Pentax K-1 II with class leading maximum dynamic range and ISO invariance

beholder3 · 05-13-2018, 01:18 PM - **8 Likes**

I wonder why nobody mentioned this outstanding performance:

Dynamic range: How much can you pull up the shadows without destroying the image by noise? How much detail is retained then in the raws?

Image comparison: Digital Photography Review

and

Image comparison: Digital Photography Review

plus

Image comparison: Digital Photography Review

and

Image comparison: Digital Photography Review

Here the subpar loss of details and more noise by (more expensive) cameras such as D850, D810, A7RIII and K-1 I versus the K-1 II is quite visible. Good job, Pentax.

Last edited by beholder3; 05-13-2018 at 02:03 PM.

**kiwi_jono** · 05-13-2018, 01:46 PM

I think this is a very good point, in the fray of the over blown (IMO) loss of detail debate.

I also noted that in terms of noise the A7RIII has a terrible rendering of noise - especially over the portrait images.

I'm not sure I will bother updating my K-1 but if I was buying new I would go for the K-1 II quite frankly.

**RobA_Oz** · 05-13-2018, 02:07 PM

Interesting that it betters both the Sony A7III and the A9 at ISO100+6EV.

beholder3 · 05-13-2018, 02:12 PM

Originally posted by RobA_Oz

Interesting that it betters both the Sony A7III and the A9 at ISO100+6EV.

True.

But then you should take a look at Sony A9 versus Canon 5D IV as well. People always tell the narrative of Canon's poor dynamic range.
And then you find out that you have more latitude in a 5D than in Sony's extra expensive flagship.
Image comparison: Digital Photography Review

**RobA_Oz** · 05-13-2018, 02:16 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by beholder3

True.

But then you should take a look at Sony A9 versus Canon 5D IV as well. People always tell the narrative of Canon's poor dynamic range.
And then you find out that you have more latitude in a 5D than in Sony's extra expensive flagship.
Image comparison: Digital Photography Review

I imagine that’s unlikely to get a headline there, either.

beholder3 · 05-13-2018, 02:18 PM - **1 Like**

Agreed.

Wild Mark · 05-13-2018, 02:41 PM

check out the lenses used for the comparison. much debate can be had over that detail too.

neal_grillot · 05-13-2018, 02:51 PM - **4 Likes**

Originally posted by kiwi_jono

I think this is a very good point, in the fray of the over blown (IMO) loss of detail debate.

I also noted that in terms of noise the A7RIII has a terrible rendering of noise - especially over the portrait images.

I'm not sure I will bother updating my K-1 but if I was buying new I would go for the K-1 II quite frankly.

I upgraded from K-3 to the K-1 Mark II and am loving it. Reading all of the technical discussions, arguments and positioning and frankly enjoying it from the sidelines.. but I am lead to wonder, how much did Rembrandt fret over the the composition and materials in his canvas? The number of the hairs in his brushes? He just left the window open on a sunny day and created his art.....

**Tas** · 05-13-2018, 03:07 PM

Originally posted by beholder3

you have more latitude in a 5D than in Sony's extra expensive flagship.

That 5D IV is I think a demonstration that Canon are improving in this aspect when compared to the output of the previous generation 5DS R.

I also notice that the K-1 has the standard image that is below the K-1 II but then the pixel shift option is available for the original K-1 and it is a step above that of the the K-1 II. I'd expect a similar improvement would be achieved if they'd posted a K-1 II pixel shift image which would be interesting to see considering how much better the standard K-1 II image already is.

Ta for sharing your findings mate.

Tas

madbrain · 05-13-2018, 07:25 PM

Originally posted by beholder3

I wonder why nobody mentioned this outstanding performance:

Image comparison: Digital Photography Review

In this one, the D850 looks particularly bad color-wise, too.

**Rondec** · 05-14-2018, 03:19 AM

Originally posted by neal_grillot

I upgraded from K-3 to the K-1 Mark II and am loving it. Reading all of the technical discussions, arguments and positioning and frankly enjoying it from the sidelines.. but I am lead to wonder, how much did Rembrandt fret over the the composition and materials in his canvas? The number of the hairs in his brushes? He just left the window open on a sunny day and created his art.....

I agree, but the review sites, particularly DP Review are pretty hard on cameras for what are very tiny flaws. They really do seem to give cameras with fast frame rates and great video a pass on still image quality.

A K-1 or K-1 II isn't the perfect camera for everyone, but then again, neither is an A9 or A7r III.

Rickster · 05-14-2018, 07:30 AM

This is interesting K-1 vs K-1 II

beholder3 · 05-14-2018, 07:37 AM

Originally posted by Rickster

This is interesting

dpr seems to have been quite sloppy when aligning the camera (and thus the focal plane) to the flat test target, so you have to ignore the right side of the image.

MJKoski · 05-14-2018, 07:46 AM

Canon brought new sensor tech with 80D and used it in 5D4 and 1Dx2. And if used with dual-pixel it is possible to extend DR by up to a stop in theory. The other half pixel records -1EV values so highlight save is good use case.

