New Q in hand

devorama · 09-09-2011, 03:55 PM

Originally posted by pinholecam

How is the manual focus interface?
What I mean is how well are the focusing aids for MF.

Eg.
1. Selectable zoom magnification?
2. Zoom in box that is super imposed over main view?
3. Auto zoom in or zoom in at the touch of a button?
4. Focus Peaking like NEX?

Thanks

Zoom is 2x or 4x.
Zoom fills the entire screen. There is a thumbnail that shows your position within the whole image.
It zooms in when you twist the q mount lens. Screen indicates if your focus direction is getting closer or farther. I have found no way to activate otherwise.
No focus peaking.

pinholecam · 09-09-2011, 05:42 PM

Originally posted by devorama

Zoom is 2x or 4x.
Zoom fills the entire screen. There is a thumbnail that shows your position within the whole image.
It zooms in when you twist the q mount lens. Screen indicates if your focus direction is getting closer or farther. I have found no way to activate otherwise.
No focus peaking.

Thanks for the info.

It does not seen to be one of the newer/better ways that is out there.
(Eg. Nex, GXR)
Though I think x2 zoom should not be too bad a balance between accuracy and composition.

snostorm · 09-09-2011, 05:55 PM

Originally posted by devorama

With jpg, you can shoot 1 shot per second indefinitely with no problem. With RAW, you can shoot 3 frames at 1 frame per second. After that it's down to about 2 seconds between shots.

Hi devorama,

Thanks for the quick reply. That should work for me --

Scott

bwDraco · 09-11-2011, 10:20 PM

What about manual controls in video? Can you confirm this blog post and give more details about this feature?

--DragonLord

feishui · 09-11-2011, 11:30 PM

Would be really interested to see how a Q will do with a adapter to something like 100mm Macro. How close it will be to a real 200* +2x converter in a APS body? If it turns out to be positive, I would begin to save money for a Q for right now!

Feishui

devorama · 09-12-2011, 12:35 PM

Originally posted by DragonLord

What about manual controls in video? Can you confirm this blog post and give more details about this feature?

--DragonLord

I can confirm that manual control of video does work. You set the exposure before you start recording and it stays at that setting. I took two time lapse sunset videos this weekend. One with auto exposure and one with manual. The manual one gets dark real fast once the sun sets. But the auto one adjusted itself and you can see all the shifting colors of twilight. I'll upload those soon.

devorama · 09-13-2011, 05:57 PM

Originally posted by RonHendriks1966

Congrats on that nice little camera. It would be nice to see just some real live pictures.

How big are those files that processing and writing take so long?

Okay, I'm processing some comparison pics and I realized that while the JPEG files are about 2.5 to 3.5MB in size, the corresponding DNG raw files are 20 to 21MB in size! I thought they'd be smaller with only 12megapixels. So I guess that's why the buffer fills so fast. Maybe they're not compressed at all?

Mock · 09-13-2011, 06:13 PM

Originally posted by devorama

Zoom is 2x or 4x.
Zoom fills the entire screen. There is a thumbnail that shows your position within the whole image.
It zooms in when you twist the q mount lens. Screen indicates if your focus direction is getting closer or farther. I have found no way to activate otherwise.
No focus peaking.

Page 93 of the manual suggests that the magnified live-view can be activated by either turning the manual focus ring (on a Q-mount lens) or pressing the OK button. Does the OK button method work without a lens on?

DaveBlack · 09-13-2011, 06:25 PM

Originally posted by devorama

Okay, I'm processing some comparison pics and I realized that while the JPEG files are about 2.5 to 3.5MB in size, the corresponding DNG raw files are 20 to 21MB in size! I thought they'd be smaller with only 12megapixels. So I guess that's why the buffer fills so fast. Maybe they're not compressed at all?

Ned in his blog stated that the DNG file is uncompressed. He also stated that There need to be an Adobe update for the DNG file out of the Q. Might has something to do with lens correction information in the file. He recommended the software (latest Pentax vesrion of Silkypix) that came with the Q for processing the Q's DNG file until Adobe RAW gets updated.

