willie_901
Mentor
Bill Claff has published estimates of M11 performance on Photons To Photos.
Briefly, Claff developed statistical methods to evaluate and compute sensor performance characteristics from empirical, unrendered, raw-file data. Images are not evaluated so, potential variations in image demosaicking algorithms, rendering parameters, noise filtering, etc. are avoided.
Photographic Dynamic Range[1]
The M111 has about 1 EV more dynamic range than the next highest camera, the M-10-R.
Photographic Dynamic Range Shadow Improvement vs ISO Setting[2]
The step-wise increase between camera ISO settings of 160 to 200 indicate the M11 uses dual conversion-gain technology. A lower conversion gain is used a low camera ISO settings which increases photo site full-well capacity a the expense of sensitivity. This maximizes dynamic range. Above ISO 200 conversion gain automatically increases. Higher conversion-gain levels maximize sensitivity at the expense of dynamic range. In low light, the M11 produce the highest image quality at ISO 200 and above. Finally, the M11 sensor is ISO invariant. Increasing ISO between 200 and 1000 does not significantly increase the read noise level. Above ISO 1000 the EV improves by only about 0.3 EV - which his probably not perceptible in a rendered image.
Sensor Heat Map[3]
Theses data depict the impact of sensor assembly temperature variations on color balance rendering. The lack of correlated patterns indicate the M11 sensor is not affected by hot spots. Note: HCG frames are from measurement at high conversion-gain (camera ISO > 160). This bodes well for color rendering fidelity in very low light.
M11 Photographic Dynamic Range vs. Other Cameras
These data show the M11's technical performance is more than competitive. These data are normalized by keeping the circle-of-confusion constant. Differences in pixel size can not affect the result.
1/ Claff's Photographic Dynamic Range is two stops (EV) lower than the engineering dynamic range. Most camera dynamic range report engineering dynamic range. Since the difference is a constant, just addd 2 EV to the Y axis for an estimate of the engineering dynamic range.
2/ Photographic Dynamic Range Shadow Improvement vs ISO Setting describes how the camera ISO setting affects read-noise levels. The result is an estimate for the perceived shadow-region image quality in a rendered image. Shadow regions have the lowest signal-to-noise ratio so these data compare how much rendered shadow regions an be selectively brightened in post-production before perceived image quality degrades.
Briefly, Claff developed statistical methods to evaluate and compute sensor performance characteristics from empirical, unrendered, raw-file data. Images are not evaluated so, potential variations in image demosaicking algorithms, rendering parameters, noise filtering, etc. are avoided.
Photographic Dynamic Range[1]
The M111 has about 1 EV more dynamic range than the next highest camera, the M-10-R.
Photographic Dynamic Range Shadow Improvement vs ISO Setting[2]
The step-wise increase between camera ISO settings of 160 to 200 indicate the M11 uses dual conversion-gain technology. A lower conversion gain is used a low camera ISO settings which increases photo site full-well capacity a the expense of sensitivity. This maximizes dynamic range. Above ISO 200 conversion gain automatically increases. Higher conversion-gain levels maximize sensitivity at the expense of dynamic range. In low light, the M11 produce the highest image quality at ISO 200 and above. Finally, the M11 sensor is ISO invariant. Increasing ISO between 200 and 1000 does not significantly increase the read noise level. Above ISO 1000 the EV improves by only about 0.3 EV - which his probably not perceptible in a rendered image.
Sensor Heat Map[3]
Theses data depict the impact of sensor assembly temperature variations on color balance rendering. The lack of correlated patterns indicate the M11 sensor is not affected by hot spots. Note: HCG frames are from measurement at high conversion-gain (camera ISO > 160). This bodes well for color rendering fidelity in very low light.
M11 Photographic Dynamic Range vs. Other Cameras
These data show the M11's technical performance is more than competitive. These data are normalized by keeping the circle-of-confusion constant. Differences in pixel size can not affect the result.
1/ Claff's Photographic Dynamic Range is two stops (EV) lower than the engineering dynamic range. Most camera dynamic range report engineering dynamic range. Since the difference is a constant, just addd 2 EV to the Y axis for an estimate of the engineering dynamic range.
2/ Photographic Dynamic Range Shadow Improvement vs ISO Setting describes how the camera ISO setting affects read-noise levels. The result is an estimate for the perceived shadow-region image quality in a rendered image. Shadow regions have the lowest signal-to-noise ratio so these data compare how much rendered shadow regions an be selectively brightened in post-production before perceived image quality degrades.
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jankap
Established
Interesting is the comparison with the Sigma fp.
I certainly know if someone said you have a free $9000 that you have to spend on a camera, it would be the M11. I do not need tests to tell me that!
willie_901
Mentor
Good catch, the Sigma FP-L as well.