K-S1 First Impressions

**mtngal** · 10-31-2014, 12:37 PM

Thanks for the info - good to know it's a great combination.

IchabodCrane · 10-31-2014, 01:09 PM

Originally posted by THoog

DA 40 Limited - the pancake. I think I could have done a little better by shooting RAW, paying better attention to ISO versus aperture, not being in a hurry, etc.

I always assume photos posted here were shot in RAW but now that you told us you didn't, do you mind sharing your in-camera JPEG settings?

**THoog** · 10-31-2014, 01:26 PM

Those were with the straight-of-the-box defaults. Because of work, I haven't been able to shoot enough this week to get a feeling for what tweaking I might want to do.

**mtngal** · 10-31-2014, 10:41 PM

I must say that I'm pleased with the quality of the first couple of pictures I took. It's way past my bedtime so I'm not going to process them now, but they were quite promising. My samples were fairly high ISO (3200) and the raw files had noticeable noise, but it's a fine noise that looks like it would clean up easily in post-processing. The bright jpg were a little more blurred with the default noise reduction than I like, and the bright setting loses detail to the raw files. Not sure I'll use jpg all that much, since I mostly shoot raw.

The controls are different and will take some getting used to. The grip is a bit small, even for my tiny hands, but it just means I'll be less likely to try to shoot and carry the camera one-handed by the grip - that's not such a bad thing for me. Otherwise, it is so much easier for me to use, I think I'll enjoy it a lot, especially with some small prime lenses.

**THoog** · 11-01-2014, 03:01 PM - **4 Likes**

Size Comparison of the K-x, K-S1, and K-01.

**luftfluss** · 11-01-2014, 03:26 PM

Thanks for the comparison.

**mtngal** · 11-01-2014, 10:33 PM

I love how you shot the comparison shots!

**THoog** · 11-02-2014, 10:39 PM - **1 Like**

Got to play around some today. Here are some sample shots (linked to full-size images at flickr):

The K-S1 appears to like the F35-70 "snub zoom" quite well - I don't think I ever got results this sharp before. It also seems to do a good job rendering pinks and reds.

100% crop (1200x800)

It goes nicely with the 18-135 as well.

100% crop (1200x800)

...and a crop from a "what the heck" shot with the DA 55-300.

**luftfluss** · 11-02-2014, 11:32 PM

Nice.

Have you tried the Live View performance? I'm curious as to how it compares with the K-01.

gor80 · 11-03-2014, 12:18 AM

Originally posted by THoog

Got to play around some today. Here are some sample shots:

It goes nicely with the 18-135 as well.

I think more shots in different conditions it would be interesting - morning, evening, sunset, thanks for the pics!

**THoog** · 11-03-2014, 06:03 AM

Originally posted by luftfluss

Nice.

Have you tried the Live View performance? I'm curious as to how it compares with the K-01.

On screwdrive lenses, it's a little quicker, because the motor is faster. On DC/SDM lenses, about the same.

**luftfluss** · 11-03-2014, 10:25 AM

Originally posted by THoog

On screwdrive lenses, it's a little quicker, because the motor is faster. On DC/SDM lenses, about the same.

I'm impressed that its quicker.

How about the AF accuracy of CDAF vs PDAF?

RonHendriks1966 · 11-03-2014, 10:30 AM

Originally posted by THoog

On screwdrive lenses, it's a little quicker, because the motor is faster. On DC/SDM lenses, about the same.

Probably the stronger motor from the K-3. Gives a little more torque.

**THoog** · 11-03-2014, 10:49 AM

Originally posted by RonHendriks1966

Probably the stronger motor from the K-3. Gives a little more torque.

Yep, or if not the K-3 motor, still a stronger one. It does make screw drive lenses a little more shrill on long throws, but on lenses like the F-35-70, it's snappy!

**THoog** · 11-09-2014, 08:03 AM - **1 Like**

I was going to do some head-to-head comparisons with the K-30 yesterday, but the light kept changing, so I got exasperated, just did some low-light samples (full-size on flickr for your pixel-peeping pleasure), then went home and shot lensporn.

