Dear Pentaxian friends!
I have been playing around with a Nikon D800 + 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens for almost a week. The reason why is because my Pentax 645D was shipped to Japan for inspection.
Today I was really bored and decided to make a small side by side test that everyone loves so much. My competitor for the Nikon was Pentax k-01 with a Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 xr di II (kit cost me 450€ or less).
So all pixel peepers can leave, this test was made for printing purpose.
These days I think too many of you only watch your images at 100% from a screen and never from a print. I love to feel the paper in my hands and watch my beautiful images hang on my walls. They look better every day!
You can see the images in the end. I did use the same settings and same kelvins for the shots. I will not go to details, as this is not a technical test. (tripod used)
Both images where edited the same way. The Pentax image was a little bit darker so I brightened it up.
I chose to print in A3 size, which is the size photo enthusiasts mostly do as a big print. Both images printed in 240dpi/16bit. I was surprised by the result. There was almost no difference at all. At close inspection the Nikon looked richer, later on the Pentax looked better. Must sleep on this!
I had to print them bigger… In A2 size the Nikon was printed in 300dpi and the Pentax only came up to 200dpi. I did not mess with any re sizing. Again I was surprised by the result. They looked identical on the table but at closer inspection you see the Nikons richer details and sharper image. And of course, it should look better.
But when I hang them up, took one step back no way I could tell them apart!!!
This test was made for all of you who love photography. For them who forgot why they take pictures. For them who dreamed about upgrading to the most expensive and best gear so they can watch the images in Photoshop at 100% before posting them online. This test is relatively stupid, they are still very different cameras. Wanted people to remember that beautiful images can be done for a decent price.
I try to print one image every day. Sign it and on the back I write all relevant information. This I do so my children on day can find my printed archive and be proud of what I have done. Maybe hang one or two on the wall. They do nothing with a bunch of dead hard drives!
Best Regards,
Jan
UPDATE!!!
After a good night sleep and well-rested eyes I took a proper detail inspection for the A3 prints in good daylight.
In the Nikon print I found more details in extreme places like single grass straws, leafs, stone surface etc. It is a pricier camera so there should be a difference… My wife could not tell them apart so I really knew where to look.
Even if the Nikon had finer detail in really extreme places I was a little surprised that some areas looked better on the Pentax print. The K-01 is good even with a really cheap lens.
Today the biggest surprise was still how good the Pentax K-01 stood against the Nikon in the A2 print. Really impressed!
Maybe I do a K-01 and 645D test, but in my opinion the 645D has a different look in the images. More realistic 3D look!
Thank you for all the good feedback!
From this link you can find a few images that I have shot with my Pentax cameras. The 645d, k-5 and k-01 and lenses from old manual, cheap third party and expensive Pentax ones. You can see from the crop factor if it is shot with the 645d, I rarely crop in Photoshop.
http://www.folio.se/photographer/Jan...tr%C3%B6m.aspx
Last edited by jani80; 06-25-2013 at 12:54 PM.