"Must have" settings on the K-x

maxwolfie · 06-09-2010, 03:43 AM

I just read about the "Expanded Sensitivity" option in menu C1 - I.e. enables ISO 100 - 12,800 (!!!). I have enabled so I can shoot at ISO 100.

What else is in there that's worth fiddling with?

kytra · 06-09-2010, 04:59 AM

the only thing is that this setting will decrease your dynamic range so better not use it in high dynamic range situations

kkumer · 06-09-2010, 05:40 AM

Originally posted by kytra

the only thing is that this setting will decrease your dynamic range so better not use it in high dynamic range situations

I'm puzzled. Are you saying that, say, two ISO 200 shots with and without this option enabled will have different dynamic range? Or that ISO 100 is not recommended? (I am not interested in ISO 12800, and mostly don't use Auto-ISO).

rwik78 · 06-09-2010, 05:44 AM

Me too, why on earth should expanded ISO reduce dynamic range?

enoeske · 06-09-2010, 06:31 AM

From DPreview: K-X on DR

Code:

Sensitivity  	Shadow range  	Highlight range  Usable range
ISO 100 	-5.7 EV 	2.9 EV 	         8.6 EV
ISO 200 	-5.7 EV 	3.2 EV 	         8.9 EV
ISO 400 	-6.0 EV 	3.0 EV 	         9.0 EV
ISO 800 	-5.7 EV 	3.0 EV 	         8.7 EV
ISO 1600 	-4.7 EV 	3.0 EV 	         7.7 EV
ISO 3200 	-4.0 EV 	2.9 EV 	         6.9 EV
ISO 6400 	-3.4 EV 	3.1 EV 	         6.5 EV
ISO 12800 	-2.4 EV 	3.3 EV 	         5.7 EV

Looks like most DR is at ISO 400?

Marc Sabatella · 06-09-2010, 10:58 AM

Originally posted by rwik78

Me too, why on earth should expanded ISO reduce dynamic range?

Because expanded ISO levels are achieved by deliberately underexposing or overexposing at a different ISO level then adjusting the numbers in firmware processing. Meaning you may clip from the over or underexposing, plus data is shifted around, and some is inevitably thrown away in the process as it gets shifted off one end or the other. That's sort of an oversimplification, but it's the gist of it.

Ira · 06-09-2010, 12:24 PM

Originally posted by maxwolfie

I just read about the "Expanded Sensitivity" option in menu C1 - I.e. enables ISO 100 - 12,800 (!!!). I have enabled so I can shoot at ISO 100.

What else is in there that's worth fiddling with?

Highlight Correction is off, correct? And I think it has to be on the kx for expanded to work anyway.

I still use Shadow correction though, at the minimum setting.

You want to set your High ISO noise correction level, the ISO that noise correction kicks in, and the EXTENT of that correction. (Low, medium, or high,)

Next, hit your info button, and the first box (upper left) has your image settings. Select it, and you'll see there are a few choices for Natural, Bright, etc. However, you can adjust each one, so I just play around with my Natural setting to add a little extra saturation, sharpness, etc.

In other words, instead of selecting one of the presets, I just go back to the Natural setting and adjust the parameters.

Gooshin · 06-09-2010, 12:35 PM

Originally posted by rwik78

Me too, why on earth should expanded ISO reduce dynamic range?

because every sensor has a native setting underwhich it operates best.

unlike film where the sensitivity is a byproduct of chemical mix, a digital camera is simply signal amplification using electricity

200-400 ISO is a good baseline because thats where most of your photos will be, you dont actually need ISO100, as such it is a "feature" for some cameras, but its achieved through artificial means, so quality is slightly degraded.

likewise a K20D is best used at iso100 :/

maxwolfie · 06-09-2010, 11:20 PM

OK, I've turned it back off!

Any other interesting settings?

