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My first images from new K20D
Lens: Rikkonon p 35-70 zoom Camera: K20D 
Posted By: joekelli, 12-12-2012, 09:30 PM

Not sure of all the settings at this time and it is taking me a little while to figure things out on this thing. First pictures seem very soft and it very well could be the lens but I have found out a few things in the settings to help sharpen things up a little.

This one is straight from camera. the bottom one was done in Gimp just using unsharp mask.





next is a night shot at iso1600 straight from camera



this last one will show you more of the softness I am seeing.



Here is the Exif data for the last photo.

Standard Information
Make: PENTAX
Model: PENTAX K20D
Software: K20D Ver 1.03
ImageSize: 4672x3104
ComponentsConfiguration: Y, Cb, Cr, -
CreateDate: 2012:12:12 15:19:28
ModifyDate: 2012:12:12 15:19:28
DateTimeOriginal: 2012:12:12 15:19:28
ExposureTime: 1/350"
ExposureProgram: Aperture-priority AE
ExposureBiasValue: 0
MeteringMode: Center-weighted average
Flash: Off, Did not fire
ISO: 100
WhiteBalance: Auto
FocalLength: 0.0 mm
FocalLength35efl: 0.0 mm
SensingMethod: One-chip color area
SceneType: Directly photographed
ColorSpace: sRGB
NoiseReduction: Off
Contrast: High
Saturation: Normal
Sharpness: Hard
ShutterCount: 9539
LensSpec: K or M Lens
GPS Information
Other Information
AEAperture: 0.1
AEBXv: 0
AEExposureTime: 1/372
AELock: Off
AEMaxAperture: 1.2
AEMaxAperture2: 1.2
AEMeteringMode: Center-weighted average
AEMeteringSegments: 8.5 9.4 11.3 11.1 10.0 10.3 7.5 8.5 7.3 8.1 6.5 7.0 6.4 7.8 11.4 6.9
AEMinAperture: 23
AEMinExposureTime: 1/3862
AEProgramMode: Sv or Green Mode
AEXv: 0
AE_ISO: 100
AFAdjustment: 0
AFDefocus: 2
AFIntegrationTime: 0 ms
AFPointMode: Fixed Center
AFPointSelected: Fixed Center
AFPointSelected2: Center
AFPointsInFocus: Center (horizontal)
AFPredictor: -3
ApertureRingUse: Permitted
AutoAperture: Off
AutoBracketing: 0 EV, No Extended Bracket
BatteryADBodyLoad: 178
BatteryADBodyNoLoad: 186
BatteryADGripLoad: 1
BatteryADGripNoLoad: 1
BatteryStates: 4 1
BitsPerSample: 8
BlackPoint: 0 0 0 0
BracketShotNumber: n/a
CPUFirmwareVersion: 1.03.00.10
CameraTemperature: 24 C
ColorComponents: 3
Compression: JPEG (old-style)
CustomRendered: Normal
DSPFirmwareVersion: 1.03.00.10
Date: 2012:12:12
DestinationCity: Miami
DestinationDST: No
Directory: C:\Users\joekelli\Desktop\k20d test
DriveMode: Single-frame; No Timer; Shutter Button; Single Exposure
DriveMode2: Single-frame
DynamicRangeExpansion: Off
E-DialInProgram: P Shift
EVSteps: 1/2 EV steps
EffectiveLV: 0.1
EncodingProcess: Baseline DCT, Huffman coding
ExifByteOrder: Big-endian (Motorola, MM)
ExifImageHeight: 3104
ExifImageWidth: 4672
ExifVersion: 0221
ExposureBracketStepSize: 0.5
ExposureMode: Auto
ExternalFlashBounce: n/a
ExternalFlashExposureComp: n/a
ExternalFlashGuideNumber: n/a
ExternalFlashMode: Off
FNumber: 0.0
FileModifyDate: 2012:12:12 10:19:30-05:00
FileName: JOEM0375.JPG
FileSize: 8.7 MB
FileSource: Digital Camera
FileType: JPEG
FlashExposureComp: 0
FlashExposureCompSet: 0
FlashMeteringSegments: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FlashMode: Off, Did not fire; Internal
FlashOptions: Normal
FlashStatus: Off
FlashpixVersion: 0100
FocalLengthIn35mmFormat: 0 mm
FocusMode: Manual
FocusMode2: Manual
HighISONoiseReduction: Weak
HometownCity: New York
HometownDST: No
ISOFloor: 100
ImageHeight: 3104
ImageProcessing: Unprocessed
ImageProcessingCount: 0
ImageTone: Bright
ImageWidth: 4672
InternalFlashMode: Off, Normal
InternalFlashStrength: 0
InternalSerialNumber: 142179
InteropIndex: R98 - DCF basic file (sRGB)
InteropVersion: 0100
LensFStops: 8.5
LensID: K or M Lens
LensType: K or M Lens
ManufactureDate: 2008:05:28
MeteringMode2: Multi-segment
MinAperture: 22
MultipleExposureSet: Off
NominalMaxAperture: 1.0
NominalMinAperture: 6
Orientation: Horizontal (normal)
PentaxModelID: K20D
PentaxModelType: 0
PentaxVersion: 4.3.0.0
PictureMode: Aperture Priority, Off-Auto-Aperture; 1/2 EV steps
PictureMode2: Aperture Priority, Off-Auto-Aperture
PowerSource: Body Battery
PreviewImageBorders: 28 28 0 0
PreviewImageLength: 25593
PreviewImageSize: 640x480
PreviewImageStart: 5544
ProductionCode: 2.4
ProgramLine: Normal
Quality: Premium
ResolutionUnit: inches
SRFocalLength: 75 mm
SRHalfPressTime: 4.25 s or longer
SRResult: Not stabilized
SceneCaptureType: Standard
SensitivityAdjust: 0
ShakeReduction: Unknown (12)
ShutterSpeed: 1/350
SlaveFlashMeteringSegments: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SubjectDistanceRange: Distant
TTL_DA_ADown: 0
TTL_DA_AUp: 0
TTL_DA_BDown: 0
TTL_DA_BUp: 0
ThumbnailLength: 7874
ThumbnailOffset: 54420
Time: 15:19:28
WBShiftAB: 0
WBShiftMG: 0
WB_RGGBLevelsCloudy: 13684 8192 8192 9479
WB_RGGBLevelsDaylight: 12908 8192 8192 10723
WB_RGGBLevelsFlash: 13684 8192 8192 10101
WB_RGGBLevelsFluorescentD: 17081 8192 8192 10101
WB_RGGBLevelsFluorescentN: 14493 8192 8192 11500
WB_RGGBLevelsFluorescentW: 13522 8192 8192 14297
WB_RGGBLevelsShade: 14719 8192 8192 8158
WB_RGGBLevelsTungsten: 8282 8192 8192 19892
WhiteBalanceMode: Auto (Daylight)
WhiteBalanceSet: Auto
WhitePoint: 13088 8192 8192 10752
WorldTimeLocation: Hometown
XResolution: 72
YCbCrPositioning: Co-sited
YCbCrSubSampling: YCbCr4:2:2 (2 1)
YResolution: 72

