Originally posted by Robert N Even if noise reduction is baked in, I have no problem with that, as it has been performed very well by Pentax, with excellent image quality being maintained at higher ISOs than previous models.
Generally speaking I have no problem either. Yet it depends on how it's implemented and how it affects the performance of NR software. I'll try to better explain my point of view. Assume for the sake of discussion that there is some unit that measures an "amount of noise reduction" applied to a raw file. Nobody is going to publish raw files with no NR applied, let's assume that there is an average optimal "amount" of NR to be applied in order to produce a clean jpeg image, and that this amount is 100. No camera clearly outputs "raw" data from the sensor, literally speaking. There will always be some preprocessing going on behind the scenes before the raw file is presented to the user. This preprocessing could or could not also include a certain amount of noise reduction could be 0 , 10, 50 out of that hypothetical total of 100 needed to output a final image. The remaining portion will have to be handled by noise reduction software off camera. Data clearly suggest that in Pentax models with the accelerator chip the manufacturer has opted to shift a portion of noise reduction duties to the preprocessing, in-camera, side that is significantly higher than the average for other manufacturers. I know it's a fairly controversial topic and the argument that "all cameras produce preprocessed raw files" is often made, but I think we can agree on my last statement. It's "above average", not implying that nobody else does the same.
In principle, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this choice. But...it is reasonable to expect that software side NR algorithms, the theory on which they are based, and their implementation, will be fine tuned to how the majority of sensors operate. Yes, even if there are some camera-specific parameters that could be adjusted. There's no reason, in principle, why there could not exist a specific preset or version or whatever NR algorithms that is fine-tuned to behave better with this different compromise that pentax has chosen. Yet, this is not the case for most of the software i have tried to compare behaviour with k1 Vs K-1ii with is an ideal test case.