Gooshin · 06-10-2010, 08:05 AM

check out the aperture settings and the shutter button.. keep an eye on the shutter speed too.

Marc Sabatella · 06-10-2010, 08:21 AM

The only "must have" is a clear understanding of how exposure works: what aperture, shutter speed, and ISO are, how they relate, and how to control them. This is all-important, everything else is trivial in comparison.

mikemike · 06-10-2010, 08:30 AM

After investigating the settings and looking at highlight and shadow correction, is there anything negative about having them turned on?

...other than the loss of the stretched ISO levels?

MrPetkus · 06-10-2010, 09:01 AM

Originally posted by maxwolfie

OK, I've turned it back off!

Any other interesting settings?

Some tips based on my experience with the K-x:
1) If you plan on shooting in continuous mode the only way to get decent fps is to disable both "Distortion Correction" and "Lateral Chromatic Aberration Correction", both options accessible directly from the INFO button in capture mode. While I feel it is good to enable these options for single shots, the CPU will saturate while processing the image before the memory buffer is exhausted.

2) The Green Button is handy, which you can customize to perform different actions. Personally I preferred the default setting which simply resets all values to the program line. You can also configure it as a dedicated RAW button - handy if you're a RAW shooter requiring a quick change to JPEG in order to use digital filters or HDR capture (HDR also disables SR so it's useless without a tripod - try it).

Green button is also used for TTL metering when using a manual lens in manual mode.

3) For autofocus, I prefer AF.S, which I believe is faster. Bear in mind, though, that the shutter won't release unless something is in focus.

4) Check out Catch-in Focus Mode - set your focus, depress the shutter, when the subject moves into focus the shutter is released automatically.

grillfire · 06-10-2010, 09:08 AM

Originally posted by mikemike

After investigating the settings and looking at highlight and shadow correction, is there anything negative about having them turned on?

...other than the loss of the stretched ISO levels?

You cannot shoot in RAW if they are turned on. Also, since the processor is doing extra work to do these corrections when converting to JPEGs, continuous drive will be slower. I initially turned it on but later turned it off as it slightly slowed down my 4.7 fps continuous drive.

For the OP, if you are using the 18-55mm kit lens, you might want to turn on barrel distortion correction when shooting wide angle.

06-09-2010, 03:43 AM	#1
maxwolfie Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sydney Posts: 91	"Must have" settings on the K-x I just read about the "Expanded Sensitivity" option in menu C1 - I.e. enables ISO 100 - 12,800 (!!!). I have enabled so I can shoot at ISO 100. What else is in there that's worth fiddling with?

06-09-2010, 04:59 AM	#2
kytra Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Bucharest Posts: 482	the only thing is that this setting will decrease your dynamic range so better not use it in high dynamic range situations Last edited by kytra; 06-09-2010 at 05:09 AM.

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06-09-2010, 05:40 AM	#3
kkumer New Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Zagreb Posts: 11	Originally posted by kytra the only thing is that this setting will decrease your dynamic range so better not use it in high dynamic range situations I'm puzzled. Are you saying that, say, two ISO 200 shots with and without this option enabled will have different dynamic range? Or that ISO 100 is not recommended? (I am not interested in ISO 12800, and mostly don't use Auto-ISO).

06-09-2010, 05:44 AM	#4
rwik78 New Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Grenoble Posts: 10	Me too, why on earth should expanded ISO reduce dynamic range?

06-09-2010, 10:58 AM	#6
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Originally posted by rwik78 Me too, why on earth should expanded ISO reduce dynamic range? Because expanded ISO levels are achieved by deliberately underexposing or overexposing at a different ISO level then adjusting the numbers in firmware processing. Meaning you may clip from the over or underexposing, plus data is shifted around, and some is inevitably thrown away in the process as it gets shifted off one end or the other. That's sort of an oversimplification, but it's the gist of it.

