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We shoot a specially designed chart in carefully controlled conditions and the resulting images are analysed using DXO Analyzer software to generate the data to produce the graphs below.
A high signal to noise ratio (SNR) indicates a cleaner and better quality image.
For more more details on how to interpret our test data, check out our full explanation of our noise and dynamic range tests.
Here we compare the Canon PowerShot G15 with the Olympus XZ-2, Canon G12 and Panasonic LX7.
JPEG signal to noise ratio
These results show that the Canon G15's JPEG files have a similar signal to noise ratio to those from the Canon G12 and Panasonic LX7 at lower sensitivities, sitting slightly above them most of the time. But the camera's performance tails off at ISO 3200 and above, scoring a lower ratio than both cameras then. It beats the Olympus XZ-2 by a considerable amount for most of the sensitivity range, only falling behind at ISO 6400 and 12800.
Raw signal to noise ratio
The signal to noise ratios of the TIFF images (after conversion from raw) from the Canon G15 are significantly higher than all the cameras here, next followed by the Olympus XZ-2, then the Panasonic LX7, with the Canon G12 showing the weakest ratio.
JPEG dynamic range
JPEG results for dynamic range are less impressive than those for signal to noise ratio, with the Canon G15 showing the least dynamic range at lower sensitivity settings, before overtaking the Canon G12 at ISO 400, then falling behind again, then overtaking the G12 and the Olympus XZ-2 at ISO 1600 and above. The Panasonic LX7 beats the G15 at every sensitivity setting but ISO 6400, where the Canon is a fraction better.
Raw dynamic range
This chart indicates that TIFF images (after conversion from raw) from the Canon G15 have a greater comparative dynamic range than the JPEG images, producing the first and second best results of all the cameras here, alternating with the Olympus XZ-2 several times. The Canon G12 shows the weakest dynamic range in its raw files, and the Panasonic LX7 is the third best, spiking at ISO 1600 to score a result a whisker ahead of the Canon G15, which dips at that setting.
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