[cabstar]

Finally got a chance to test out my Pentax K-X attached to the DA* 50-135mm

really impressed, these are non cropped, RAW conversions in Lightroom 2.7 with no sharpening or processing, pure conversion only.

This one shot at dusk, but wanted some depth so f/8 ISO 3200



Trying a bit of flare Again ISO 3200



Really love that film style grain

[nakey]

You forgot to mention the ISO.

First set was ISO3200

Second one was ISO1600

[JohnBee]

A quick snap taken with camera calibration a few weeks back(never got around to looking at it). And so, I thought it would make a good candidate for an ACR v6 /K20D NR processing test.

K20D, ISO6400, f/7.1, 1/500, NR/OFF



Rare wild pony
Larger sized image(for your pixel peeping pleasure...)

[cii98da3]

Here's a photo from a recent trip to Berlin. Shot handheld with my K-7 and DA* 16-50 wide open at 16mm and ISO800.

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

File Date

 

[JohnBee]

A few people were asking for slower shutter speeds, but I wasn't able to find anything under 1/250 in the original set.
However.. I did manage to find a 1/60'th ISO4000 sample the same subject in another setup. This one was under a single utility light in my workshop(on my tablesaw).

*** All shots handheld
META: K20D, ISO4000, 1/60, f5.6, NR/OFF



PS. JPEG compression is higher than ave. in this scene, so there are artifacts in a number of areas.

[JohnBee]

All images taken at ISO6400 and preprocessed in ACR6/CS5
META: K20D, RAW, ISO6400, 28mm, f/5.6, 1/60 - 1/140

click on image for full size


click on image for full size


click on image for full size


PP TOOLS USED:

• GordonB's Magenta Cast remover
• Niksoft Define - Debanding software
• Adobe Bridge and Photoshop CS5
• Topaz Denoise 4

TDN 4 is officially the best NR removal tool in my High ISO workflow(period). A spot that held by Noiseware Professional for some time now. I will post my NR comparison samples sometime tomorrow(It's been a long night!).

Thanks for looking.
JB

[audiobomber]

Damnit John, these look great! Now I'm going to have go back and edit all the posts where I said the K20D was unusable at ISO 6400. How long does your regimen take per photo? Can they be batch processed?

[Pentaxor]

JB's post-processed NR ISO6400 images puts the camera NR results to shame.

[whelmed]

ISO 1600 @ 1/4000th of a second on a K10d processed with LR3b2

[JohnBee]

Damnit John, these look great! Now I'm going to have go back and edit all the posts where I said the K20D was unusable at ISO 6400. How long does your regimen take per photo? Can they be batch processed?

It varies, but with TDN4 in the mix it takes longer(8 cores anyone?)... So... in all fairness I'd have to say that if you want to squeeze everything out of your camera noise wise, then you'd best prepared to work for it

Ave PP time: 6-15mins
Ave time if DN4 wasn't as CPU intensive as 3D rendering: 5-8mins.

Having said all that... there is always room for batch processing too.
I estimate that with a good process in place, a shooter could get away with 1-3mins per photo using the advanced noise management techniques used here.

[JohnBee]

Damnit John, these look great! Now I'm going to have go back and edit all the posts where I said the K20D was unusable at ISO 6400. How long does your regimen take per photo? Can they be batch processed?

Without getting ahead of things... you should see what can be persuaded out of a Kx at 128K using this method.... nothing short of scary...

[Pentaxor]

It varies, but with TDN4 in the mix it takes longer(8 cores anyone?)... So... in all fairness I'd have to say that if you want to squeeze everything out of your camera noise wise, then you'd best prepared to work for it

Ave PP time: 6-15mins
Ave time if DN4 wasn't as CPU intensive as 3D rendering: 5-8mins.

Having said all that... there is always room for batch processing too.
I estimate that with a good process in place, a shooter could get away with 1-3mins per photo using the advanced noise management techniques used here.

JB, are you saying that the TDN4 is a cpu memory hog? I'm planning to upgrade my system next year as I do every 3 years. although in fairness. my current pc unit is only barely about 2 years old this month and is still very much capable of performing fast processing (although not lightning speed). the only complaint I have with it is so darn noisy and beginning to exhibit some considerable heat due to wear, longevity and dust accumulation.

[Jewelltrail]

JohnBee: K20D ISO6400 Image set
All images taken at ISO6400 and preprocessed in ACR6/CS5
META: K20D, RAW, ISO6400, 28mm, f/5.6, 1/60 - 1/140

I have some K20d 6400 images with which I am delighted, but these here are the best I have seen--anywhere. Thank you so much for sharing--this is eye-opening.

[JohnBee]

JB, are you saying that the TDN4 is a cpu memory hog?...

Absolutely without a doubt
I have done 3D renderings that were faster than Denoise 4, and I always considered that to be intensive. So yes... I definitely think Denoise 4 is way over the top for what it does.

Also.. you have nothing to feel bad about regarding your PC. My workstation core is almost 6 years old(definitely obsolete!), and so you're definitely in better shape than I'll ever be

[JohnBee]

I have some K20d 6400 images with which I am delighted, but these here are the best I have seen--anywhere. Thank you so much for sharing--this is eye-opening.

Thank-you! and you're welcome...

I am working on an ISO6400 night series using the same shooting and PP methods, which I plan on posting here shortly.
Hopefully it give other shooters the incentive to explore new areas of with their gear.

JB