06-09-2010, 12:24 PM	#7
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	Originally posted by maxwolfie I just read about the "Expanded Sensitivity" option in menu C1 - I.e. enables ISO 100 - 12,800 (!!!). I have enabled so I can shoot at ISO 100. What else is in there that's worth fiddling with? Highlight Correction is off, correct? And I think it has to be on the kx for expanded to work anyway. I still use Shadow correction though, at the minimum setting. You want to set your High ISO noise correction level, the ISO that noise correction kicks in, and the EXTENT of that correction. (Low, medium, or high,) Next, hit your info button, and the first box (upper left) has your image settings. Select it, and you'll see there are a few choices for Natural, Bright, etc. However, you can adjust each one, so I just play around with my Natural setting to add a little extra saturation, sharpness, etc. In other words, instead of selecting one of the presets, I just go back to the Natural setting and adjust the parameters.

06-09-2010, 12:35 PM	#8
Gooshin Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, the one in Canada. Posts: 5,610	Originally posted by rwik78 Me too, why on earth should expanded ISO reduce dynamic range? because every sensor has a native setting underwhich it operates best. unlike film where the sensitivity is a byproduct of chemical mix, a digital camera is simply signal amplification using electricity 200-400 ISO is a good baseline because thats where most of your photos will be, you dont actually need ISO100, as such it is a "feature" for some cameras, but its achieved through artificial means, so quality is slightly degraded. likewise a K20D is best used at iso100 :/

06-09-2010, 11:20 PM	#9
maxwolfie Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sydney Posts: 91 Original Poster	OK, I've turned it back off! Any other interesting settings?

06-10-2010, 08:05 AM	#10
Gooshin Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, the one in Canada. Posts: 5,610	check out the aperture settings and the shutter button.. keep an eye on the shutter speed too.

06-10-2010, 08:21 AM	#11
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	The only "must have" is a clear understanding of how exposure works: what aperture, shutter speed, and ISO are, how they relate, and how to control them. This is all-important, everything else is trivial in comparison.

06-10-2010, 08:30 AM	#12
mikemike Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: New Orleans Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,053	After investigating the settings and looking at highlight and shadow correction, is there anything negative about having them turned on? ...other than the loss of the stretched ISO levels?

06-10-2010, 09:01 AM	#13
MrPetkus Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 387	Originally posted by maxwolfie OK, I've turned it back off! Any other interesting settings? Some tips based on my experience with the K-x: 1) If you plan on shooting in continuous mode the only way to get decent fps is to disable both "Distortion Correction" and "Lateral Chromatic Aberration Correction", both options accessible directly from the INFO button in capture mode. While I feel it is good to enable these options for single shots, the CPU will saturate while processing the image before the memory buffer is exhausted. 2) The Green Button is handy, which you can customize to perform different actions. Personally I preferred the default setting which simply resets all values to the program line. You can also configure it as a dedicated RAW button - handy if you're a RAW shooter requiring a quick change to JPEG in order to use digital filters or HDR capture (HDR also disables SR so it's useless without a tripod - try it). Green button is also used for TTL metering when using a manual lens in manual mode. 3) For autofocus, I prefer AF.S, which I believe is faster. Bear in mind, though, that the shutter won't release unless something is in focus. 4) Check out Catch-in Focus Mode - set your focus, depress the shutter, when the subject moves into focus the shutter is released automatically.

06-10-2010, 09:08 AM	#14
grillfire New Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ottawa, ON, Canada Posts: 14	Originally posted by mikemike After investigating the settings and looking at highlight and shadow correction, is there anything negative about having them turned on? ...other than the loss of the stretched ISO levels? You cannot shoot in RAW if they are turned on. Also, since the processor is doing extra work to do these corrections when converting to JPEGs, continuous drive will be slower. I initially turned it on but later turned it off as it slightly slowed down my 4.7 fps continuous drive. For the OP, if you are using the 18-55mm kit lens, you might want to turn on barrel distortion correction when shooting wide angle.