Experiences with the new K-7 Camera (lots of imgs)

blende8 · 06-09-2009, 06:14 AM

Originally posted by frank

Just tested on the distortion correction for RAW output, yes, it is effective. The RAW file is definitely corrected when this option is enabled

Thanks for the check.
I file this then under "firmware issues".

soccerjoe5 · 06-09-2009, 06:20 AM

Originally posted by frank

Just tested on the distortion correction for RAW output, yes, it is effective. The RAW file is definitely corrected when this option is enabled

That's what I heard from John C. Woohoo that'd be fantastic! I'd want it to correct CA and distortion on RAW files too

Thanks Frank!

Diego

Maffer · 06-09-2009, 06:24 AM

Yes, CA and distortion correction for RAW files would be a killer feature for me. I hate using external programs to do this kind of PP. The negative side is that I need pentax lenses for this to work. Only have one at the moment :/

Leaf Fan · 06-09-2009, 06:27 AM

Originally posted by frank

That's a lot of luggage for one person....

Nice review and photos, thanks for posting.

Duck Dodgers · 06-09-2009, 06:33 AM

Originally posted by Leaf Fan

That's a lot of luggage for one person....

Two life-boats, though...no waiting!

blende8 · 06-09-2009, 06:33 AM

One follow-up question:
Due to the distortion correction the curved parts of the image are cut off.
This would mean that the image becomes smaller.
But the JPG I have has the same size as the uncorrected file, even though the borders are cut off. So it is blown up.
I am wondering what is happening to the RAW file in this case?

Ishpuini · 06-09-2009, 06:46 AM

Originally posted by blende8

But the JPG I have has the same size as the uncorrected file, even though the borders are cut off. So it is blown up.
I am wondering what is happening to the RAW file in this case?

Interesting point. I assume that since you don't want detail to be lost, you would want to blow up the image. I.e. pull out the corners for barrel distortion and pull out the center for pin cushion distortion.

Problem I see with this feature is that you should frame for it, i.e. with some margin at the edge of the image. With a 95% viewfinder the 5% information outside the viewfinder could be used and nothing seen would be lost, not so with the 100% viewfinder the K-7 offers. But I guess the distortion is never quite very dramatic?

I wonder too...

Wim

blende8 · 06-09-2009, 07:12 AM

Here is my example in full.
It's by hand without tripod, but you can see that the borders are cropped off.

Animated GIF: with/without distortion correction
DA16-50@16mm

and · 06-09-2009, 07:21 AM

hm its quite dramatic how much it cuts off actually if you were carefully framing.
I guess perhaps that combined with slower speed means I will turn it off.
I think JCPentax said the new software would have this feature? So you could shoot raw with it off and then apply it afterwards in PP if you wanted.
Hopefully its laid out as an easy one click operation that you can batch.

frank · 06-09-2009, 07:36 AM

Originally posted by Maffer

Hmm, sounds nice actually. I wouldn't mind having these kind of corrections for RAW file if they really work. But how did you test that the RAW is definitely corrected in camera? If you checked with the camera playback function, isn't the photo shown the embedded jpg image? Or did you convert with RAWs with the new pentax software? In that case the program might be doing the tricks. Sorry for asking these questions but it's weird to see totally different opinions from two actual camera testers.

OKay, you got me here. I only checked the file on the camera LCD. Then opened it up w/ FastStone, both showed the photo as corrected. But when I opened it (DNG) in photoshop, it's curved as non correction at all

Oh well, sorry I made the wrong statement above. Blende was right

Urkeldaedalus · 06-09-2009, 07:44 AM

From what I've read, the distortion corrections are stored with the RAW file but not automatically applied to it, so you can apply the corrections using the Pentax software included with the camera. It sounds like if you wanted to use Adobe Lightroom or another program you would have to correct the RAWs first in the Pentax program.

And thanks for the review Frank! Way to make me regret that I can't afford the FA*80-200

Ishpuini · 06-09-2009, 07:50 AM

Originally posted by frank

OKay, you got me here. I only checked the file on the camera LCD. Then opened it up w/ FastStone, both showed the photo as corrected. But when I opened it (DNG) in photoshop, it's curved as non correction at all

Oh well, sorry I made the wrong statement above. Blende was right

You're forgiven Frank!

Too bad, so I won't be able to use the lens corrections after all. Shame, but I was never really bothered by distortions anyway and Lightroom has OK tools for fixing CA/PF... Not deal breaker at all.

Wim

**StigVidar** · 06-09-2009, 07:50 AM

Originally posted by frank

OKay, you got me here. I only checked the file on the camera LCD. Then opened it up w/ FastStone, both showed the photo as corrected. But when I opened it (DNG) in photoshop, it's curved as non correction at all

Oh well, sorry I made the wrong statement above. Blende was right

Just as well. I don't think messing with the raw files in camera is a good idea. A much better solution would be to store this information in the raw files in a format that is readable by raw converters.

frank · 06-09-2009, 07:52 AM

Originally posted by Urkeldaedalus

From what I've read, the distortion corrections are stored with the RAW file but not automatically applied to it, so you can apply the corrections using the Pentax software included with the camera. It sounds like if you wanted to use Adobe Lightroom or another program you would have to correct the RAWs first in the Pentax program.

And thanks for the review Frank! Way to make me regret that I can't afford the FA*80-200

Okay, so the bundled Pentax software might do the trick

That'd be nice ...

soccerjoe5 · 06-09-2009, 08:33 AM

Hmm.. I use lightroom though

So the corrections won't show up there?

06-09-2009, 07:12 AM	#53
blende8 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bremen, Germany Photos: Albums Posts: 1,521	Here is my example in full. It's by hand without tripod, but you can see that the borders are cropped off. Animated GIF: with/without distortion correction DA16-50@16mm Last edited by blende8; 06-09-2009 at 07:22 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Carry-on camera gear for US bound flights - any experiences?	SF1	Travel, Events, and Groups	4	03-05-2010 07:03 PM
Beach Camera experiences? Good or Bad?	rdrum76	Photographic Technique	12	01-10-2008 11:06 AM
My London experiences(lots of pics)	vdubbin099	Post Your Photos!	8	10-09-2007 11:25 AM
Unusual camera bags (+11 imgs)	hinman	Pentax Camera and Field Accessories	3	09-07-2007 06:10 PM
Henrys Camera Show (Lots of Pics)	FotoPete	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	5	05-06-2007 08:09 PM

06-09-2009, 06:14 AM	#46
blende8 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bremen, Germany Photos: Albums Posts: 1,521	Originally posted by frank Just tested on the distortion correction for RAW output, yes, it is effective. The RAW file is definitely corrected when this option is enabled Thanks for the check. I file this then under "firmware issues".

06-09-2009, 06:20 AM	#47
soccerjoe5 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Philippines Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,343	Originally posted by frank Just tested on the distortion correction for RAW output, yes, it is effective. The RAW file is definitely corrected when this option is enabled That's what I heard from John C. Woohoo that'd be fantastic! I'd want it to correct CA and distortion on RAW files too Thanks Frank! Diego

06-09-2009, 06:24 AM	#48
Maffer Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Finland Photos: Gallery Posts: 308	Yes, CA and distortion correction for RAW files would be a killer feature for me. I hate using external programs to do this kind of PP. The negative side is that I need pentax lenses for this to work. Only have one at the moment :/

06-09-2009, 06:27 AM	#49
Leaf Fan Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Canada eh! Photos: Gallery Posts: 673	Originally posted by frank That's a lot of luggage for one person.... Nice review and photos, thanks for posting.

06-09-2009, 06:33 AM	#50
Duck Dodgers Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: in the 24½th Century! Photos: Gallery Posts: 439	Originally posted by Leaf Fan That's a lot of luggage for one person.... Two life-boats, though...no waiting!

06-09-2009, 06:33 AM	#51
blende8 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bremen, Germany Photos: Albums Posts: 1,521	One follow-up question: Due to the distortion correction the curved parts of the image are cut off. This would mean that the image becomes smaller. But the JPG I have has the same size as the uncorrected file, even though the borders are cut off. So it is blown up. I am wondering what is happening to the RAW file in this case?