Last edited by joekelli; 12-12-2012 at 10:06 PM.
Views: 1,773
12-12-2012, 09:37 PM   #2
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What aperture you using? Actually, can you post the exif data?
12-12-2012, 09:49 PM   #3
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QuoteOriginally posted by VoiceOfReason Quote
What aperture you using? Actually, can you post the exif data?

I did not write down what the aperture was and because it is a full manual lens, it is not in the exif data. Which picture do you want the exif for?
12-13-2012, 06:57 AM   #4
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It was for the last one. Try reshooting it at ISO100 like you were, but put the aperture at f/5.6 and then again at f/8. Also, what lens were you using? I think any softness you had was due to the lens. Another thing is if it was a zoom, and you were zoomed way out, then you might have gotten some haze in the air.

12-13-2012, 07:40 AM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by VoiceOfReason Quote
It was for the last one. Try reshooting it at ISO100 like you were, but put the aperture at f/5.6 and then again at f/8. Also, what lens were you using? I think any softness you had was due to the lens. Another thing is if it was a zoom, and you were zoomed way out, then you might have gotten some haze in the air.

The lens is a rikkonon P 35-70 zoom full manual lens. All of my lenses are over 30 years old and have just been stored in a drawer. They look clear to me but maybe they are just bad? I seem to get soft pictures with every lens. I used one of the calibration sheets and tested the focus and it looks fine with the center being the best looking part but it still looks soft. I need to get a newer lens and test it out and see if that is my issue. I have been working with the custom image settings to see if that will help. I am going out at lunch to try a couple more shots with a Tamron adaptal 2 28mm 2.5 to see if things look a little better. i took some flash shots with it last night and they seem to be a little better. I will try and post some images in a little while.
12-13-2012, 07:58 AM   #6
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Your first image looks quite sharp at this resolution, in the focussed area. DOF is very shallow.

It's hard to make any conclusion about the second shot, it was awfully dark outside. I notice you have Noise Reduction turned off. Are you adding noise reduction in post-processing? If you don't want to add NR in post, then I suggest you add some in the camera. I have my K20D set to Weak, (Item 318, Custom Setting menu). Also see below.

