need advice about image quality

karlito · 02-06-2012, 03:05 PM

Hello.. i need some advice... i am on the verge of selling my pentax kr because i am not happy with the video or image quality have been taking a lot of pictures but just feel they lack detail and have focus issues.
am i doing something wrong, is there some issues with my camera or is this the best the pentax k-r can do.

Attached Images

karlito · 02-06-2012, 03:06 PM

these are some of the better pictures

JinDesu · 02-06-2012, 03:09 PM

Since it seems you are actually trying to get some answers rather than continue bashing the k-r...

1) What lens(es) are you using?
2) What mode are you using? For example, Manual mode, Av mode, Sv, Tv, That little picture of a person in a square mode.
3) Are you shooting in RAW or just JPEG?

Parallax · 02-06-2012, 03:12 PM

The first thing I would suggest is reading up on exposure compensation when shooting back lit scenes/subjects such as those in snow or water.

Last edited by Parallax; 02-06-2012 at 03:17 PM.

karlito · 02-06-2012, 03:20 PM

i am shooting in jpeg .... at the moment i have 3 lenses... 18-55 kit lens, smc 50f1.7 and f4-5.4 tokina 70-210 manual lens... i have experimented with just about every mode on the dial, i try not to use the auto pict mode cause those give the worst results. .. sometimes when i shoot in hdr mode i get much better results.
what really annoys me is that i sent some of the pics to pentax and they said it was perfectly normal, and there was nothing wrong... thats what really got me annoyed..

karlito · 02-06-2012, 03:22 PM

also have a smc 35 mm lens

Parallax · 02-06-2012, 03:28 PM

All but the first one are under exposed (see my post above).
They were taken on an overcast day so mid-tone contrast is going to be low and will need a curves adjustment in PP.
No camera/lens combination is going to show detail in a black bird, or shaded trees in the snow without blowing out highlights.
The goose in the third one is out of focus. The center point of the image is the black neck. Not something that any camera is likely to be able to focus on.
I don't see anything that can't be attributed to operator error; or at least lack of understanding of how to use the camera in that particular situation.

karlito · 02-06-2012, 03:33 PM

also would like to note there is a lot of af hunting before it manages to focus on an object.

twitch · 02-06-2012, 03:38 PM

How can the fault possibly be the camera when it is simply a light tight box that happens to hold one of the best DSLR sensors to be developed in the last 2 years?

The fault is mainly "user error" (both in capture and in post processing), and to a much less extend, "inferior lenses".

Problem #1 is exposure, your shots are way under exposed. You are doing something wrong for this to happen. The kit 18-55 makes it easier to get correct exposure, but manual lenses are tricky. I'd concentrate on using the kit lens to get correct exposure, and using some basic PP to get more out of your captures.

karlito · 02-06-2012, 03:44 PM

i do get good photos with the smc 50 f.17

karlito · 02-06-2012, 03:45 PM

will try using the kit lens again

JinDesu · 02-06-2012, 03:46 PM

Originally posted by karlito

i am shooting in jpeg .... at the moment i have 3 lenses... 18-55 kit lens, smc 50f1.7 and f4-5.4 tokina 70-210 manual lens... i have experimented with just about every mode on the dial, i try not to use the auto pict mode cause those give the worst results. .. sometimes when i shoot in hdr mode i get much better results.
what really annoys me is that i sent some of the pics to pentax and they said it was perfectly normal, and there was nothing wrong... thats what really got me annoyed..

Admittedly, sending those pictures to Pentax isn't going to get you a serious answer - they've seen worse

Do you have a tripod? And is that 50 1.7 a autofocus lens? And which 35mm lens do you have (full name).

Try this - get that tripod out, find a pretty flower, point that k-r and the 50 1.7 at that flower, set it to F1.7, and Av mode at ISO 100, manual focus using the live-view screen (let me know if you want tips on this) and take that picture. Now look at that picture and say this camera cannot deliver a good shot.

Part of the reason why some of your shots seem cruddy is from bad exposure - you didn't use the right settings to achieve exposure. Some other reasons is because the shots you've shown don't actually have any contrasty bits. I don't expect much color in a picture of a black and white bird in a snowy landscape.

Use manual mode, learn how the shutter speed and aperture relate to each other and what is your lens' sharpest aperture (hint - F8), use ISO 200-800 when you are outside, use the 50 F1.7 and the 35mm more than your kit lens (the kit lens sometimes isn't very contrasty or sharp), and you'll see that the camera is capable; it's just that it hasn't been properly used.

If I can get that shot out of my k-x, I'm sure that it's bigger brother will do as well or better.

As far as autofocus goes - which lens are you talking about? Each of those lenses? Are you using center point focus? Do you aim at something with high contrast to get the accurate focus? Sometimes the camera isn't good enough when you point at a dull mass of black or white.

twitch · 02-06-2012, 03:50 PM

Here's what the sensor can do, it's more than capable.

karlito · 02-06-2012, 03:55 PM

i do have a tripod.. and it is a smc50 f1.7....... here is one i took earlier with the kit lens
thanks for the advice, will try it with the settings you recomended.
is that picture taken with the pentax k-r??????wow??

karlito · 02-06-2012, 03:56 PM

ohhhhh.....come on... there is just noooooooooooo wayyyy....noooo waaaaaayyyyy.... that we have the same camera..... are you guys serious.....

02-06-2012, 03:22 PM	#6
karlito Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 38 Original Poster	also have a smc 35 mm lens Last edited by karlito; 02-06-2012 at 03:28 PM.

