[PePe]

The leading photography magazine in Finland published a 3-page review of the K-1 today. The overall conclusion is clearly positive - a highly competitive package, good value for money.

Pros: value for money, build quality, handling, image quality and dynamic range, Pentax -specific features (Pixel Shift, Smart Function-controls,Astro Tracer,IBIS,TAv, Catch-in-Focus, illuminated controls, lens mount backward compatibility etc). They also liked the hinged LCD screen " a crossover of a desk lamp and a camping chair" .
Cons: video,frame rate, AF "not among the best in its category".

They recommend it especially for studio and landscape work.

They tested the body with two lenses, the D FA 24-70 and the D FA* 70-200. Both proved to be solid performers exhibiting pretty consistent sharpness and contrast down to f:16. In this test the D FA 24-70 reached a maximum resolution of 2429 lp/ph at 70mm and f:8. Interesting enough this figure was recorded at the edge of the frame.
The 70-200 reached a maximum of 2460 lp/ph at 100 mm and f:8 Both of these figures are very close to the theoretical limit for the sensor.

Nothing surprising for us Pentaxians, but a fair and unbiased review for anyone not familiar with the camera!

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Last edited by PePe; 09-14-2016 at 12:07 PM.

[Ole]

Nice, thanks for the information!

[DeadJohn]

...They also liked the hinged LCD screen " a crossover of a desk lamp and a camping chair"...

That description made me think of furniture from your neighbor in Sweden, Ikea.

[PePe]

That description made me think of furniture from your neighbor in Sweden, Ikea.

Heh, yes. The way they were expressing themselves is a bit outside the box! At least in the original context it worked pretty well

There was another interesting observation in this test. In the resolution measurements the D FA* 70-200 reached 2460 lp/ph at 100 mm and f:8

When they repeated the measurement using same aperture and focal length, but Pixel Shift on, they recorded 2909 lp/ph.
The latter is a very high figure well above the theoretical limit for the sensor.
This made me wonder what is causing this? In the Pentax implementation Pixel Shift is not used for increasing the total pixel count. Eliminating noise by multiple exposures does result in a cleaner signal on a pixel level. In the resolution measurement this may give you somewhat higher modulation. But can the difference be this big? Or is there something else to this?
Anyone come across this earlier?

Attached Images

   

[MJKoski]

The microcontrast level with high IQ lens totally explodes skyhigh when PS exposure is done correctly.

[jbinpg]

There is no Bayer colour interpolation with neighbour pixels done with PR's pixel shift implementation. Since each pixel has full colour info, there is no chance of moire. Look at any of the studio tests done with the K-1 and you will see a total lack of moire with the pixel-shifted shots. Not sure if this alone would push resolution above Nyquist.

[MJKoski]

While I tested my recently Leitaxed Zeiss lens I took few PS shots which have moire. Not color moire though.

Here is example what Leitax Distagon 28/2 is able to resolve: http://mjkoski.1g.fi/kuvat/Miscellaneous/trash/_IMG0797.jpg/_full.jpg

[stevebrot]

This made me wonder what is causing this? In the Pentax implementation Pixel Shift is not used for increasing the total pixel count. Eliminating noise by multiple exposures does result in a cleaner signal on a pixel level. In the resolution measurement this may give you somewhat higher modulation. But can the difference be this big? Or is there something else to this?

Pixel shift means that all pixels use actual recorded data as opposed to interpolated data. The result is more accurate tonality and edge rendering and higher capture resolution per pixel.


Steve

[Quicksand]

Here is example what Leitax Distagon 28/2 is able to resolve:

OK, that's ridiculous.

[aikaarska]

Hi,


Thank you for a info ;-)


Ari