Another K5 question...

**eccs19** · 12-28-2011, 12:12 PM

So someone gave me a RAW file that was taken from a Canon 5D Mark II at 1600 ISO. This image has next to no noise. I swear it's as clean if not cleaner than what I get at ISO 200 on my K7. I know that it's got a larger sensor, so I'm not really comparing apples to apples. I also know that the K7 is known for being noisy. If I end up getting a K5, should I expect the quality of the higher ISO shots to be about the same level at the Mark II, or will that not happen because of the gap in sensor size?

kenyee · 12-28-2011, 12:29 PM

Think that's good? Also check out the D700. It's the bigger sensor sites for high ISO...
The 5D is also known to have a bit heavy handed noise reduction...

Anvh · 12-28-2011, 12:45 PM

A lot also depend on exposure, if a shot is udnerexposed you will see a lot of noise in it, better to over expose slightly and then turn the exposure back in PP, you get much cleaner result that way.

Also don't compare noise pixel vs pixel, one camera has more or less pixels than another so it isn't fair to compare that way, compare the whole photo or print.

KevinR · 12-28-2011, 12:56 PM

K-5 can produce fantastic low noise images. Got to agree with @Anvh that slight overexposure gives better results ito noise performance. I've been completely blown away by the high ISO performance, and it has breathed new life into my slow long lens, namely 170-500. I can now shoot TvAv, and let the ISO range go up to ISO6400. Previously with the K200d (probably similar ISO performance to K-7) I was getting unacceptable results at anything above ISO400.

But don't know how to contrast against 5d MkII, so perhaps example is best to demonstrate potential. This is ISO6400 1/250s f/9.5 450mm. Straight out of camera, but with resize and quality drop for posting.

Attached Images

Last edited by KevinR; 12-28-2011 at 01:03 PM.

Frogfish · 12-28-2011, 01:09 PM

The K5 is right up there with the best, somebody posted this on another forum (I think, I bookmarked it anyway) vs. D700 and D7000 ... 6,400 is a cinch and even 12,800 at a pinch. Link : Nothing Special: Pentax K5 versus Nikon D7000 versus Nikon D700 – The great low light shootout …

RonHendriks1966 · 12-28-2011, 01:16 PM

Well the K-5 is much better then the K-7. At hi iso settings the full frame camera's win. At base iso-setting it is de 5D Mark II that looses in dynamic range.

Frogfish · 12-28-2011, 01:22 PM

Originally posted by RonHendriks1966

Well the K-5 is much better then the K-7. At hi iso settings the full frame camera's win. At base iso-setting it is de 5D Mark II that looses in dynamic range.

Barely Ron .. especially at the size prints we are likely to print. See the link above !

**Arn** · 12-28-2011, 02:14 PM

Thanks for the interesting link, Kevin.

mysticcowboy · 12-28-2011, 02:53 PM

The D700 is the best, semi-reasonably priced camera for low noise. The 5D II, is second. The K-5 is third. (Or possibly the D7000 - same sensor, though the Pentax has lower chroma noise) At current prices, it cost less than half of the first two. Life is always a compromise. The new top of the line Canons and Nikons will be better still, but most of us can't justify the price of a decent used car for a camera setup.

One advantage the K-5 has is how much clean information you can recover from underexposed images. It's pretty amazing. In fact, instead of kicking my ISO up to 6400, I'll shoot at 2500 ISO and selectively push the areas of the image I want to emphasize.

I bought a K-7 and returned it. Its ISO performance and dynamic range were no better, and possibly worse, than the K20D I already owned. The K-5 was a revelation when I got it last spring. It produces wonderful files.

RonHendriks1966 · 12-28-2011, 04:04 PM

Originally posted by Frogfish

Barely Ron .. especially at the size prints we are likely to print. See the link above !

Well i do meet more often a D3s then a D700 these days and that camera just is a winner.

This one is taken @iso4000

This is http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Femke_Heemskerk

So K-5 aint no dog!

**eccs19** · 12-28-2011, 06:36 PM

Thanks for all of the responses. Greatly appreciated. I definately didn't expect that the K5 would beat the Mark II, but was hoping it would be close. I'm like most here, and can't justify spending that kind of money on a full frame camera. Looks like K5 will walk all over the K7, so I may just have to bit the bullet.