02-06-2012, 03:55 PM	#14
karlito Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 38 Original Poster	i do have a tripod.. and it is a smc50 f1.7....... here is one i took earlier with the kit lens thanks for the advice, will try it with the settings you recomended. is that picture taken with the pentax k-r??????wow?? Attached Images

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02-06-2012, 03:05 PM	#1
karlito Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 38	need advice about image quality Hello.. i need some advice... i am on the verge of selling my pentax kr because i am not happy with the video or image quality have been taking a lot of pictures but just feel they lack detail and have focus issues. am i doing something wrong, is there some issues with my camera or is this the best the pentax k-r can do. Attached Images

02-06-2012, 03:06 PM	#2
karlito Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 38 Original Poster	these are some of the better pictures

02-06-2012, 03:09 PM	#3
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	Since it seems you are actually trying to get some answers rather than continue bashing the k-r... 1) What lens(es) are you using? 2) What mode are you using? For example, Manual mode, Av mode, Sv, Tv, That little picture of a person in a square mode. 3) Are you shooting in RAW or just JPEG?

02-06-2012, 03:12 PM	#4
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,332	The first thing I would suggest is reading up on exposure compensation when shooting back lit scenes/subjects such as those in snow or water. Last edited by Parallax; 02-06-2012 at 03:17 PM.

02-06-2012, 03:20 PM	#5
karlito Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 38 Original Poster	i am shooting in jpeg .... at the moment i have 3 lenses... 18-55 kit lens, smc 50f1.7 and f4-5.4 tokina 70-210 manual lens... i have experimented with just about every mode on the dial, i try not to use the auto pict mode cause those give the worst results. .. sometimes when i shoot in hdr mode i get much better results. what really annoys me is that i sent some of the pics to pentax and they said it was perfectly normal, and there was nothing wrong... thats what really got me annoyed..

02-06-2012, 03:28 PM	#7
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,332	All but the first one are under exposed (see my post above). They were taken on an overcast day so mid-tone contrast is going to be low and will need a curves adjustment in PP. No camera/lens combination is going to show detail in a black bird, or shaded trees in the snow without blowing out highlights. The goose in the third one is out of focus. The center point of the image is the black neck. Not something that any camera is likely to be able to focus on. I don't see anything that can't be attributed to operator error; or at least lack of understanding of how to use the camera in that particular situation.

02-06-2012, 03:33 PM	#8
karlito Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 38 Original Poster	also would like to note there is a lot of af hunting before it manages to focus on an object.

02-06-2012, 03:38 PM	#9
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	How can the fault possibly be the camera when it is simply a light tight box that happens to hold one of the best DSLR sensors to be developed in the last 2 years? The fault is mainly "user error" (both in capture and in post processing), and to a much less extend, "inferior lenses". Problem #1 is exposure, your shots are way under exposed. You are doing something wrong for this to happen. The kit 18-55 makes it easier to get correct exposure, but manual lenses are tricky. I'd concentrate on using the kit lens to get correct exposure, and using some basic PP to get more out of your captures.

02-06-2012, 03:44 PM	#10
karlito Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 38 Original Poster	i do get good photos with the smc 50 f.17

02-06-2012, 03:45 PM	#11
karlito Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 38 Original Poster	will try using the kit lens again

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02-06-2012, 03:46 PM	#12
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	Originally posted by karlito i am shooting in jpeg .... at the moment i have 3 lenses... 18-55 kit lens, smc 50f1.7 and f4-5.4 tokina 70-210 manual lens... i have experimented with just about every mode on the dial, i try not to use the auto pict mode cause those give the worst results. .. sometimes when i shoot in hdr mode i get much better results. what really annoys me is that i sent some of the pics to pentax and they said it was perfectly normal, and there was nothing wrong... thats what really got me annoyed.. Admittedly, sending those pictures to Pentax isn't going to get you a serious answer - they've seen worse Do you have a tripod? And is that 50 1.7 a autofocus lens? And which 35mm lens do you have (full name). Try this - get that tripod out, find a pretty flower, point that k-r and the 50 1.7 at that flower, set it to F1.7, and Av mode at ISO 100, manual focus using the live-view screen (let me know if you want tips on this) and take that picture. Now look at that picture and say this camera cannot deliver a good shot. Part of the reason why some of your shots seem cruddy is from bad exposure - you didn't use the right settings to achieve exposure. Some other reasons is because the shots you've shown don't actually have any contrasty bits. I don't expect much color in a picture of a black and white bird in a snowy landscape. Use manual mode, learn how the shutter speed and aperture relate to each other and what is your lens' sharpest aperture (hint - F8), use ISO 200-800 when you are outside, use the 50 F1.7 and the 35mm more than your kit lens (the kit lens sometimes isn't very contrasty or sharp), and you'll see that the camera is capable; it's just that it hasn't been properly used. If I can get that shot out of my k-x, I'm sure that it's bigger brother will do as well or better. As far as autofocus goes - which lens are you talking about? Each of those lenses? Are you using center point focus? Do you aim at something with high contrast to get the accurate focus? Sometimes the camera isn't good enough when you point at a dull mass of black or white.

02-06-2012, 03:50 PM	#13
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	Here's what the sensor can do, it's more than capable.

02-06-2012, 03:56 PM	#15
karlito Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 38 Original Poster	ohhhhh.....come on... there is just noooooooooooo wayyyy....noooo waaaaaayyyyy.... that we have the same camera..... are you guys serious.....