[kjphilippona]

I now own a K-50 and K-30 and am very unhappy with the image quality I am getting, very soft, indoors and out, I like to take indoor pictures not using my flask and both cameras induce lots of noise, setting the ISO very high, I have a few good lenses and get the same results using them all, DA 21 Limited, FA 31 Limited, DA 40 Limited, DA 70 Limited, DA 35, DA 50 and DA*16-50. I was thinking about purchasing the K3 and hoping for better results, what are your thoughts

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Last edited by kjphilippona; 08-23-2015 at 06:44 PM.

[jatrax]

Won't help. You need to improve your technique, use flash or use a tripod.

If you are getting soft images with your current gear, which is more than good enough, a new camera is not going to help.

[Madaboutpix]

Given the very capable kit you're mentioning, both cameras and lenses, I can't help wondering two things:

1. Are you shooting in RAW mode?
2. Do you do some basic post production (say, in Lightroom or Optics Pro) to enhance your images?

If the answers to both are yes, you should actually be getting images that pop off the screen or print. While, at the end of the day, the K-3 may deliver somewhat better IQ, I doubt that it's the equipment here ...

[robgski]

IT seems to me that if you prefer shooting indoors without a flash, using a High ISO, that noise is going to be a natural result. If you don't like using the on-camera flash, consider using natural light or off-camera lighting or reflectors to allow you to use a lower ISO.

As for "soft", what is your shutter speed and aperture?

I'd recommend cleaning your camera and lenses to rule out obvious reasons for softness

[normhead]

Also to the point, if you prefer indoors at high ISO without flash, there are some camera that will help. The Nikon D4s and Sony A7s are specifically built for low light situations. And the 645z is quite good. There is no current K-body with an "s" (sensitivity) designation.

[Imp]

Could you post some sample images with complete exif data? That might help us...

Your gear is fantastic, to say the least. I've got a K-30, and i've got no problems getting sharp images indoors with my kit lens. Although, admittedly, it is a lot harder than using my M 50 1.7, or 2.8 lenses.

---------- Post added 08-23-15 at 02:54 PM ----------

There is no current K-body with an "s" (sensitivity) designation.

then what is "SV" mode?

[RKKS08]

Whereas the sensor of the K-3 is a slightly newer design with some parameters improved, it has a higher pixel density than the 16MP sensors of the K30/K50/K5.

So, in the hands of an able photographer you could expect some improvement of resolution, but not very likely in respect to noise on high ISO.

[biz-engineer]

For shooting in the dark, I'd recommend the EPIC RED DRAGON digital video camthat offers 80dB of S/N and 16.5 ev of dynamic range (in comparison, the Sony A7s is the pony version for children). Other than that, a Pentax K DSLR and tripod would do it as well.

You Tube

You Tube

[RKKS08]

then what is "SV" mode?

Sensitivity priority as a program mode has nothing to do with the "s" designation of the 2 bodies mentioned by normhead.

The Sony A7s is a mirrorless FF body with reduced pixel density (12MP only), to offer the least possible noise at extreme ISO values.
The Nikon D4s is also a FF with 16MP only, obviously for the same reason.

To make such features an official designation, you should be a forerunner on that field. Pentax would have been in that position when the K-x was introduced. Later, with the K-r and K-5, this feature was not unique anymore.

[Adam]

Won't help. You need to improve your technique, use flash or use a tripod.

This. The K-3 will give you more resolution and better colors at night, but it won't solve the problem if you're getting blurry images.

If you can post a few samples with exif intact, we'll take a look at them and see if we can find the cause.

[kjphilippona]

Given the very capable kit you're mentioning, both cameras and lenses, I can't help wondering two things:

1. Are you shooting in RAW mode?
2. Do you do some basic post production (say, in Lightroom or Optics Pro) to enhance your images?

If the answers to both are yes, you should actually be getting images that pop off the screen or print. While, at the end of the day, the K-3 may deliver somewhat better IQ, I doubt that it's the equipment here ...

No I do not use any PP and do not shoot in RAW.

[slivo]

Your pictures are just not that detailed because of (missing) light. K3 may behave even worse at iso 6400 in this lightning. I just used flash off the body and white umbrella in similar situation and kept the iso at 100.

[Imp]

I usually don't go above ISO 1600, and i like to stay below ISO 800

"s" designation of the 2 bodies

That makes sense!!

[simon_199]

The last shot, for example, does not seem so bad to me. It seems to be taken in difficult conditions, it's wide open at high ISO in very low light at a probably not stationary target...

If taken in RAW with all noise reduction and adjustments done in PP it would look much better.

Maybe you should try to pursue this direction to get the better results you are after

I think you have plenty good glass and a new camera would probably not be of any help...

[kjphilippona]

Thanks for the advice, I will try shooting in RAW and get a copy of Lightroom.