05-13-2018, 01:18 PM - 8 Likes	#1
beholder3 Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 3,112	Pentax K-1 II with class leading maximum dynamic range and ISO invariance I wonder why nobody mentioned this outstanding performance: Dynamic range: How much can you pull up the shadows without destroying the image by noise? How much detail is retained then in the raws? Image comparison: Digital Photography Review and Image comparison: Digital Photography Review plus Image comparison: Digital Photography Review and Image comparison: Digital Photography Review Here the subpar loss of details and more noise by (more expensive) cameras such as D850, D810, A7RIII and K-1 I versus the K-1 II is quite visible. Good job, Pentax. Last edited by beholder3; 05-13-2018 at 02:03 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
ISO invariance for Pentax DSLR cameras?	edri	Pentax DSLR Discussion	18	01-24-2018 09:31 PM
Iso invariance	GUB	Photographic Technique	44	11-16-2017 12:42 AM
Pixelshift official support and class leading motion correction - RawTherapee 5.1	beholder3	Digital Processing, Software, and Printing	9	05-17-2017 12:03 PM
ISO Invariance ETTL	indy	Photographic Technique	14	03-30-2016 06:42 AM
ISO invariance and PP possibilities (link)	IchabodCrane	Digital Processing, Software, and Printing	5	08-27-2015 10:13 AM

05-13-2018, 01:46 PM	#2
kiwi_jono Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,437	I think this is a very good point, in the fray of the over blown (IMO) loss of detail debate. I also noted that in terms of noise the A7RIII has a terrible rendering of noise - especially over the portrait images. I'm not sure I will bother updating my K-1 but if I was buying new I would go for the K-1 II quite frankly.

05-13-2018, 02:07 PM	#3
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,197	Interesting that it betters both the Sony A7III and the A9 at ISO100+6EV.

05-13-2018, 02:12 PM	#4
beholder3 Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 3,112 Original Poster	Originally posted by RobA_Oz Interesting that it betters both the Sony A7III and the A9 at ISO100+6EV. True. But then you should take a look at Sony A9 versus Canon 5D IV as well. People always tell the narrative of Canon's poor dynamic range. And then you find out that you have more latitude in a 5D than in Sony's extra expensive flagship. Image comparison: Digital Photography Review

05-13-2018, 02:16 PM - 2 Likes	#5
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,197	Originally posted by beholder3 True. But then you should take a look at Sony A9 versus Canon 5D IV as well. People always tell the narrative of Canon's poor dynamic range. And then you find out that you have more latitude in a 5D than in Sony's extra expensive flagship. Image comparison: Digital Photography Review I imagine that’s unlikely to get a headline there, either.

05-13-2018, 02:18 PM - 1 Like	#6
beholder3 Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 3,112 Original Poster	Agreed.

05-13-2018, 02:41 PM	#7
Wild Mark Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Newcastle Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,954	check out the lenses used for the comparison. much debate can be had over that detail too.

05-13-2018, 02:51 PM - 4 Likes	#8
neal_grillot Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 64	Originally posted by kiwi_jono I think this is a very good point, in the fray of the over blown (IMO) loss of detail debate. I also noted that in terms of noise the A7RIII has a terrible rendering of noise - especially over the portrait images. I'm not sure I will bother updating my K-1 but if I was buying new I would go for the K-1 II quite frankly. I upgraded from K-3 to the K-1 Mark II and am loving it. Reading all of the technical discussions, arguments and positioning and frankly enjoying it from the sidelines.. but I am lead to wonder, how much did Rembrandt fret over the the composition and materials in his canvas? The number of the hairs in his brushes? He just left the window open on a sunny day and created his art.....

05-13-2018, 03:07 PM	#9
Tas Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Brisbane, QLD Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,202	Originally posted by beholder3 you have more latitude in a 5D than in Sony's extra expensive flagship. That 5D IV is I think a demonstration that Canon are improving in this aspect when compared to the output of the previous generation 5DS R. I also notice that the K-1 has the standard image that is below the K-1 II but then the pixel shift option is available for the original K-1 and it is a step above that of the the K-1 II. I'd expect a similar improvement would be achieved if they'd posted a K-1 II pixel shift image which would be interesting to see considering how much better the standard K-1 II image already is. Ta for sharing your findings mate. Tas

05-13-2018, 07:25 PM	#10
madbrain Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,341	Originally posted by beholder3 I wonder why nobody mentioned this outstanding performance: Image comparison: Digital Photography Review In this one, the D850 looks particularly bad color-wise, too.

05-14-2018, 03:19 AM	#11
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,652	Originally posted by neal_grillot I upgraded from K-3 to the K-1 Mark II and am loving it. Reading all of the technical discussions, arguments and positioning and frankly enjoying it from the sidelines.. but I am lead to wonder, how much did Rembrandt fret over the the composition and materials in his canvas? The number of the hairs in his brushes? He just left the window open on a sunny day and created his art..... I agree, but the review sites, particularly DP Review are pretty hard on cameras for what are very tiny flaws. They really do seem to give cameras with fast frame rates and great video a pass on still image quality. A K-1 or K-1 II isn't the perfect camera for everyone, but then again, neither is an A9 or A7r III.

05-14-2018, 07:30 AM	#12
Rickster Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: SE Idaho - Rocky Mtns Photos: Gallery Posts: 580	This is interesting K-1 vs K-1 II

05-14-2018, 07:37 AM	#13
beholder3 Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 3,112 Original Poster	Originally posted by Rickster This is interesting dpr seems to have been quite sloppy when aligning the camera (and thus the focal plane) to the flat test target, so you have to ignore the right side of the image.

05-14-2018, 07:46 AM	#14
MJKoski Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 1,784	Canon brought new sensor tech with 80D and used it in 5D4 and 1Dx2. And if used with dual-pixel it is possible to extend DR by up to a stop in theory. The other half pixel records -1EV values so highlight save is good use case.