I suspect the third photo was due to a mediocre lens, shot wide open. It's not sharp anywhere. Note that if you use any mode other than Manual with a lens that does not support auto aperture, the shot will always be taken wide open, no matter what aperture you set on the lens. When you use the aperture ring, you must select Manual mode and choose your ISO. Press the Green button beside the shutter to meter, check that the shutter speed is reasonable, then take the shot.
12-13-2012, 09:15 AM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by audiobomber Quote
Your first image looks quite sharp at this resolution, in the focussed area. DOF is very shallow.

It's hard to make any conclusion about the second shot, it was awfully dark outside. I notice you have Noise Reduction turned off. Are you adding noise reduction in post-processing? If you don't want to add NR in post, then I suggest you add some in the camera. I have my K20D set to Weak, (Item 318, Custom Setting menu). Also see below.

I suspect the third photo was due to a mediocre lens, shot wide open. It's not sharp anywhere. Note that if you use any mode other than Manual with a lens that does not support auto aperture, the shot will always be taken wide open, no matter what aperture you set on the lens. When you use the aperture ring, you must select Manual mode and choose your ISO. Press the Green button beside the shutter to meter, check that the shutter speed is reasonable, then take the shot.
Item 318 in custom menu? I am not sure what setting you are talking about. I found the noise reduction for slow shutter speed and for high ISO, but that is it.

I am uploading A couple of pics I took last night and this morning. 2 are with flash shot at F11 with the Tamron 28mm manual lens. The last one was at work again and shot wide open with the Tamron 28mm. The flash pictures look pretty sharp I think but the last one still does not look like I think it should, even wide open. I also see that the sensor needs cleaned! But I don't think that will help the softness issue I am having.







12-13-2012, 09:48 AM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by joekelli Quote
Item 318 in custom menu? I am not sure what setting you are talking about. I found the noise reduction for slow shutter speed and for high ISO, but that is it.
Sorry, typo, I meant item #18.

What setting on the mode dial did you use for these latest shots (Green, Av, Tv, M, etc)?
12-13-2012, 10:43 AM   #9
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You've got dust! Get a rocket blower. Also, wide open generally means softness. Stop the lens down on the last one to f/8 or so and see wht happens. Also, get a newer lens with different coatings to avoid all that purple fringing! I have some sharp and old glass, but in certain lighting (a good example is like you had) I get alot of purple fringing.
12-13-2012, 10:49 AM   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by VoiceOfReason Quote
Stop the lens down on the last one to f/8 or so and see wht happens.
I'm not sure he's stopping down at all. Setting the aperture to f/8 is pointless unless one shoots in M.
12-13-2012, 11:43 AM   #11
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Here is a couple I took today on my lunch. These are all at f8 or f11 with the Tamron 28mm 2.5. ISO100 all in Manual mode.







12-13-2012, 11:55 AM   #12
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This last set looks good to me. Do you agree or do you think there is still an issue?
12-13-2012, 11:59 AM   #13
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See the difference stopping down makes? Learn manual mode, keep it there!
12-13-2012, 12:12 PM   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by audiobomber Quote
This last set looks good to me. Do you agree or do you think there is still an issue?
I am much happier with these latest shots. I did have the camera in TAv mode for a lot of the first shots I took. I didn't realize that it would just shoot wide open with the older lenses. I now can't wait to get a couple of AF lenses to try. I actually should have a 35-80 FA lens waiting on my doorstep when I get home! I could barely afford to buy the camera, so buying expensive lenses is out of the question!
12-13-2012, 12:33 PM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by joekelli Quote
I am much happier with these latest shots. I did have the camera in TAv mode for a lot of the first shots I took. I didn't realize that it would just shoot wide open with the older lenses. I now can't wait to get a couple of AF lenses to try. I actually should have a 35-80 FA lens waiting on my doorstep when I get home! I could barely afford to buy the camera, so buying expensive lenses is out of the question!
There are a ton of interesting manual lenses available if you're inclined that way. Check the Pentax Forums lens reviews and watch the Marketplace for bargains. The "A" lenses are manual focus but auto aperture, which I much prefer to full manual. The F, FA and DA lenses have auto-focus and auto-aperture.

The DA 18-55's are an inexpensive way to add wide angle. The standard film zooms only go from normal to mild tele, so you are missing some interesting photographic opportunities. I suggest you look into a DA 18-55 II or WR, not the original DA 18-55. Pentax redesigned the original 18-55 because they said it was not strong enough for the K20D. The K20D kit included the DA 18-55 II. The WR version and the DA L 18-55 are optically identical to the II, but with different mechanical features. Weather resistance is a nice feature in a kit lens for the K20D, but of course the 18-55 WR is usually more expensive. The DA L 18-55 doesn't have quick-shift focus (manual override), comes without a hood and has a poly mount instead of metal.
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