The irony of this is that for prints, especially small ones like the 4x6's that are the most popular for general use, the Pentax JPEG output is actually better than a more heavily sharpened print.
Most minilabs oversharpen everything they print. -Adam J. C. O'Connell wrote: > I would think the goal of the highest quality level jpeg output is to > make it as closely as possible match what you can do with a RAW file > tweeked and saved as a jpeg, but do it automatically. This simply > may not be possible any or all the time, but its a good goal to try to > achieve. > I think that some of these diehard RAW users may be forgetting that > one of the biggest "features" of any digtal camera is for instant > results on the output. If you have to go spend a lot of time tweeking > each one of RAW images in photoshop, that good "feature" is lost. > jco > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of > Tom C > Sent: Saturday, December 16, 2006 1:06 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: K10D review online > > > Then they misread what MOST people, not myself, MOST people want out of > the > camera. That is the best possible result w/o any post-exposure > manipulation. > > I don't know why they refuse to get that simple fact. If we shoot RAW > it's > one thing, but people readiing the review thatwant the best possible > .jpg > w/o manipulation will likely fail to be impressed. > > Tom C. > > > > >> From: Godfrey DiGiorgi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Reply-To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List <[email protected]> >> To: Pentax-Discuss Mail List <[email protected]> >> Subject: Re: K10D review online >> Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2006 18:02:08 -0800 >> >> >> On Dec 15, 2006, at 5:21 PM, Alexandru-Cristian Sarbu wrote: >> >>> .. In fact now I'm thinking that the jpeg "issue" may be a design >>> decision. *If* it's tuned for better tonal gradation (I hope I'm >>> using the correct words), the dynamic range will be lowered (since >>> you have only 8 bits/channel to store the data). But I have no idea >>> if this is really the case. .. >> I am sure that this is the case. >> >> There is a thread at DPReview >> http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp? >> forum=1036&message=21284539 >> where someone is calling for a mass request to Pentax for a firmware >> update. I found this reply interesting. >> >>> Forum Pentax SLR Talk >>> Subject received this reply: >>> Posted by chrswggl >>> Date/Time 9:03:20 PM, Friday, December 15, 2006 (GMT) >>> >>> >>> >>> Dear Sir/Madam, >>> >>> Thank you for contacting Pentax. >>> >>> Quotes from DPReview: >>> http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxk10d/page11.asp >>> >>> "Sharpness: >>> As we have seen on previous Pentax digital SLR's the default >>> sharpness level is a little more conservative than other cameras, >>> that's not a bad thing and simply means that if you want your images > >>> a little sharper out of the camera just select +1 or +2. We also >>> note that Pentax appear to be using a sharpening algorithm which >>> produces 'undershoot' (a darkening of black side of contrast on an >>> edge) rather than 'overshoot' (white halos), this can be seen most >>> obviously on the watch fingers in the +3 crop. Unfortunately this >>> appears to leave some black edges looking a little soft and >>> increasing the sharpness setting doesn't help. " >>> >>> "When we reviewed the K100D we thought Pentax had got their image >>> processing just right, however the single element of the entire K10D > >>> equation which left us scratching our heads was just that. Either a >>> poorly implemented demosaicing algorithm or a strange choice of >>> sharpening parameters means that while the K10D's JPEG images have >>> plenty of 'texture' they can lack the edge sharpness we're used to >>> seeing from semi-pro digital SLR's. >>> >>> Pentax may well have been aiming for a smooth film-like appearance >>> but I at least feel that the inability to tweak this out by >>> increasing sharpness is a mistake. That said it's unlikely you'll >>> see this difference in any print up to A3 size, it's a 100% view >>> thing so you have to decide if that's important to you or not. To >>> get that absolute crisp appearance you'll need to shoot RAW, and use > >>> Adobe Camera RAW or another third party converter (as the supplied >>> converter produces similar results to the camera). >>> >>> With the criticism out of the way we return to the K10D as a >>> 'photographic tool', something it does very well. It's a camera you >>> get used to very quickly and never really leaves you searching for >>> the correct setting or control. It's also a camera you can grow >>> into, the unique exposure modes are both creatively interesting and >>> useful, a range of options such as this encourage you to experiment. > >>> At just under $900 it's a very strong proposition, so despite our >>> reservations about the slightly soft image processing the K10D just >>> achieves a Highly Recommended." >>> >>> >>> This is something that we could change with a firmware update, but >>> to the best of my knowledge the camera is working as intended by our > >>> designers, so such a firmware update is unlikely. >>> >>> If you prefer a sharper shot to a softer feel, then you will >>> probably wish to shoot in the DNG RAW format instead of PEF RAW or >>> JPG. >>> >>> If you prefer a smoother image, then you will want to shoot in PEF >>> RAW or JPG. >>> >>> >>> If you are in need of further assistance, please respond to this >>> email or call our technical support center at 800-877-0155. >>> >>> Best Regards, >>> Dorian B. >>> Pentax Imaging Technical Support >>> ---- >> Now the intriguing question, to me, is Dorian's statement: >> >>> -- >>> If you prefer a sharper shot to a softer feel, then you will >>> probably wish to shoot in the DNG RAW format instead of PEF RAW or >>> JPG. >>> >>> If you prefer a smoother image, then you will want to shoot in PEF >>> RAW or JPG. >>> -- >> This implies one of two things: >> >> Either there is some image processing applied to the RAW data in PEF >> and JPEG output modes that isn't applied to the DNG output mode, or >> Dorian is assuming Pentax Lab for PEF conversion which performs >> different smoothing/cleanup compared to when it processes K10D PEFs. It > >> might also be an answer to the comments that Pentax Lab and Silkypix >> produce different RAW conversion results with PEF vs Camera Raw and >> Lightroom with DNG. This is an interesting question mark and I'm >> curious to see what happens when Adobe supports K10D PEF files. >> Meanwhile I'm going to devise a test to see if I can find subtle >> differences ... >> >>> I don't use jpeg anyway. So I don't really care :) >> :-) >> >> Ach. Someday all this flap will be over and I'll spend more time doing >> PHOTOGRAPHY again, rather than being an equipment weenie. >> >> Godfrey >> >> -- >> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >> [email protected] >> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > > > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
