Lumolabs: Nikon D700 vs. D5000 vs. Pentax K-x, Dynamic range and noise

falconeye · 12-11-2009, 01:22 PM

Lumolabs (read myself) has just published their comparison study of sensor performance Nikon D700 vs. D5000 vs. Pentax K-x, dynamic range and noise.

All three cameras have almost identical dynamic range while the D700 has the expected 1 stop advantage in high iso noise. Numerical lab results would make the Pentax K-x win, D5000 second and D700 third with respect to dynamic range. But a visual plausability check points to raw data tricks being played which makes all three cameras perform the same. Which still is an impressive result for an APS-C sensor.

Read more:

-> Lumolabs: Sensors of Nikon D700, D5000 and Pentax K-x

Note: Lumolabs measures the real dynamic range contained in raw data (like DxO), not the appearant dynamic range contained in jpeg data (like dpreview).

Last edited by falconeye; 12-11-2009 at 01:52 PM.

jeffkrol · 12-11-2009, 03:06 PM

Originally posted by falconeye

Lumolabs (read myself) has just published their comparison study of sensor performance Nikon D700 vs. D5000 vs. Pentax K-x, dynamic range and noise.

All three cameras have almost identical dynamic range while the D700 has the expected 1 stop advantage in high iso noise. Numerical lab results would make the Pentax K-x win, D5000 second and D700 third with respect to dynamic range. But a visual plausability check points to raw data tricks being played which makes all three cameras perform the same. Which still is an impressive result for an APS-C sensor.

Read more:

-> Lumolabs: Sensors of Nikon D700, D5000 and Pentax K-x

Note: Lumolabs measures the real dynamic range contained in raw data (like DxO), not the appearant dynamic range contained in jpeg data (like dpreview).

Bravo....
Missing link in the puzzle:
Re: Pixel Density Gap Observation: Open Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review
Re: Pixel Density Gap Observation: Open Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

Eruditass · 12-13-2009, 03:42 AM

falconeye, great job as always.

Jeffkrol, falconeye points out the read-out noise improvements (which could only mean circuit improvemnts).

Also, that John Sheehy seems to like answering a slightly different question that is asked, though what he says is correct.

WerTicus · 12-13-2009, 06:53 AM

very interesting thanks

leeak · 12-13-2009, 11:20 PM

Great test and review. Thanks!

Jonson PL · 12-14-2009, 11:17 AM

Thanks a lot for taking the time. A big help.

I also found this article a good read :
Falk Lumo: Lumolabs: Pentax K-x vs. K-7, sensor and video

"The truth is that the K-x may be the 35mm SLR camera which has the best high ISO noise and dynamic range performance to date. This isn't "very good". This is outstanding!

...

Therefore, the K-x sensor outperforms the K-7 in low light situations whereas the K-7 outperforms the K-x in good light. This is further confirmed by the better resolution and more artifact-free images from the K-7.

...

Conclusion:

The Pentax K-x has a sensor which rivals the best. That Pentax makes it available in the entry-level class is a good thing. On the other hand, the Pentax K-7 excells in many respects and even its noise performance isn't bad. It is in line with the rest of the competition which is beaten by the K-x in this respect now.”

Art Vandelay II · 12-15-2009, 01:33 PM

I consider myself a camera geek, but damn a test like that is hard to get into. Feels more like reading an article about CPU benchmark testing then it does anything photography related. I think I'll stick with the highly technical way of testing where someone takes actual photos of the same scene with different cameras...then compares them. I prefer to draw my own conclusions based on actual photographs more than I do line charts, gray swatches, etc. I appreciate the work that goes into this kind of thing, but man...time to go look at photos.

Jaleel · 12-15-2009, 03:58 PM

If you use camera in real sutuation, where we usually push -2..+2ev (and not always)...is there a real difrense between K-x and K-7?

falconeye · 12-15-2009, 04:26 PM

Originally posted by Art Vandelay II

I consider myself a camera geek, but damn a test like that is hard to get into. ...time to go look at photos.

I feel the same. But man ... I hate the endless debates I know from literature courses and really appreciate mathematics where an answer is either true or false, period.

I love wonderful photos and mathematical-style tests. I hate prosaic tests and boring "still life" photos

Originally posted by Jaleel

If you use camera in real sutuation, where we usually push -2..+2ev (and not always)...is there a real difrense between K-x and K-7?

Look at the pushed -5EV samples which are linked from my blog as well:

In this test the K-7 looks only slightly worse than D5000 which again looks a bit worse than K-x. But definitely very usable. And scaled to K-x resolution, probably w/o much difference.

Jaleel · 12-16-2009, 01:42 AM

Btw, have a question, what camera is better at iso 100-800 in term of resolution?

falconeye · 12-16-2009, 05:52 AM

Originally posted by Jaleel

Btw, have a question, what camera is better at iso 100-800 in term of resolution?

Rhetoric question ... K-7, of course.

falconeye · 12-17-2009, 06:17 AM

Two images of mine, illustrating the dynamic range capabilities of the K-x:

Jonson PL · 12-18-2009, 05:34 AM

Originally posted by falconeye

Look at the pushed -5EV samples which are linked from my blog as well:

In this test the K-7 looks only slightly worse than D5000 which again looks a bit worse than K-x. But definitely very usable. And scaled to K-x resolution, probably w/o much difference.

Thanks for this info, hadn't noticed it first time around

12-11-2009, 01:22 PM	#1
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871	Lumolabs: Nikon D700 vs. D5000 vs. Pentax K-x, Dynamic range and noise Lumolabs (read myself) has just published their comparison study of sensor performance Nikon D700 vs. D5000 vs. Pentax K-x, dynamic range and noise. All three cameras have almost identical dynamic range while the D700 has the expected 1 stop advantage in high iso noise. Numerical lab results would make the Pentax K-x win, D5000 second and D700 third with respect to dynamic range. But a visual plausability check points to raw data tricks being played which makes all three cameras perform the same. Which still is an impressive result for an APS-C sensor. Read more: -> Lumolabs: Sensors of Nikon D700, D5000 and Pentax K-x Note: Lumolabs measures the real dynamic range contained in raw data (like DxO), not the appearant dynamic range contained in jpeg data (like dpreview). Last edited by falconeye; 12-11-2009 at 01:52 PM.

12-17-2009, 06:17 AM	#12
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871 Original Poster	Two images of mine, illustrating the dynamic range capabilities of the K-x: Ocean in Jupiter shine https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/83638-night-milky-way-30s.html Last edited by falconeye; 12-17-2009 at 08:03 AM.

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12-11-2009, 03:06 PM	#2
jeffkrol Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wisconsin USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,434	Originally posted by falconeye Lumolabs (read myself) has just published their comparison study of sensor performance Nikon D700 vs. D5000 vs. Pentax K-x, dynamic range and noise. All three cameras have almost identical dynamic range while the D700 has the expected 1 stop advantage in high iso noise. Numerical lab results would make the Pentax K-x win, D5000 second and D700 third with respect to dynamic range. But a visual plausability check points to raw data tricks being played which makes all three cameras perform the same. Which still is an impressive result for an APS-C sensor. Read more: -> Lumolabs: Sensors of Nikon D700, D5000 and Pentax K-x Note: Lumolabs measures the real dynamic range contained in raw data (like DxO), not the appearant dynamic range contained in jpeg data (like dpreview). Bravo.... Missing link in the puzzle: Re: Pixel Density Gap Observation: Open Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review Re: Pixel Density Gap Observation: Open Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

12-13-2009, 03:42 AM	#3
Eruditass Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,207	falconeye, great job as always. Jeffkrol, falconeye points out the read-out noise improvements (which could only mean circuit improvemnts). Also, that John Sheehy seems to like answering a slightly different question that is asked, though what he says is correct.

12-13-2009, 06:53 AM	#4
WerTicus Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Perth Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 1,514	very interesting thanks

12-13-2009, 11:20 PM	#5
leeak Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 245	Great test and review. Thanks!

12-14-2009, 11:17 AM	#6
Jonson PL Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Copenhagen Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,842	Thanks a lot for taking the time. A big help. I also found this article a good read : Falk Lumo: Lumolabs: Pentax K-x vs. K-7, sensor and video "The truth is that the K-x may be the 35mm SLR camera which has the best high ISO noise and dynamic range performance to date. This isn't "very good". This is outstanding! ... Therefore, the K-x sensor outperforms the K-7 in low light situations whereas the K-7 outperforms the K-x in good light. This is further confirmed by the better resolution and more artifact-free images from the K-7. ... Conclusion: The Pentax K-x has a sensor which rivals the best. That Pentax makes it available in the entry-level class is a good thing. On the other hand, the Pentax K-7 excells in many respects and even its noise performance isn't bad. It is in line with the rest of the competition which is beaten by the K-x in this respect now.”

12-15-2009, 01:33 PM	#7
Art Vandelay II Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 886	I consider myself a camera geek, but damn a test like that is hard to get into. Feels more like reading an article about CPU benchmark testing then it does anything photography related. I think I'll stick with the highly technical way of testing where someone takes actual photos of the same scene with different cameras...then compares them. I prefer to draw my own conclusions based on actual photographs more than I do line charts, gray swatches, etc. I appreciate the work that goes into this kind of thing, but man...time to go look at photos.

12-15-2009, 03:58 PM	#8
Jaleel Forum Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Moscow, Russia Photos: Gallery Posts: 73	If you use camera in real sutuation, where we usually push -2..+2ev (and not always)...is there a real difrense between K-x and K-7?

12-15-2009, 04:26 PM	#9
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871 Original Poster	Originally posted by Art Vandelay II I consider myself a camera geek, but damn a test like that is hard to get into. ...time to go look at photos. I feel the same. But man ... I hate the endless debates I know from literature courses and really appreciate mathematics where an answer is either true or false, period. I love wonderful photos and mathematical-style tests. I hate prosaic tests and boring "still life" photos Originally posted by Jaleel If you use camera in real sutuation, where we usually push -2..+2ev (and not always)...is there a real difrense between K-x and K-7? Look at the pushed -5EV samples which are linked from my blog as well: In this test the K-7 looks only slightly worse than D5000 which again looks a bit worse than K-x. But definitely very usable. And scaled to K-x resolution, probably w/o much difference.

12-16-2009, 01:42 AM	#10
Jaleel Forum Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Moscow, Russia Photos: Gallery Posts: 73	Btw, have a question, what camera is better at iso 100-800 in term of resolution?

12-16-2009, 05:52 AM	#11
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871 Original Poster	Originally posted by Jaleel Btw, have a question, what camera is better at iso 100-800 in term of resolution? Rhetoric question ... K-7, of course.

12-18-2009, 05:34 AM	#13
Jonson PL Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Copenhagen Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,842	Originally posted by falconeye Look at the pushed -5EV samples which are linked from my blog as well: In this test the K-7 looks only slightly worse than D5000 which again looks a bit worse than K-x. But definitely very usable. And scaled to K-x resolution, probably w/o much difference. Thanks for this info, hadn't noticed it first time around