12-28-2011, 12:12 PM	#1
eccs19 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lisle, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,510	Another K5 question... So someone gave me a RAW file that was taken from a Canon 5D Mark II at 1600 ISO. This image has next to no noise. I swear it's as clean if not cleaner than what I get at ISO 200 on my K7. I know that it's got a larger sensor, so I'm not really comparing apples to apples. I also know that the K7 is known for being noisy. If I end up getting a K5, should I expect the quality of the higher ISO shots to be about the same level at the Mark II, or will that not happen because of the gap in sensor size?

12-28-2011, 02:53 PM	#9
mysticcowboy Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: port townsend, wa Photos: Albums Posts: 968	The D700 is the best, semi-reasonably priced camera for low noise. The 5D II, is second. The K-5 is third. (Or possibly the D7000 - same sensor, though the Pentax has lower chroma noise) At current prices, it cost less than half of the first two. Life is always a compromise. The new top of the line Canons and Nikons will be better still, but most of us can't justify the price of a decent used car for a camera setup. One advantage the K-5 has is how much clean information you can recover from underexposed images. It's pretty amazing. In fact, instead of kicking my ISO up to 6400, I'll shoot at 2500 ISO and selectively push the areas of the image I want to emphasize. I bought a K-7 and returned it. Its ISO performance and dynamic range were no better, and possibly worse, than the K20D I already owned. The K-5 was a revelation when I got it last spring. It produces wonderful files. Last edited by mysticcowboy; 12-28-2011 at 03:00 PM.

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12-28-2011, 12:29 PM	#2
kenyee Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Boston, PRofMA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,026	Think that's good? Also check out the D700. It's the bigger sensor sites for high ISO... The 5D is also known to have a bit heavy handed noise reduction...

12-28-2011, 12:45 PM	#3
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	A lot also depend on exposure, if a shot is udnerexposed you will see a lot of noise in it, better to over expose slightly and then turn the exposure back in PP, you get much cleaner result that way. Also don't compare noise pixel vs pixel, one camera has more or less pixels than another so it isn't fair to compare that way, compare the whole photo or print.

12-28-2011, 12:56 PM	#4
KevinR Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 653	K-5 can produce fantastic low noise images. Got to agree with @Anvh that slight overexposure gives better results ito noise performance. I've been completely blown away by the high ISO performance, and it has breathed new life into my slow long lens, namely 170-500. I can now shoot TvAv, and let the ISO range go up to ISO6400. Previously with the K200d (probably similar ISO performance to K-7) I was getting unacceptable results at anything above ISO400. But don't know how to contrast against 5d MkII, so perhaps example is best to demonstrate potential. This is ISO6400 1/250s f/9.5 450mm. Straight out of camera, but with resize and quality drop for posting. Attached Images Last edited by KevinR; 12-28-2011 at 01:03 PM.

12-28-2011, 01:09 PM	#5
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	The K5 is right up there with the best, somebody posted this on another forum (I think, I bookmarked it anyway) vs. D700 and D7000 ... 6,400 is a cinch and even 12,800 at a pinch. Link : Nothing Special: Pentax K5 versus Nikon D7000 versus Nikon D700 – The great low light shootout …

12-28-2011, 01:16 PM	#6
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Well the K-5 is much better then the K-7. At hi iso settings the full frame camera's win. At base iso-setting it is de 5D Mark II that looses in dynamic range.

12-28-2011, 01:22 PM	#7
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	Originally posted by RonHendriks1966 Well the K-5 is much better then the K-7. At hi iso settings the full frame camera's win. At base iso-setting it is de 5D Mark II that looses in dynamic range. Barely Ron .. especially at the size prints we are likely to print. See the link above !

12-28-2011, 02:14 PM	#8
Arn Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Parksville Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,497	Thanks for the interesting link, Kevin.

12-28-2011, 04:04 PM	#10
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Originally posted by Frogfish Barely Ron .. especially at the size prints we are likely to print. See the link above ! Well i do meet more often a D3s then a D700 these days and that camera just is a winner. This one is taken @iso4000 This is http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Femke_Heemskerk So K-5 aint no dog!

12-28-2011, 06:36 PM	#11
eccs19 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lisle, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,510 Original Poster	Thanks for all of the responses. Greatly appreciated. I definately didn't expect that the K5 would beat the Mark II, but was hoping it would be close. I'm like most here, and can't justify spending that kind of money on a full frame camera. Looks like K5 will walk all over the K7, so I may just have to bit the bullet.