(Kinda noisy in the sky)

(Not too bad)

Size comparison with K-5 and K-30:

Just for fun:

11-02-2014, 10:39 PM - 1 Like	#38
THoog Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: North Carolina Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,685 Original Poster	Got to play around some today. Here are some sample shots (linked to full-size images at flickr): The K-S1 appears to like the F35-70 "snub zoom" quite well - I don't think I ever got results this sharp before. It also seems to do a good job rendering pinks and reds. 100% crop (1200x800) 100% crop (1200x800) 100% crop (1200x800) It goes nicely with the 18-135 as well. 100% crop (1200x800) ...and a crop from a "what the heck" shot with the DA 55-300. Last edited by THoog; 11-03-2014 at 03:10 PM. Reason: Where'd my captions go?

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10-31-2014, 12:37 PM	#31
mtngal Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Wherever I’m Parked Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,003	Thanks for the info - good to know it's a great combination.

10-31-2014, 01:09 PM	#32
IchabodCrane Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,728	Originally posted by THoog DA 40 Limited - the pancake. I think I could have done a little better by shooting RAW, paying better attention to ISO versus aperture, not being in a hurry, etc. I always assume photos posted here were shot in RAW but now that you told us you didn't, do you mind sharing your in-camera JPEG settings?

10-31-2014, 01:26 PM	#33
THoog Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: North Carolina Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,685 Original Poster	Those were with the straight-of-the-box defaults. Because of work, I haven't been able to shoot enough this week to get a feeling for what tweaking I might want to do.

10-31-2014, 10:41 PM	#34
mtngal Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Wherever I’m Parked Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,003	I must say that I'm pleased with the quality of the first couple of pictures I took. It's way past my bedtime so I'm not going to process them now, but they were quite promising. My samples were fairly high ISO (3200) and the raw files had noticeable noise, but it's a fine noise that looks like it would clean up easily in post-processing. The bright jpg were a little more blurred with the default noise reduction than I like, and the bright setting loses detail to the raw files. Not sure I'll use jpg all that much, since I mostly shoot raw. The controls are different and will take some getting used to. The grip is a bit small, even for my tiny hands, but it just means I'll be less likely to try to shoot and carry the camera one-handed by the grip - that's not such a bad thing for me. Otherwise, it is so much easier for me to use, I think I'll enjoy it a lot, especially with some small prime lenses.

11-01-2014, 03:01 PM - 4 Likes	#35
THoog Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: North Carolina Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,685 Original Poster	Size Comparison of the K-x, K-S1, and K-01.

11-01-2014, 03:26 PM	#36
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	Thanks for the comparison.

11-01-2014, 10:33 PM	#37
mtngal Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Wherever I’m Parked Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,003	I love how you shot the comparison shots!

11-02-2014, 11:32 PM	#39
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	Nice. Have you tried the Live View performance? I'm curious as to how it compares with the K-01.

11-03-2014, 12:18 AM	#40
gor80 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Балашиха Photos: Albums Posts: 595	Originally posted by THoog Got to play around some today. Here are some sample shots: It goes nicely with the 18-135 as well. I think more shots in different conditions it would be interesting - morning, evening, sunset, thanks for the pics!

11-03-2014, 06:03 AM	#41
THoog Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: North Carolina Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,685 Original Poster	Originally posted by luftfluss Nice. Have you tried the Live View performance? I'm curious as to how it compares with the K-01. On screwdrive lenses, it's a little quicker, because the motor is faster. On DC/SDM lenses, about the same.

11-03-2014, 10:25 AM	#42
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	Originally posted by THoog On screwdrive lenses, it's a little quicker, because the motor is faster. On DC/SDM lenses, about the same. I'm impressed that its quicker. How about the AF accuracy of CDAF vs PDAF?

11-03-2014, 10:30 AM	#43
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Originally posted by THoog On screwdrive lenses, it's a little quicker, because the motor is faster. On DC/SDM lenses, about the same. Probably the stronger motor from the K-3. Gives a little more torque.

11-03-2014, 10:49 AM	#44
THoog Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: North Carolina Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,685 Original Poster	Originally posted by RonHendriks1966 Probably the stronger motor from the K-3. Gives a little more torque. Yep, or if not the K-3 motor, still a stronger one. It does make screw drive lenses a little more shrill on long throws, but on lenses like the F-35-70, it's snappy!

11-09-2014, 08:03 AM - 1 Like	#45
THoog Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: North Carolina Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,685 Original Poster	I was going to do some head-to-head comparisons with the K-30 yesterday, but the light kept changing, so I got exasperated, just did some low-light samples (full-size on flickr for your pixel-peeping pleasure), then went home and shot lensporn. (Kinda noisy in the sky) (Not too bad) Size comparison with K-5 and K-30: Just for fun: