Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
08-12-2010, 04:31 PM - 1 Like   #1
Veteran Member
yeatzee's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Temecula
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 3,675
Pentax K-7 vs. K200d IQ comparison (IMG's)

So as I was scouring the various lens threads and I noticed this post:
QuoteOriginally posted by Digitalis Quote
In regards to sharpness, I think on the K-7 the AA filter is a bit too heavy handed. I don't know about the AA filter on the K20D but on the K10 the sharpness of the FA31 is staggering. .
AFAIK, the K200d's sensor is the same as the K10d's so i thought I'd compare. Secretely, I've felt all of my images are softer since i got the K-7. Especially my macro images. Infact, Before getting the k-7 i took some images of a katydid with the k200d. When the K-7 arrived i found another the same size and type, so i decided to take some macro's. Using the same settings and setup and good focus for both the k-7's was softer viewed ~50%. Obviously the k-7's 50% is closer than the k200d's, but even if i compensated for this the K-7 was still noticeably softer. This was comparing JPG's, of which I no longer have to post here.

So anyways I took the old tripod, K200d, K-7, and K 50mm F/1.2 outside. I setup a simple leaf on my glass table and kept it place with tape. Here's the results:

Straight out of the camera Jpegs
All Jpeg settings for each camera were the same

K-7 @ F/1.2

crop:

K200d @ F/1.2

crop:

The images were taken by shooting the first shot with the k200d w/ split prism focusing screen, than switching the lens onto the k-7 and used liveview to mimick the same focus point. Clearly the K200d's image is sharper.

Now for F/2 shot:

K-7 @ F/2

crop:

K200d @ F/2

crop:

again, same deal. So my question.... WHY??? What does the K-7 gain by doing this?

So anyways I shot in RAW plus as always, so I thought to myself maybe it has something to do with how each camera processes Jpeg's... something I can't control. Therefore I threw the 4 images into UFRAW and made sure all of the settings were EXACTLY the same. No sharpening, nothing.

I'll just post the full F/2 shots for your sake

K-7 @ F/1.2 crop RAW


K200d @ F/1.2 crop RAW


and at F/2

K-7 @ F/2 RAW

crop:

K200d @ F/2 RAW

crop:

So less so in RAW, but the k200d is still producing sharper images :ugh:

Kind of makes me want to go out and buy a K10d to be honest

Just thought I'd share.


Last edited by yeatzee; 08-12-2010 at 04:45 PM.
08-12-2010, 05:00 PM   #2
Administrator
Site Webmaster
Adam's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Arizona
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 51,558
I'm thinking that the sharpness is just a question of in-camera settings

Adam
PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide | Site Help | My Photography)



PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:
08-12-2010, 05:02 PM   #3
Veteran Member
yeatzee's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Temecula
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 3,675
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by Adam Quote
I'm thinking that the sharpness is just a question of in-camera settings

QuoteQuote:
All Jpeg settings for each camera were the same
:ugh:

this means it was on "natural" with default contrast, saturation, etc.
08-12-2010, 05:08 PM   #4
Veteran Member
JohnBee's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Newrfoundland
Photos: Albums
Posts: 4,667
I'm not at all suprised tbh, the K200D/K10D sensor has been long renown as something special. It wasn't the greatest with respect to noise performance, but insofar as detail, its been touted as unsurpassed by a great many people.

08-12-2010, 05:14 PM   #5
Veteran Member
yeatzee's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Temecula
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 3,675
Original Poster
Well than count me in as part of that group

Now, obviously if you shoot exclusively RAW this isn't really of any importance but I still thinks its interesting and worth sharing. Hope you guys agree.
08-12-2010, 05:20 PM   #6
Veteran Member




Join Date: Oct 2008
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 550
Depend on lenses. Smile
08-12-2010, 05:23 PM   #7
Veteran Member
yeatzee's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Temecula
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 3,675
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by Danny Delcambre Quote
Depend on lenses. Smile
how? Any lens I put on the K200d will produce sharper images than on the k-7.

