A co-worker and I are debating whether to go with the Nikon CoolPix 990 or the Casio CV-3000. One of the big differences I'm seeing is in the 3 musicians samples on this site. The Nikon's image is much more saturated especially in the red spectrum, and I really think it is pleasing to look at compared to the washed-out reds from the Casio image.

What I would like to know is can the Casio get this kind of color saturation and which of the images more closely matches the actual poster?

Also there appears to be alot more resolution especially in the headband of the woman on the right on the Nikon, but it could be due to sharpening or the general lack again of red in the Casio image.

Thanks in advance for your insights...

Jack

-- Jack Benzel (jdb@fc.hp.com), May 05, 2000

Answers

Jack:

It's almost moot. Unless you are printing images directly, without bringing them through a good image editor, the saturation is completely changeable to what pleases you. I have used most of the image editing programs, and I feel that Photoshop is without peer. Learning to use Levels (Image/Adjust/Levels) and Unsharp Mask (Filter/Sharpen/Unsharp Mask), and possibly Variations (Image/Adjust/Variations)will produce fantastic results. I do agree that a good original is a great way to start, but some cameras, e.g. Kodak, will give you a super-saturated image to start with. I prefer to doctor it up the way I choose.

-- Lee Custer (phoebe@laguna.com.mx), May 05, 2000.

I am an new CP 990 owner and am struggling with the hard red saturation in flesh tones of the pictures I am taking. Photos without people are GREAT! but human flesh tones appear very oversaturated when taken in sunlight or with the built in flash. I use Photoshop myself extensively and agree it is without equal. But I have yet to crack just the right technique for addressing this RED flesh tone challenge. Printed photos are worse so bad that I am realizing that every print I make with people will require work. Interesting that the CP 950 seemed to be a bit over saturated in the yellow spectrum but this worked with flesh tones.

-- Gary Fisk (gtfisk@hotmail.com), May 06, 2000.

Try taking your photos to Corel Draw, if you have it. It tends to print images without so much red. I had the same problem with my Kodak 265, and it seemed to get worse as my batteries drained.

-- tbennett (imaddog@seark.net), May 07, 2000.