Still wonders why the DNG file is not compressed and why there is not PEF version of the RAW file.

Dave

m8o · 09-13-2011, 07:03 PM

Based on the Flower pin cushion ISO series of pictures... Small sensor or not, ISO1600 of the Q blows my K10D @ ISO1600 away. I'd liken the Q's ISO6400 closer to K10D's ISO1600 than the Q @ ISO3200. I'm impressed.

devorama · 09-13-2011, 08:48 PM

Originally posted by Mock

Page 93 of the manual suggests that the magnified live-view can be activated by either turning the manual focus ring (on a Q-mount lens) or pressing the OK button. Does the OK button method work without a lens on?

I guess I should have read the manual before making that statement. I just tried it and yes, pressing OK does bring up the magnification with the lens detatched!

calsan · 09-13-2011, 11:33 PM

Originally posted by m8o

Based on the Flower pin cushion ISO series of pictures... Small sensor or not, ISO1600 of the Q blows my K10D @ ISO1600 away. I'd liken the Q's ISO6400 closer to K10D's ISO1600 than the Q @ ISO3200. I'm impressed.

Never mind the K10d: My "concern" is it's already better than the K7! It would be interesting to see a Q vs K20d/K7 comparison by someone with both.
It seems that there's a 2 year catch up rule something like the following:

2011 compact's sensitivity = 2009 APS = 2007 Full Frame?

So we may expect a (theoretical) Q to match a 2011 Full Frame sensor by 2015.

vn33 · 09-14-2011, 07:58 AM

Devorama ...
Thank you for the mini-review. Do you think you can get a few pictures of your Q for size comparison (ie. your hand holding the camera, also Q next to a K-r/K7/K5 ... whatever you have) ? Also, do you plan to get a Q to K adapter ? Perhaps you can also post some pictures of a K lenses mounted on that adapter to the Q. Whenever you have it, of course !

Thanks!

Edit: I saw the K adapter with SMC lens mounted on it on another thread. However, please feel free to add your own pictures when/if you get that. Thnx

Parallax · 09-14-2011, 08:11 AM

Originally posted by DaveBlack

There need to be an Adobe update for the DNG file out of the Q. Might has something to do with lens correction information in the file. He recommended the software (latest Pentax vesrion of Silkypix) that came with the Q for processing the Q's DNG file until Adobe RAW gets updated.

Still wonders why the DNG file is not compressed and why there is not PEF version of the RAW file.

I wonder why an update is needed. I thought the whole idea of the DNG format was to provide a universal, cross-platform format so new software/updates wouldn't be needed every time a new camera model comes out.

sjwaldron · 09-14-2011, 09:31 AM

Originally posted by calsan

Never mind the K10d: My "concern" is it's already better than the K7! It would be interesting to see a Q vs K20d/K7 comparison by someone with both.
It seems that there's a 2 year catch up rule something like the following:
2011 compact's sensitivity = 2009 APS = 2007 Full Frame?
So we may expect a (theoretical) Q to match a 2011 Full Frame sensor by 2015.

From the examples I've seen, the camera isn't very sharp even from base ISO. So it's great if the Q can hold detail and contrast at high ISO, but detail in base ISO is where I would like to compare cameras like the K-7 to Q. Kind of difficult with the limited Q lens selection though. I'd like to see a halo lens for the Q that is meant to resolve as much detail as possible.

Originally posted by Parallax

I wonder why an update is needed. I thought the whole idea of the DNG format was to provide a universal, cross-platform format so new software/updates wouldn't be needed every time a new camera model comes out.

I agree. The whole point of DNG is compatibility. That's why I use it. Maybe Pentax was just rushed to release the camera and had to take a few steps back in RAW with this presumably slower processor inside the Q. At least that would explain the lack of compression.