08-12-2010, 05:35 PM   #8
Veteran Member
creampuff's Avatar

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Singapore
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 3,953
I'd attribute the apparent differences in sharpness to the increased resolution from the K-7. Nothing a little sharpening in post processing won't solve, something I actually prefer.

K-7 - 4672 x 3104 pixels
K200D - 3872 x 2592 pixels
08-12-2010, 06:48 PM   #9
Veteran Member




Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 923
I never quite like the K-7's jpeg output, so I won't argue on that.

With the RAW shots, I can see more micro detail on the leaf from the K-7 shot, I'm not sure why you think the K200D shot is better?
E.g. tiny little veins on the leaf, only visible on the K-7 shot, which the K200D has blurred out.

Of course, the K-7's extra Megapixels will be a factor, so its not a fair 1-1 comparison.

I do a lot of still-life photography, so micro-detail is important to me, and the K-7 never disappoints, as long as I use RAW.
08-12-2010, 06:55 PM   #10
Veteran Member
GeneV's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Albuquerque NM
Photos: Albums
Posts: 9,830
Could this test also be showing that manual focus is ever so slightly more accurate than AF using Live View?
08-12-2010, 09:23 PM   #11
Veteran Member
yeatzee's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Temecula
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 3,675
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by GeneV Quote
Could this test also be showing that manual focus is ever so slightly more accurate than AF using Live View?
im not sure how as the lens used was a MF 50mm F/1.2
08-12-2010, 09:29 PM   #12
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,291
QuoteOriginally posted by yeatzee Quote
im not sure how as the lens used was a MF 50mm F/1.2
Didn't you say you used MF using viewfinder for the K200D, and help from live view for the K-7? The first shot of the K-7 looks slightly out of focus.
08-12-2010, 09:42 PM   #13
Veteran Member
yeatzee's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Temecula
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 3,675
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by kittykat46 Quote
I never quite like the K-7's jpeg output, so I won't argue on that.

With the RAW shots, I can see more micro detail on the leaf from the K-7 shot, I'm not sure why you think the K200D shot is better?
E.g. tiny little veins on the leaf, only visible on the K-7 shot, which the K200D has blurred out.

Of course, the K-7's extra Megapixels will be a factor, so its not a fair 1-1 comparison.

I do a lot of still-life photography, so micro-detail is important to me, and the K-7 never disappoints, as long as I use RAW.
Both the RAW and Jpeg images from the K-7 are less sharp than the RAW image from the k200d. its hard to tell at the posted size, but the K200d's RAW just barely has more detail in the leaf veins. The Jpeg however blows all out of the water depsite having the same exact settings as the K-7.

Note: the K-7's and RAW and Jpeg images @ F/1.2 show VERY little if any noticeable difference in detail retainment.

Note #2: All images sharpen up nicely, though as expected, the sharper the original the better.
08-12-2010, 09:44 PM   #14
Veteran Member
yeatzee's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Temecula
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 3,675
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by CWyatt Quote
Didn't you say you used MF using viewfinder for the K200D, and help from live view for the K-7? The first shot of the K-7 looks slightly out of focus.
Yes I did, but he said "AF using live view." And no I assure you it is not out of focus, it is just softer.
08-13-2010, 12:43 AM   #15
Senior Member
Skullsroad's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 267
I don't like this test. I just bought a K-7.

On a side note, the colors coming out of the K-7 look much better.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
camera, crop, dslr, f/1.2, f/2, images, k-7, k200d, photography, post, settings, shot
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Comparison K-x, K-m, K200D Ole Pentax DSLR Discussion 18 09-20-2009 02:43 PM
Pentax K-m size comparison with ME super, K200D & G1 yakiniku Pentax News and Rumors 36 11-28-2008 07:52 AM
Focusing speed comparison K200D vs. K20D heliphoto Pentax DSLR Discussion 21 11-22-2008 03:37 PM
(3 IMG's) Just A Few... sft Post Your Photos! 2 09-08-2007 02:43 AM
Back from Miami (img's in reply) Lipo Post Your Photos! 9 01-02-2007 05:27 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:56 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top