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Forum: Winners' Showcase
02-07-2022, 05:41 PM
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I would like to nominate this photo
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
02-29-2020, 08:39 PM
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I use Affinity Photo and the NIK plugins. I think the plugins open up a world of creative options, but there's a learning curve. Yes, they are not inexpensive, so I would suggest watching some NIK tutorials on YouTube (there are many) to see if they are something you're really interested in.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-22-2019, 08:38 AM
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35mm f2 on K-1 mk 2. One of my favorite lenses.
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Forum: General Talk
06-24-2019, 05:06 PM
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I look forward to the Clearing of the Air Lanes every Saturday evening 😁😁😆
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Forum: General Talk
06-23-2019, 05:34 PM
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Are you referring to Svengoolie? If so, I am a fan.
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
12-28-2018, 09:43 AM
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I've spent a lot of time the last couple years trying decide on the right photo editing software (for me). I've used Lightroom since v.2 and I like it a lot, as well as Photoshop for some things, but I really dislike Adobe. I've had a few occasions over the years when I've had to contact their (outsourced) customer "service", but every time I have come away from the experience more frustrated than before, and feeling like they didn't understand (or care about) my problem. On top of that, they install about a dozen Windows services (I assume the same on Mac) on your computer that sit in RAM and monitor what you do with "their" software.
I have downloaded several 30-day trials and ended up buying three: Affinity Photo (a very good, and improving, Photoshop sub but not a workflow solution), ON1 (IMO, the most complete photo editing solution available incorporating Lightroom and Photoshop features), and DxO Photo Lab 2. I bought ON1 a couple years ago and although it was capable enough, the workflow didn't flow for me, so I just didn't use it very much. The new 2019 version is a huge step forward, and I could probably be happy with it alone. But before 2019 came out, I had already looked into DxO, and just loved it. I spent a LOT of time doing editing comparisons using the same 2 test photos, which represent typical editing issues, with several programs and have yet to find anything that can surpass, or in many cases equal, the image quality of an image edited in Photo Lab 2. Also, in every interaction I have had with each of these companies (support or otherwise), I felt like I was dealing with an actual employee of that company who understood me. However, these are smaller companies with fewer resources than Adobe, which frustrates a lot of users because they can't make updates to their software fast enough to suit. Also, Capture One is really good, but very expensive, and I got a vibe from them of arrogance and "corporate distance".
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
11-29-2018, 07:17 PM
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Well aware of it’s mixed reviews, I bought the 43, which arrived today. I only had time for a few dozen shots around the house and yard. I looked at them in Lightroom and DXO PL2, but my impression is it’s a friggin fantastic lens.
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
11-16-2018, 03:49 PM
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:lol: I think I fit in here :lol:
---------- Post added 11-16-18 at 05:09 PM ----------
Exactly right, and as a new user that's frustrating. But while there are some frustrations, I'm inclined to cut DXO a good deal of slack. I think they're a small company, with limited resources, making good products (IMO), and have a lot on their plate. They have a user feedback forum (to which they actually listen and respond) and use customer feedback to prioritize what they're working on. Also, I have contacted their user support a few times and gotten a helpful response (from a person) very quickly. The one time I contacted Adobe for help, I got an auto-generated suggestion that I post my problem on a Lightroom forum :mad:
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
11-16-2018, 08:38 AM
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I did buy the Elite version (both PL and Filmpack). It's always the Elite version that has the features I want...
I only minimally utilize Lightroom's asset management features. I think for pros who manage hundreds of thousands of images it's a good system, but I don't need it. I've only had PL a few weeks and haven't spent any time yet on figuring out their Library feature, but I think it will do what I need.
The control points in PL work somewhat differently than in the Nik plugins, and I'm still getting a handle on masking out areas where the adjustment is not wanted. There is an online help file explaining it (somewhat), but an in depth video would be very helpful.
---------- Post added 11-16-18 at 09:50 AM ----------
I have watched the Kohl videos, but it would be nice if there were actual courses on DXO products, going into more depth. I have access to Lynda, which has dozens of in depth courses on Photoshop and Lightroom, and even a few on Affinity Photo and Nik plugins. I'd really like to see something like that with PhotoLab and FilmPack.
As for the "theme", I've only been a Pentax owner for a few months, and DXO user for a few weeks (after many years of using Nikon and Adobe products), so what have I got myself into :eek: :lol:
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
10-26-2018, 01:58 PM
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Now that DxO can work with K-1 II files I've been trying it out. It is really growing on me and I will probably buy it. I find it easy and intuitive to use, and in some cases it appears to be able to extract more detail from RAW files than other editors I have. The screen shot below is a Lightroom compare between a shot I edited in PhotoLab (left), and the same RAW file edited in Lightroom, trying to match the level of detail of the PL edited version. 100% crop from a hasty shot I took early yesterday morning when I noticed some dramatic clouds - handheld in poor light conditions, K-1 II with Pentax 35mm f/2.0 FA AL (btw, Adobe does NOT have a profile for that lens). I also edited the same file in On1 and Affinity Photo, and could not duplicate the detail of the DxO processed image.
