Macro Macro on K-3 versus K-1?

**JensE** · 01-05-2017, 09:44 PM

Thanks for providing the full-size files! Here's a central 500x500 crop from each of them, in the same order as above. What you can see here is the effect of the sensor pitch, at 1:1 view: the K10d has the lowest 'magnification', then K-1 and K- 5IIs are really close and K-3II provides the highest resolution (as in pixel per object size) and thus allows to capture the finest detail. The K-1 picture seems to have a little problem, for sure focus is a little farther back, but it should be looking nearly identical to the K-5IIs when focused on the same point.

Attached Images

photoptimist · 01-06-2017, 10:40 AM

Originally posted by JensE

Thanks for providing the full-size files! Here's a central 500x500 crop from each of them, in the same order as above. What you can see here is the effect of the sensor pitch, at 1:1 view: the K10d has the lowest 'magnification', then K-1 and K- 5IIs are really close and K-3II provides the highest resolution (as in pixel per object size) and thus allows to capture the finest detail. The K-1 picture seems to have a little problem, for sure focus is a little farther back, but it should be looking nearly identical to the K-5IIs when focused on the same point.

The K-1 should be just slightly lower resolution than the K-5. Are you sure the lens with locked to the same magnification setting for all the pictures? If you focused these shots with the lens (either autofocus or by manually turning the lens barrel), they will all be at different magnifications and thus seem to have strange resolutions.

**JensE** · 01-06-2017, 12:16 PM

For me these 100% views look exactly as expected from a spacial resolution perspective (pixel size), just the K-1 one slightly mis-focused.

**WPRESTO** · 01-06-2017, 03:14 PM

Originally posted by JensE

For me these 100% views look exactly as expected from a spacial resolution perspective (pixel size), just the K-1 one slightly mis-focused.

I'm not so sure. In the K1 image, parts of the object both closer to and farther away than the sharpest zone are much softer than the region that has the best IQ. Something is wrong other than focusing at a different distance.

**JensE** · 01-06-2017, 03:38 PM

I wouldn't say so, but maybe there is a little shake. There is no 'much farther than focus' in the above K-1 crop, and even in the full picture, little comparable. Here's another crop from the only in-focus part that has similarly vertical orientation, less detail to capture though. I adjusted for similar brightness and contrast as much as the JPG allowed, the less contrasty out-of-camera K-1 image may otherwise be misleading. To me it looks like detail level in the focus plane is indeed close to that of the K-5IIs.

**i_trax** · 01-09-2017, 11:23 PM

some more K-1 Macros

The object was made by Ludovic Penin from Lyon ( ~ 170 years old)
full size on my Flickr

sculptor666 · 03-14-2017, 08:13 PM

bottom line is you can get stunning results with either one. if you can get close enough to fill the sensor of a k-3, you can get a little closer to fill the sensor of a k-1. i will say it's easier to add extension tubes (or deglassed t/c) on k-3... many will vignette on k-1 once you start stacking 3+ of them.

01-09-2017, 11:23 PM	#21
i_trax Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,621 Original Poster	some more K-1 Macros The object was made by Ludovic Penin from Lyon ( ~ 170 years old) full size on my Flickr Last edited by i_trax; 01-09-2017 at 11:59 PM.

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01-06-2017, 10:40 AM	#17
photoptimist Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,122	Originally posted by JensE Thanks for providing the full-size files! Here's a central 500x500 crop from each of them, in the same order as above. What you can see here is the effect of the sensor pitch, at 1:1 view: the K10d has the lowest 'magnification', then K-1 and K- 5IIs are really close and K-3II provides the highest resolution (as in pixel per object size) and thus allows to capture the finest detail. The K-1 picture seems to have a little problem, for sure focus is a little farther back, but it should be looking nearly identical to the K-5IIs when focused on the same point. The K-1 should be just slightly lower resolution than the K-5. Are you sure the lens with locked to the same magnification setting for all the pictures? If you focused these shots with the lens (either autofocus or by manually turning the lens barrel), they will all be at different magnifications and thus seem to have strange resolutions.

01-06-2017, 12:16 PM	#18
JensE Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Leipzig Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,969	For me these 100% views look exactly as expected from a spacial resolution perspective (pixel size), just the K-1 one slightly mis-focused.

01-06-2017, 03:14 PM	#19
WPRESTO Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Massachusetts Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 59,104	Originally posted by JensE For me these 100% views look exactly as expected from a spacial resolution perspective (pixel size), just the K-1 one slightly mis-focused. I'm not so sure. In the K1 image, parts of the object both closer to and farther away than the sharpest zone are much softer than the region that has the best IQ. Something is wrong other than focusing at a different distance.

03-14-2017, 08:13 PM	#22
sculptor666 Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: PA Photos: Gallery Posts: 675	bottom line is you can get stunning results with either one. if you can get close enough to fill the sensor of a k-3, you can get a little closer to fill the sensor of a k-1. i will say it's easier to add extension tubes (or deglassed t/c) on k-3... many will vignette on k-1 once you start stacking 3+ of them.