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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 Nikon 1 S1 with the Olympus PEN Mini E-PM2, Panasonic GF5 and Sony NEX-F3.
JPEG signal to noise ratio
These results show that the Nikon 1 S1's JPEG files have the weakest signal to noise ratio of all the cameras we compared, falling behind those from the Olympus PEN Mini E-PM2, Panasonic GF5 and Sony NEX-F3 at every sensitivity setting.
Raw signal to noise ratio
The signal to noise ratios of the TIFF images (after conversion from raw) from the Nikon 1 S1 start off the weakest of the group at lower ISOs, but overtake the Panasonic GF5 at ISO 1600 and above. The Nikon 1 S1's TIFFs have a weaker signal to noise ratio than the Olympus PEN Mini E-PM2 and Sony NEX-F3 at every sensitivity.
JPEG dynamic range
The Nikon 1 S1's JPEG results for dynamic range are more impressive than those for signal to noise ratio, showing stronger scores than the Panasonic GF5's at ISO 200, 3200 and 6400, and very similar scores at ISO 1600. The Nikon 1 S1's JPEGs also produce similar dynamic range to the Sony NEX-F3 at ISO 200, though at higher ISOs they are weaker than the Sony's. The Olympus PEN Mini E-PM2's JPEGs beat the Nikon 1 S1's for dynamic range at every sensitivity setting.
Raw dynamic range
TIFF images (after conversion from raw) from the Nikon 1 S1 start off showing the weakest dynamic range of the group at low ISOs, before again overtaking the Panasonic GF5 at ISO 1600 and above. The Olympus PEN Mini E-PM2 and Sony NEX-F3's TIFFs beat the Nikon 1 S1's for dynamic range at every sensitivity, though the gap does narrow considerably at ISO 1600 and above.
