TV Dreams

The other day I laboured the point that more megapixels doesn’t necessarily mean better image quality, although the marketing department would have you believe that wasn’t the case.

So why the update? OK, when I was looking for a compact digital camera last year I decided on the Fuji Finepix F30. It turned out to be a classic, with unrivalled picture quality in its class.

Time has moved on and its successor is now on the market, the F31fd (fd stands for face detection). The good news is that very little has changed, but I thought I’d highlight some of the comments regarding megapixels/sensor size and image quality…

This is from the April 2007 Fuji Finepaix F31fd review on dpreview.com…

“In the fast-moving, ‘bigger better faster’ world of the digital compact the Fujifilm FinePix F30 will be one of the rare few that are remembered after they have gone (the nearest this throwaway business gets to a ‘classic’). The reason this unassuming, blocky little camera stands out from the scores of other cameras launched last year - and why it has a mantelpiece covered in industry awards - is simple; image quality, or more specifically, high ISO performance. The F30’s low light capabilities come from a combination of clever technology (Super CCD and Real Photo Processor) and a ’swimming against the tide’ attitude to specification, which means a bigger sensor with fewer pixels. The F30 also, against all the odds, actually sold pretty well, going against the conventional wisdom that consumers buy on pixel counts alone. Although it has its share of faults the F30 became the benchmark by which all compact cameras in the 6-8 megapixel sector were judged. The excellent battery life and high speed performance certainly helped too.”

“And so, to sum up; the F31fd is everything the F30 was, with a couple of tweaks here and there that - on balance - can be considered to offer a slight improvement over what was already a uniquely capable camera. I suspect (though I hope I’m wrong) that this is the last time we’ll see this sensor in a compact camera, as Fuji feels the pressure to keep up with the megapixel race ever more strongly. This would be a real tragedy; the F31fd hits the image quality ’sweet spot’ by using a large sensor, relatively low pixel count and some very clever processing, and I can’t see them repeating this with a more densely-packed sensor. It is the perfect illustration of the oft made point that more pixels do not mean better quality; we’ve compared the F31fd to a whole range of much more expensive compacts going right up to 10MP, and - aside from a little extra resolution at base ISO - it puts most of them to shame. Once you get to ISO 400 there simply isn’t a compact on the market that can hold a flame to it. ”

If you’re thinking about a new compact digital camera you might spare a thought for the F31fd - it may not have the pixel count of its competitors, but it still has them beaten on picture quality.

Lynne’s started something by mentioning acceptance in her last post.

This, I believe, is at the heart of being a happy trannie.

The way I see it is there’s two parts to becoming a “Happy Trannie”…

And BTW, this is not a checklist item, OK.

Part 1: Accepting the fact that you’re a trannie and that that is OK, in your head.

Part 2: Accepting that it’s OK in your heart.

And I believe it’s part 2 that finally unlocks the door to true trannie happiness/self-acceptance. But how you get to be in that place is a mystery to me, as in I don’t think you can plan for it. It eventually just happens, or not.

Some of the signs are a new found confidence and a happier disposition. Other than that I think it can have other effects. I mean, may be you’d end up going out more. Although for me it’s tended to work the other way. I don’t feel the urge to dress up and go out so much. And I don’t fret about it, just go with the flow.

What troubles me slightly is this notion of “feeling it in your heart”. I find it difficult to describe. Perhaps another way of putting it is say that the idea of being a trannie is OK finally becomes totally integrated into your “belief system” to the extent that you never, ever again question that what you’re doing is OK.

That doesn’t mean to say you don’t recognise that others may still have a problem with it (and may actually express their issues in a violent manner) but you totally believe it is OK. It’s actually a wonderful feeling. Anyone else experienced it? Or am I just deluding myself? ;-)

It still doesn’t mean it would be wise to go telling all and sundry as some people may try to cause problems for you. Only you can decide who and who shouldn’t know. And besides whose business is it to know about your personal life anyway?

OK, I’ll wrap this by saying I hope you like being where you’re at, and if you’re not quite in that place, persevere. It’ll be SO worth it! :)

I’m ever so bold ya know. I don’t care about signing up for girly stuff on women’s websites.

But the thing is by sticking down a woman’s name and using my “Rachel” email address no one would be any the wiser. So really it ain’t that bold, is it? Of course not.

But Rimmel, and don’t ask me what their motivation is, have a gender dropdown list for the newsletter form - you got it, they’re asking if you’re male or female. Or should that be female or male.

Anyhows, I told the truth. Wonder if I’ll receive any further communication in the light of my oh so daring revelation. I’ll report back, if so.

I have to say it does intrigue me as to what the purpose of it all is. Do they see themselves stealing a competitive advantage by doing this? Think I feel an enquiring email coming on…

If you were considering buying a new digital camera (and as a trannie this may be more often than joe public) you would more than likely go for a camera with a higher pixel count - as in, “Well, more pixels means better quality, yeah?”.

Wrong, wrong wrong. The marketing guys are selling the consumer a pup.

The marketing/advertising machine is using this as the major selling point in the compact digital market… and it’s misleading.

This is what it’s really like. The size of the sensor in the camera is going to have the biggest influence on picture quality in conjunction with the number of pixels in the sensor.

So if you take a compact digital, the sensor size could be as low as 5 x 4 mm. Now smaller sensors are cheaper and also with a smaller size camera it could make sense to use a smaller sensor.

So what happens when the manufacturer ups the pixel count from say 6mp to 8mp? Assuming the sensor size stays the same, the manufacturer crams more pixels onto the sensor; this means each light gathering pixel covers a smaller area.

And what does this mean? Less light capture through each pixel means reduced clarity and detail through greater digital “noise”. Now, the manufacturers can increase the digital “noise reduction” so the picture appears less pixelated, but this in turn softens the image providing less detail.

I’ve been toying with the idea of buying a Canon Powershot S5 IS because it has a 36-432mm lens - no additional lens to buy and no lens changes. Also, it’s significantly smaller than a DSLR.

The S5 has 8 megapixels as opposed to its predecessor the S3 which has 6. And this is where the principles I’ve been talking about can be illustrated very nicely.

Both cameras have the same size sensor (5.76 x 4.29 mm). Now take a look at the DP Review comparisons of image quality between the two models (new Window). The S5 image has greater digital noise. Just take a look at the vodka label comparison. Canon could have applied more noise reduction to the S5, but for various considered reasons have chosen not to.

The real answer to better quality images (all other things being equal) is to buy a camera with a bigger sensor. The bad news is to do this you’re probably looking at moving up to a DSLR - more expense, bigger/heavier to lug around, won’t fit in your handbag. Although you could change to carrying a carpet bag. ;)

The Nikon D40X DSLR has a sensor size of 23.7 x 15.6 mm as does the D80. And this is where you’ll get better quality images.

I know image quality may not be everything, but it just winds me up that marketers conceal this sort of information. Grrr!

Anyway, hope this helps and if you want to check out sensor sizes for a camera you may be considering buying then you can go to the model on www.dpreview.com (new window) and look it up under the specifications. I’d also suggest viewing the image comparisons under the full review, too.

That feels better!