09-14-2011, 07:58 AM	#28
vn33 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: GTA, Ontario Posts: 61	Devorama ... Thank you for the mini-review. Do you think you can get a few pictures of your Q for size comparison (ie. your hand holding the camera, also Q next to a K-r/K7/K5 ... whatever you have) ? Also, do you plan to get a Q to K adapter ? Perhaps you can also post some pictures of a K lenses mounted on that adapter to the Q. Whenever you have it, of course ! Thanks! Edit: I saw the K adapter with SMC lens mounted on it on another thread. However, please feel free to add your own pictures when/if you get that. Thnx Last edited by vn33; 09-14-2011 at 08:11 AM.

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09-09-2011, 03:55 PM	#16
devorama Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 638 Original Poster	Originally posted by pinholecam How is the manual focus interface? What I mean is how well are the focusing aids for MF. Eg. 1. Selectable zoom magnification? 2. Zoom in box that is super imposed over main view? 3. Auto zoom in or zoom in at the touch of a button? 4. Focus Peaking like NEX? Thanks Zoom is 2x or 4x. Zoom fills the entire screen. There is a thumbnail that shows your position within the whole image. It zooms in when you twist the q mount lens. Screen indicates if your focus direction is getting closer or farther. I have found no way to activate otherwise. No focus peaking.

09-09-2011, 05:42 PM	#17
pinholecam Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,706	Originally posted by devorama Zoom is 2x or 4x. Zoom fills the entire screen. There is a thumbnail that shows your position within the whole image. It zooms in when you twist the q mount lens. Screen indicates if your focus direction is getting closer or farther. I have found no way to activate otherwise. No focus peaking. Thanks for the info. It does not seen to be one of the newer/better ways that is out there. (Eg. Nex, GXR) Though I think x2 zoom should not be too bad a balance between accuracy and composition.

09-09-2011, 05:55 PM	#18
snostorm Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chicago suburb, IL, USA Posts: 1,535	Originally posted by devorama With jpg, you can shoot 1 shot per second indefinitely with no problem. With RAW, you can shoot 3 frames at 1 frame per second. After that it's down to about 2 seconds between shots. Hi devorama, Thanks for the quick reply. That should work for me -- Scott

09-11-2011, 10:20 PM	#19
bwDraco Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New York Photos: Albums Posts: 1,071	What about manual controls in video? Can you confirm this blog post and give more details about this feature? --DragonLord

09-11-2011, 11:30 PM	#20
feishui Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Houston Posts: 94	Would be really interested to see how a Q will do with a adapter to something like 100mm Macro. How close it will be to a real 200* +2x converter in a APS body? If it turns out to be positive, I would begin to save money for a Q for right now! Feishui

09-12-2011, 12:35 PM	#21
devorama Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 638 Original Poster	Originally posted by DragonLord What about manual controls in video? Can you confirm this blog post and give more details about this feature? --DragonLord I can confirm that manual control of video does work. You set the exposure before you start recording and it stays at that setting. I took two time lapse sunset videos this weekend. One with auto exposure and one with manual. The manual one gets dark real fast once the sun sets. But the auto one adjusted itself and you can see all the shifting colors of twilight. I'll upload those soon.

09-13-2011, 05:57 PM	#22
devorama Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 638 Original Poster	Originally posted by RonHendriks1966 Congrats on that nice little camera. It would be nice to see just some real live pictures. How big are those files that processing and writing take so long? Okay, I'm processing some comparison pics and I realized that while the JPEG files are about 2.5 to 3.5MB in size, the corresponding DNG raw files are 20 to 21MB in size! I thought they'd be smaller with only 12megapixels. So I guess that's why the buffer fills so fast. Maybe they're not compressed at all?

09-13-2011, 06:13 PM	#23
Mock Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Edmonton Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 314	Originally posted by devorama Zoom is 2x or 4x. Zoom fills the entire screen. There is a thumbnail that shows your position within the whole image. It zooms in when you twist the q mount lens. Screen indicates if your focus direction is getting closer or farther. I have found no way to activate otherwise. No focus peaking. Page 93 of the manual suggests that the magnified live-view can be activated by either turning the manual focus ring (on a Q-mount lens) or pressing the OK button. Does the OK button method work without a lens on?