06-09-2009, 06:46 AM	#52
Ishpuini Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Antwerp, Belgium Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,727	Originally posted by blende8 But the JPG I have has the same size as the uncorrected file, even though the borders are cut off. So it is blown up. I am wondering what is happening to the RAW file in this case? Interesting point. I assume that since you don't want detail to be lost, you would want to blow up the image. I.e. pull out the corners for barrel distortion and pull out the center for pin cushion distortion. Problem I see with this feature is that you should frame for it, i.e. with some margin at the edge of the image. With a 95% viewfinder the 5% information outside the viewfinder could be used and nothing seen would be lost, not so with the 100% viewfinder the K-7 offers. But I guess the distortion is never quite very dramatic? I wonder too... Wim

06-09-2009, 07:21 AM	#54
and Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,476	hm its quite dramatic how much it cuts off actually if you were carefully framing. I guess perhaps that combined with slower speed means I will turn it off. I think JCPentax said the new software would have this feature? So you could shoot raw with it off and then apply it afterwards in PP if you wanted. Hopefully its laid out as an easy one click operation that you can batch.

06-09-2009, 07:36 AM	#55
frank Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,202 Original Poster	Originally posted by Maffer Hmm, sounds nice actually. I wouldn't mind having these kind of corrections for RAW file if they really work. But how did you test that the RAW is definitely corrected in camera? If you checked with the camera playback function, isn't the photo shown the embedded jpg image? Or did you convert with RAWs with the new pentax software? In that case the program might be doing the tricks. Sorry for asking these questions but it's weird to see totally different opinions from two actual camera testers. OKay, you got me here. I only checked the file on the camera LCD. Then opened it up w/ FastStone, both showed the photo as corrected. But when I opened it (DNG) in photoshop, it's curved as non correction at all Oh well, sorry I made the wrong statement above. Blende was right

06-09-2009, 07:44 AM	#56
Urkeldaedalus Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Iowa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,369	From what I've read, the distortion corrections are stored with the RAW file but not automatically applied to it, so you can apply the corrections using the Pentax software included with the camera. It sounds like if you wanted to use Adobe Lightroom or another program you would have to correct the RAWs first in the Pentax program. And thanks for the review Frank! Way to make me regret that I can't afford the FA*80-200

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

06-09-2009, 07:50 AM	#57
Ishpuini Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Antwerp, Belgium Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,727	Originally posted by frank OKay, you got me here. I only checked the file on the camera LCD. Then opened it up w/ FastStone, both showed the photo as corrected. But when I opened it (DNG) in photoshop, it's curved as non correction at all Oh well, sorry I made the wrong statement above. Blende was right You're forgiven Frank! Too bad, so I won't be able to use the lens corrections after all. Shame, but I was never really bothered by distortions anyway and Lightroom has OK tools for fixing CA/PF... Not deal breaker at all. Wim

06-09-2009, 07:50 AM	#58
StigVidar Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Norway Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 705	Originally posted by frank OKay, you got me here. I only checked the file on the camera LCD. Then opened it up w/ FastStone, both showed the photo as corrected. But when I opened it (DNG) in photoshop, it's curved as non correction at all Oh well, sorry I made the wrong statement above. Blende was right Just as well. I don't think messing with the raw files in camera is a good idea. A much better solution would be to store this information in the raw files in a format that is readable by raw converters.

06-09-2009, 07:52 AM	#59
frank Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,202 Original Poster	Originally posted by Urkeldaedalus From what I've read, the distortion corrections are stored with the RAW file but not automatically applied to it, so you can apply the corrections using the Pentax software included with the camera. It sounds like if you wanted to use Adobe Lightroom or another program you would have to correct the RAWs first in the Pentax program. And thanks for the review Frank! Way to make me regret that I can't afford the FA*80-200 Okay, so the bundled Pentax software might do the trick That'd be nice ...

06-09-2009, 08:33 AM	#60
soccerjoe5 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Philippines Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,343	Hmm.. I use lightroom though So the corrections won't show up there?