[Rashedul]

I've been using ist-DL for the last 5 years to learn and enjoy photography. Recently I got my hands on a K7 and started playing around with it to see how things go. I'm a bit surprised to find that the pictures are coming out a lot noisier than the ist-DL (basic entry level, older sensor tech camera). I've used the same lens on both and the K7 consistently produces noisier and less sharp photos. I've taken the shots at base ISO of 100 and the grain is still visible. So I've been pouring over the manual trying to find out if there is a setting I'm missing to produce smooth sharp images. Any suggestions on the settings I should be aware of? I'll keep poking around the settings (and wow there are lot, coming from the entry level land).

[jezza323]

post up some of the images which display the issue, full size with EXIF information included and you will be able to get some better feedback

[eddie1960]

DL was CCD and the K7 is cmos so there is a different look off the bat (i noticed the same on the K10 to K7) - there is also a difference in the AA filters which affects the pictures

Assuming you shoot Raw minimal Nr and sharpening applied will clean any perceived noise difference. I will point out that if you make a print at 11x14 or larger the K7 will easily come out on top for sharpness etc.

All cmos models though will have a different look than CCD does (and at the lower ISO like 100 many people find a CCD model like the K10 preferable provided they don't need the pixels for print size

[paulh]

This thread might have some useful info for you: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-discussion/106600-k-7-high-iso-success.html

[Marc Sabatella]

As mentioned, posting images would help. I'm guessing, though that you are making the mistake of comparing apples to oranges by blowing up both images to "100%", whoch is a *lot* bigger for a 14MP camera than a 6MP camera. If you blew up the DL images as large as you are blowing up the K-7 images, they'd look worse.

[eddie1960]

Plus 1

if you re-sample both images to 8 MP and then compare the K7 should come out on top without difficulty

[Rashedul]

Wow, thank you for the quick responses. I'm still amazed by how quickly you guys try to help out others.

I was playing around last night and saw the differences and thought about posting about it today while sitting here bored, trying to distract myself from my work. You guys are right, I was blowing up the images to 100% to check for the differences. I was using a Sigma 70mm EX Macro lens to look for the sharpness. I will take some pictures when I get home tonight using the same subject, distance, settings etc to see how things look.

Thank you again for the helpful information. I gotta say I'm surprised by how compact the K7 feels. It feels even smaller than the ist-DL I'm used to and a bit heavier and sturdier feel to it.

[Philoslothical]

I was using a Sigma 70mm EX Macro lens to look for the sharpness.

How do you like that lens? It's one that I'm considering purchasing sometime, and I would love to hear any feedback on it.

[vonBaloney]

How do you like that lens? It's one that I'm considering purchasing sometime, and I would love to hear any feedback on it.

Super sharp. Here's some discussion comparing it with the competition:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/177665-sigma-7...mm-f2-8-a.html

[Rashedul]

Super sharp. Here's some discussion comparing it with the competition:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/177665-sigma-7...mm-f2-8-a.html

Exactly! Extremely sharp. Its fun taking pictures of your friends with it and getting yelled at for bringing up all their wrinkles. I tell them its their life experience. Off Topic Wedding Photography Rant: Why are those shots always so overexposed to the point where every face looks like a pale ghost? Every shadow, highlight and features of the face gets blown out. Ooh pretty!

[vonBaloney]

Exactly! Extremely sharp. Its fun taking pictures of your friends with it and getting yelled at for bringing up all their wrinkles. I tell them its their life experience. Off Topic Wedding Photography Rant: Why are those shots always so overexposed to the point where every face looks like a pale ghost? Every shadow, highlight and features of the face gets blown out. Ooh pretty!

You can always soften them later if need be. But I don't take pictures of people, so that's just not a concern for me.

[Philoslothical]

Thanks for the input, both of you. I'm wondering how it compares to the 100mm Pentax macro lenses. Specifically, the FA, DFA and DFA-WR ones. As sharp, sharper? I'm not a fan of Tamron.

I'm definitely looking for one that serves well at 1:1 as well as for general/portrait use. I realize 100mm is a bit long for portraiture, but I don't do that much of it. Conversely, I like using my 70-300 zoom at the 70 end, it seems a comfortable focal length for lots of stuff.

Sorry if I'm threadjacking a bit, I'll shut up when you post about your next test pics.

[vonBaloney]

Thanks for the input, both of you. I'm wondering how it compares to the 100mm Pentax macro lenses. Specifically, the FA, DFA and DFA-WR ones. As sharp, sharper? I'm not a fan of Tamron.

I'm definitely looking for one that serves well at 1:1 as well as for general/portrait use. I realize 100mm is a bit long for portraiture, but I don't do that much of it. Conversely, I like using my 70-300 zoom at the 70 end, it seems a comfortable focal length for lots of stuff.

Sorry if I'm threadjacking a bit, I'll shut up when you post about your next test pics.

You're not going to find a sharper lens than the Sigma, optically it is one of the best lenses you can get period. Super-sharp, and negligible distortion. All the lab tests rate it extremely highly. But the Tamron and the Pentax are good options too. Just depends whether you want a 70, 90, or 100.

The Sigma is well-built (a bit heavy), no aperture ring, and has a AF limiter switch to keep it in or out of the macro range as the case may be.

[Pentaxor]

Thanks for the input, both of you. I'm wondering how it compares to the 100mm Pentax macro lenses. Specifically, the FA, DFA and DFA-WR ones. As sharp, sharper? I'm not a fan of Tamron.

I'm definitely looking for one that serves well at 1:1 as well as for general/portrait use. I realize 100mm is a bit long for portraiture, but I don't do that much of it. Conversely, I like using my 70-300 zoom at the 70 end, it seems a comfortable focal length for lots of stuff.

Sorry if I'm threadjacking a bit, I'll shut up when you post about your next test pics.

well it's definitely sharper than any of the 100mm macro that came from Pentax.

[Philoslothical]

I guess I'll be posting a wanted ad for the Sigma 70mm sometime in the next couple months then. Thanks!