09-13-2011, 06:25 PM	#24
DaveBlack Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Louisville, Kentucky Posts: 441	Originally posted by devorama Okay, I'm processing some comparison pics and I realized that while the JPEG files are about 2.5 to 3.5MB in size, the corresponding DNG raw files are 20 to 21MB in size! I thought they'd be smaller with only 12megapixels. So I guess that's why the buffer fills so fast. Maybe they're not compressed at all? Ned in his blog stated that the DNG file is uncompressed. He also stated that There need to be an Adobe update for the DNG file out of the Q. Might has something to do with lens correction information in the file. He recommended the software (latest Pentax vesrion of Silkypix) that came with the Q for processing the Q's DNG file until Adobe RAW gets updated. Still wonders why the DNG file is not compressed and why there is not PEF version of the RAW file. Dave

09-13-2011, 07:03 PM	#25
m8o Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 40°-55'-44" N / 73°-24'-07" W [on LI] Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,092	Based on the Flower pin cushion ISO series of pictures... Small sensor or not, ISO1600 of the Q blows my K10D @ ISO1600 away. I'd liken the Q's ISO6400 closer to K10D's ISO1600 than the Q @ ISO3200. I'm impressed.

09-13-2011, 08:48 PM	#26
devorama Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 638 Original Poster	Originally posted by Mock Page 93 of the manual suggests that the magnified live-view can be activated by either turning the manual focus ring (on a Q-mount lens) or pressing the OK button. Does the OK button method work without a lens on? I guess I should have read the manual before making that statement. I just tried it and yes, pressing OK does bring up the magnification with the lens detatched!

09-13-2011, 11:33 PM	#27
calsan Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,548	Originally posted by m8o Based on the Flower pin cushion ISO series of pictures... Small sensor or not, ISO1600 of the Q blows my K10D @ ISO1600 away. I'd liken the Q's ISO6400 closer to K10D's ISO1600 than the Q @ ISO3200. I'm impressed. Never mind the K10d: My "concern" is it's already better than the K7! It would be interesting to see a Q vs K20d/K7 comparison by someone with both. It seems that there's a 2 year catch up rule something like the following: 2011 compact's sensitivity = 2009 APS = 2007 Full Frame? So we may expect a (theoretical) Q to match a 2011 Full Frame sensor by 2015.

09-14-2011, 08:11 AM	#29
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,332	Originally posted by DaveBlack There need to be an Adobe update for the DNG file out of the Q. Might has something to do with lens correction information in the file. He recommended the software (latest Pentax vesrion of Silkypix) that came with the Q for processing the Q's DNG file until Adobe RAW gets updated. Still wonders why the DNG file is not compressed and why there is not PEF version of the RAW file. I wonder why an update is needed. I thought the whole idea of the DNG format was to provide a universal, cross-platform format so new software/updates wouldn't be needed every time a new camera model comes out.

09-14-2011, 09:31 AM	#30
sjwaldron Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,235	Originally posted by calsan Never mind the K10d: My "concern" is it's already better than the K7! It would be interesting to see a Q vs K20d/K7 comparison by someone with both. It seems that there's a 2 year catch up rule something like the following: 2011 compact's sensitivity = 2009 APS = 2007 Full Frame? So we may expect a (theoretical) Q to match a 2011 Full Frame sensor by 2015. From the examples I've seen, the camera isn't very sharp even from base ISO. So it's great if the Q can hold detail and contrast at high ISO, but detail in base ISO is where I would like to compare cameras like the K-7 to Q. Kind of difficult with the limited Q lens selection though. I'd like to see a halo lens for the Q that is meant to resolve as much detail as possible. Originally posted by Parallax I wonder why an update is needed. I thought the whole idea of the DNG format was to provide a universal, cross-platform format so new software/updates wouldn't be needed every time a new camera model comes out. I agree. The whole point of DNG is compatibility. That's why I use it. Maybe Pentax was just rushed to release the camera and had to take a few steps back in RAW with this presumably slower processor inside the Q. At least that would explain the lack of compression.