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08-03-2011, 11:31 AM   #1
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Grainy Pix with K-5

Hi,
I just got the Pentax K-5 last week. I really love the camera, except that I notice that in general my pix are looking more "grainy" than the ones I got with my K-X. I'm not a pro, and I have to admit that without the "scene modes" that I had on my K-X I'm needing to learn a lot in a hurry! But, when I am in Shutter Priority mode if I am shooting at 1/640 or so with an ISO of 200 even in bright settings my pix are tending to look grainy. The exposure looks okay, but they look kind of dull and "noisy." I am using an SMC DA 55-300mm Pentax lens, which seemed to take pretty nice pix with my K-X. Any suggestions? Thanks!

08-03-2011, 11:39 AM   #2
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I recenlty had to send my DA 55-300 in as everyhing looked soft and grainy - do you have another lens you can try ? Is this at all Focal Lengths ? What type of AF and metering are you using ?

Post an example that will help methinks.
08-03-2011, 12:14 PM   #3
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grainy pix with K-5

Okay, here are a couple pix. I don't know if there is anything wrong with the lens, as the picture of the dragonfly turned out pretty well. Can lenses sometimes have problems only when zoomed out? Hmmm.... regarding the shot of the Heron, it was a little out of focus because of the photographer but the overall color, and "scene" around it look kind of grainy to me. This is a jpeg, bt the RAW file looked just as bad.
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08-03-2011, 12:18 PM   #4
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Bad focus, Shake Reduction not ready and camera-movement.

Wich lens, there is no exif in the pixure.

So you can not expect good advice.

08-03-2011, 12:51 PM   #5
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In the heron picture, I think what you refer to as 'grain' is just blur. It is not a little, but completely out of focus.
2nd picture is good, no grain there as well.


cheers,
08-03-2011, 01:30 PM   #6
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+1 with dexmus.
The 1st one is out of focus and likely no SR

The second shot is excellent and has no grain.
08-03-2011, 01:55 PM   #7
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Appears to me that you are using the DA55-300mm lens at its weakest spot, that is wide open at the 300mm end. Also, at the long end, make sure you have enough shutter speed (faster than 1/300) to prevent shaking. In this case, it is better to use higher iso than lower shutter speed, best shooting mode is TAv mode, you don't need scene modes.

08-03-2011, 01:57 PM   #8
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Yep +1 with dexmus

Was the Heron at 300mm ? @ 300mm that particualr lens needs a pretty steady hand or a fast shutter speed (and as mentioned make sure SR is on).
08-03-2011, 08:21 PM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by RonHendriks1966 Quote
Bad focus, Shake Reduction not ready and camera-movement.

Wich lens, there is no exif in the pixure.

So you can not expect good advice.
I gave that info in my initial post (Pentax DA 55-300). Shake reduction WAS on, the shutter speed was 1/640 & iso 200
08-03-2011, 08:34 PM   #10
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Okay, but it still doesn't look like grain. It still looks like focus and camera movement issues. Does this happen with any lens other than the 55-300?
08-05-2011, 12:46 PM   #11
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Help requested for "noisy" pix

Okay, so I want to thank all of you who have responded so far. Your tips have been helpful. I went out this morning and got some shots of a Great Blue Heron. I have two of the pix here. It was a bit cloudy, so I know this will cause some exposure problems, but the pix just seem to have a lot of noise. I shot them both in Shutter Priority mode on my K-5. The settings for the first pic were: 1/1250, f/16, ISO 400, 260mm. The file format was jpeg. The second shot had the same settings, except that the aperture was at f/18. The file format for this one was RAW. Any suggestions? As I mentioned the other day, I am just starting to learn the technical aspects of taking pix, and I obviously have a LONG way to go! Any constructive tips are much appreciated.
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08-05-2011, 11:02 PM   #12
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exif please !

There is still no exif in your jpegs, hard to track what is going wrong.
Is the picture directly from the K-5 with no correction (except resize in a software that doesn't preserve exif)?
the first looks indeed more grainy than what i would expect with such settings (I don't know your particular lens, but F16 is not necessary the sharpest aperture, when it's too much closed, you can have some diffraction that limits shaprness, but should'nt bring noise anyway)
08-05-2011, 11:21 PM   #13
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Shoot Av at f8 and control ISO to make sure shutter is at least 1/300 to 1/500. From your settings, I am sure you can get off with ISO 200 and maintain shutter at 1/500 and aperture f8. Also which metering mode did you use and were both photos heavily cropped and processed?
08-05-2011, 11:35 PM - 1 Like   #14
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Just one point--SR switched on is not the same thing as SR being engaged. If you don't see the hand in the viewfinder when you press the shutter, SR is not engaged.
08-06-2011, 02:28 AM   #15
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This is underexposed and maybe not well focussed. Don't know about the SR functioning when running around after a bird.
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