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
10-27-2018, 02:17 PM
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I haven't used PL v.1, so I don't know how much has changed - perhaps not enough to buy the upgrade, but for a first time user, I think DxO RAW processing, Smart Lighting and ClearView alone are almost worth buying PhotoLab for. Smart Lighting makes seemingly intelligent adjustments that would require balancing 2 or 3 sliders in other programs, and ClearView (which is supposedly improved in v.2) is just amazing. IMO, it's doing more than Lightroom dehaze. It can be overdone, but it can also be used subtly. In the example I posted, ClearView is amped up for dramatic effect, but that is not where the resolution and detail come from - that (I assume) is DxO's raw processing.
I've been using Lightroom for about 10 years, so maybe it's the 10 year itch that makes me want to investigate other editors :lol: I'm really diggin' PhotoLab, and at this point I want to keep it. I've found that it can do some things better and/or faster than Lightroom, but not enough (yet) to make me stop paying Adobe (for whom I have no love) $10/month. If PhotoLab hosted the Nik plugins (and it's pretty bizarre that they don't) that could be my last payment to Adobe. But they have incorporated U Point from Nik for selective adjustments. As for masking, I've had some success with the U Point gradient and brush tools (as well as negative control points), but I'm still figuring it out - it's a different approach than Lightroom's range masking and erase brush which I'm used to and like.
But, to steer this back to the topic of the thread, YES, I would buy DxO software. I'm betting they will survive, and really hope that they do.
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
10-26-2018, 06:10 PM
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Believe me, all the Lightroom adjustments (contrast, clarity, dehaze, sharpen, denoise, etc.) were fully exercised to the point of going too far, and then backed off, but nothing could duplicate the detail of DxO. The detail information just wasn't there to begin with. I also tried many presets, profiles and LUTs.
The DxO version in the screen shot was overdone - I did go back and and tame it down, and the detail is still there. It's hard to tell unless you see it on a large monitor, but there's detail in areas like the thin wispy clouds that just can't be pulled out in Lightroom, or the other programs I tried. I've done a similar comparison on other photos, and it seems that the DxO effect is most noticeable in areas with low resolution, contrast or over/under exposed. In properly exposed areas with high detail, I can make the DxO and Lightroom versions look pretty much identical. Based on 3 days of fooling around with it, I think DxO actually retrieves more detail information from RAW files.
I'm not abandoning Lightroom in the foreseeable future, there are too many things I like about it, and depend on it for (like hosting the Nik plugins), but I think there are situations where I would start with DxO for their RAW development and basic adjustments, then probably save as .dng to bring into Lightroom.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-19-2018, 06:38 PM
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That's a good idea - I had not thought about doing that. My goal is to try to duplicate, with digital, the kind of image "character" I got with my Pentax 67 in large(ish) prints. What I find so appealing about images taken with the 67 is not just the sharp details, but the beautiful, smooth transition of colors and tones from lighter to darker areas (hard to put into words, but you know that "look" when you see it). So that's what I'll be hoping to achieve with the K-1.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
09-19-2018, 02:21 PM
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New K-1 owner here. Wanting to go full-frame (from my Nikon DX bodies), and willing to consider all options, I researched for probably 2 months. Approached it from every angle, until my head hurt. I thought the K-1 was the best body from early on, but having to buy new lenses held me back (I have a lot of Nikon lenses, so why switch brands?). I currently have only 1 Pentax lens (100mm macro), and am still using my Nikons when I need a wider angle. Will be adding Pentax lenses (at least 2 more) as funding becomes available. No regrets - the results I'm getting from the K-1 and 100mm are amazing. I still have a lot to learn about using it.
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Forum: Pentax K-1 & K-1 II
09-04-2018, 07:55 PM
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I've been using Nikon crop-sensor bodies since I went digital (a carry over from my Nikon film days) and I finally decided to go full-frame. Before getting another Nikon body, I wanted to do some research into what was available. Since I hadn't paid much attention to the photo equipment market in years, I had a lot of catching up to do. Fairly long story short, a Pentax K-1 arrived today, along with a 100mm macro lens. I haven't had much time to fool with it yet, but it was in my hand when my dogs wanted to go outside, so one of them got the honor of "first shot" (snapshot, actually). Obviously, I need to spend some time learning the features, and the manual is a difficult read :asleep:, so I think I'll get the Forum e-book. Now if I can just figure out how to format the memory card :(
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
08-28-2018, 04:38 PM
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That looks great, but unfortunately they are not screwmount - mid 1990s bayonet mount for Contax camera, which I recently put a roll of film in for the first time in many years. I'm gonna use those lenses one way or another :D
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
08-25-2018, 10:44 AM
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Perhaps apprehension of the unfamiliar :) Sony A7Rii is $100 more than K-1 II, but comes with two batteries and 1 year of Creative Cloud (which saves me $120).
D850 is $1400 more. Closest Nikon to the K-1 is D810, but it's $800 more, has the same sensor and is an old model at over 4 years on the market. So you see why Sony makes sense :)
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