My first pixel shift test: Owl

DavidOliver · 02-08-2016, 02:48 PM - **7 Likes**

(Not a real owl, I'm afraid.)

I recently got a K-3 II so thought I'd do a pixel shift test and post it with comparison 1:1 crops in case anyone wants to see some of those. Although this pixel shifting has been around for a while it's still a new concept to me! It was also an excuse to try out the wife's photo studio box.

I used Pentax Digital Camera Utility (PDCU) 5.4 as outlined by the Pentax Forums K-3 II review here. No lens correction or other changes were applied. For the non-pixel shift shot, I used PDCU's standard sharpening mode (the fine sharpening mode wasn't helping in the same way it does with pixel shift shots and seemed to be having an undesirable effect), and applied as much of this standard sharpening as I could before angled edges got very obviously pixelly/jaggy.

The lens is the HD DA 20-40mm at 36mm focal length, F16, 1/3 sec exposure. As an aside, I also took a shot with the wife's SMC DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro, and my 20-40mm zoom seems to match it for detail here in this non-macro shot.

The overall shot sampled down which I include just for context, not quality:

The 1:1 crops:

I'll try using it in non-perfectly stationary scenes - I'm mostly interested in landscape photography - and see how PDCU and dcraw (modified version as discussed at this forum) deal with the bits that aren't stationary. I understand that they both attempt to use the data from one of the four RAWs in those areas which contain motion in order to avoid artefacts.

bertwert · 02-08-2016, 02:50 PM

You can see the difference it makes in the 100% crops.

With the title my first thought was:
Pixel shift is for stationary subjects!

**tduell** · 02-08-2016, 02:58 PM

The results of your test clearly show the increase in IQ that PS can provide.
Well done, and thanks for posting your results.

Cheers,
Terry

GlennG · 02-08-2016, 03:40 PM

I assume the PS is on the right? There is certainly an increase in IQ on these zoomed-in examples. I wonder at what size you'd have to print to see the difference? Thanks greatly for this work and sharing.

theskonesdad · 02-08-2016, 04:31 PM

I am surprised at the difference! Thanks for the test!

12345 · 02-08-2016, 04:49 PM

Wow that is quite a difference!!

**sergysergy** · 02-08-2016, 04:53 PM

yep, I can tell the difference. Thanks for the test

Adam · 02-08-2016, 05:13 PM

Great example!

bobmaxja · 02-08-2016, 05:35 PM

Very interesting , it show the potential for non moving object.

normhead · 02-08-2016, 06:23 PM

That's awesome. Pentax should buy those from you. Their examples weren't as good.

fehknt · 02-08-2016, 06:40 PM

dcraw is terrible in comparison to PDCU in my experience. When it's truly static, both should be fine but PDCU has better detect/fix of the zipper artifacts that occur from slight motion (e.g., landscape). At least that's my experience.

**bobbotron** · 02-08-2016, 08:33 PM

Man, I'd love to get a camera that can do this!

**jpzk** · 02-08-2016, 08:36 PM

Originally posted by bobbotron

Man, I'd love to get a camera that can do this!

You gotta get you one of these !

**bobbotron** · 02-08-2016, 08:38 PM

Originally posted by jpzk

You gotta get you one of these !

No gear for me for a while... but I could seriously see getting a K3II at some point. Pixel shift PLUS astrotracer? Egads.

Kath · 02-08-2016, 11:39 PM

Great comparison. Thanks for posting.

02-08-2016, 02:48 PM - 7 Likes	#1
DavidOliver Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 34	My first pixel shift test: Owl (Not a real owl, I'm afraid.) I recently got a K-3 II so thought I'd do a pixel shift test and post it with comparison 1:1 crops in case anyone wants to see some of those. Although this pixel shifting has been around for a while it's still a new concept to me! It was also an excuse to try out the wife's photo studio box. I used Pentax Digital Camera Utility (PDCU) 5.4 as outlined by the Pentax Forums K-3 II review here. No lens correction or other changes were applied. For the non-pixel shift shot, I used PDCU's standard sharpening mode (the fine sharpening mode wasn't helping in the same way it does with pixel shift shots and seemed to be having an undesirable effect), and applied as much of this standard sharpening as I could before angled edges got very obviously pixelly/jaggy. The lens is the HD DA 20-40mm at 36mm focal length, F16, 1/3 sec exposure. As an aside, I also took a shot with the wife's SMC DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro, and my 20-40mm zoom seems to match it for detail here in this non-macro shot. The overall shot sampled down which I include just for context, not quality: The 1:1 crops: I'll try using it in non-perfectly stationary scenes - I'm mostly interested in landscape photography - and see how PDCU and dcraw (modified version as discussed at this forum) deal with the bits that aren't stationary. I understand that they both attempt to use the data from one of the four RAWs in those areas which contain motion in order to avoid artefacts.

02-08-2016, 05:13 PM	#8
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	Great example! Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

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02-08-2016, 02:50 PM	#2
bertwert Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Golden, BC Posts: 15,173	You can see the difference it makes in the 100% crops. With the title my first thought was: Pixel shift is for stationary subjects!

02-08-2016, 02:58 PM	#3
tduell Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2015 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,514	The results of your test clearly show the increase in IQ that PS can provide. Well done, and thanks for posting your results. Cheers, Terry

02-08-2016, 03:40 PM	#4
GlennG Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 824	I assume the PS is on the right? There is certainly an increase in IQ on these zoomed-in examples. I wonder at what size you'd have to print to see the difference? Thanks greatly for this work and sharing.

02-08-2016, 04:31 PM	#5
theskonesdad Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Creston,B.C. Posts: 73	I am surprised at the difference! Thanks for the test!

02-08-2016, 04:49 PM	#6
12345 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 520	Wow that is quite a difference!!

02-08-2016, 04:53 PM	#7
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,170	yep, I can tell the difference. Thanks for the test

02-08-2016, 05:35 PM	#9
bobmaxja Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Laval, Quebec Canada Posts: 2,171	Very interesting , it show the potential for non moving object.

02-08-2016, 06:23 PM	#10
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	That's awesome. Pentax should buy those from you. Their examples weren't as good.

02-08-2016, 06:40 PM	#11
fehknt Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 142	dcraw is terrible in comparison to PDCU in my experience. When it's truly static, both should be fine but PDCU has better detect/fix of the zipper artifacts that occur from slight motion (e.g., landscape). At least that's my experience.

02-08-2016, 08:33 PM	#12
bobbotron Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Ottawa, ON Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,349	Man, I'd love to get a camera that can do this!

02-08-2016, 08:36 PM	#13
jpzk Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Québec Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,251	Originally posted by bobbotron Man, I'd love to get a camera that can do this! You gotta get you one of these !

02-08-2016, 08:38 PM	#14
bobbotron Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Ottawa, ON Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,349	Originally posted by jpzk You gotta get you one of these ! No gear for me for a while... but I could seriously see getting a K3II at some point. Pixel shift PLUS astrotracer? Egads.

02-08-2016, 11:39 PM	#15
Kath Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Portland, OR Photos: Gallery Posts: 737	Great comparison. Thanks for posting.