)
We test low light performance without the assistance of a flash, at the camera’s highest ISO setting. Each camera is tested at four decreasing light levels to perceive the how sensitive the sensor is to light and the point at which the camera becomes unusable. Cameras are tested at 60, 30, 15, and 5 Lux to approximate its ability to perform in common low light conditions; 60 Lux appears as a bedroom might when lit with two small lamps, 30 Lux is roughly the illumination that is given off by a single 40 watt lightbulb, and 15 and 5 Lux gauge the camera’s ability to record in near darkness.
|
Low Light Tests
|
 |
 |
|
60 Lux
|
30 Lux
|
 |
 |
|
15 Lux
|
5 Lux
|
As is apparent from the sequence above, the C360 is not a strong low light performer. We tested the C360 using its ISO 400 rating rather than the ISO 800 setting, which is only offered at reduced resolution. At 60 Lux, the camera is able to reproduce some form of representation of the chart, although color is a bit washed out. The camera maintains its ability to suppress noise to an extent; however, once the available light drops to 30 Lux, the representative element of the shot is lost. While this is one of the lowest low light scores we have attained, this should not deter users from purchasing the camera. Most snapshooters interested in the C360 will just have to accept the need for a constant flash and adapt to its omnipresence.
Speed / Timing
Start-up to First Shot (6.62)
The Kodak EasyShare C360 takes 3.38 seconds to start up and record its first exposure. While there are many cameras that take far longer, exceeding three seconds is long enough to miss shots because of it. Perhaps if less energy was spent on the two parallel LED landing strips on the top of the camera, the C360 would be able to activate in a reasonable period of time?
Shot to Shot (9.36)
Shot to shot time is a big improvement from the C360’s startup time, averaging 0.54 seconds between exposures in burst mode. Keep in mind that this is an average over the five captured images and the individual times varied slightly; however, the consecutive capture time is admirable on this entry level camera.
Shutter to Shot (8.04)
From the release of the shutter to image capture, the C360 reserves 0.48 seconds to get the job done. This is enough of a lag to potentially cause a sizable scrapbook of blinking subjects.
