K-5 HDR function

I notice in the K5 spec that it lists "HDR image capture". I think the K-x also has this.

Does anybody have any experience of using this? Does it work and are the results credible?

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No matter how many lenses I have owned - I have always needed just one more

My experience of the Kx "HDR" mode is that you can get just as much information by shooting a single RAW shot and lifting the dark areas in Lightroom 3. Unless you shoot on a tripod it ends-up blurry as well.

The K5 may be better, I think it might line the shots up as well so you can shoot hand-held (but I may be wrong). However if the dynamic range is as good as rumoured, again you shouldn't need to use in-camera trickery...

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Still shooting in the dark (literally and metaphorically)...

The Lightroom fill light parameter is god.

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[i]Bodies: 1x K-5IIs, 2x K-5, Sony TX-5, Nokia 808
Lenses: Pentax DA 10-17mm ED(IF) Fish Eye, Pentax DA 14mm f/2.8, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8, Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8, Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.2, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8, Sigma 135-400mm APO DG, and more ..
Flash: AF-540FGZ, Vivitar 283

There is an HDR function on the K-7 which I have used once or twice... It takes three shots at three exposures (presumably for highlights, shadows and midtones) and then merges them in camera to produce an HDR image. The 'strength' of the HDR effect has 2 or 3 settings which can also be set in camera. Needs a tripod really. I will confess that I haven't used it much - hardly at all - so can't really say how 'good' the function is as have never really stress tested it. I read on a K-5 preview on the web that, relative to the K-7, the K-5's HDR capture function is apparently 'improved', although the nature of the improvement wasn't specified.

Having said all that, maybe I'll dust off the tripod this weekend and try some in-camera HDRs...

Regards

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Mat W

My Flickr: link

The K-5 auto-aligns the shots, making in camera HDRs much more viable. It was pretty dumb omitting this feature from the K-7 and K-x.

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[link=https://500px.com/will_brealey/[/link]

Ah - now to my mind that would be a significant improvement! Wonder if I can beg/borrow/steal enough for a K-5...

Regards

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Mat W

My Flickr: link

Much cheaper to download one of the free HDR programs!

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[link=https://500px.com/will_brealey/[/link]

I'm starting to get interested in this HDR feature. I'm not keen on overblown HDR as it can make a pic look sickly and far too dishonest. But used simply for exposure control on different parts of the pic I think it could be real cool.

I do a lot of night shots in the street where I place the camera on a solid surface and do long exposures. often lit shop windows are blown out and I've taken a second shot and cut and pasted the properly exposed sections over the blown out sections. a tedious job. Be nice to take 3 shots and have it all done before it leaves the camera

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[i]Bodies: 1x K-5IIs, 2x K-5, Sony TX-5, Nokia 808
Lenses: Pentax DA 10-17mm ED(IF) Fish Eye, Pentax DA 14mm f/2.8, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8, Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8, Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.2, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8, Sigma 135-400mm APO DG, and more ..
Flash: AF-540FGZ, Vivitar 283

My view exactly Smeggy. That's more or less why I am interested too. I hate overblown HDR shots - and really do not get any pleasure from spending a long time post processing shots - much prefer 'good enough' straight out of camera or just a very quick correction job. I too like taking night or low light shots and very often find myself wanting to take shots in very mixed light circumstances.

Carl

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No matter how many lenses I have owned - I have always needed just one more

If the HDR is like the one implemented in the K-7 it might leave you wanting more. I've not been happy with it out of the camera but I may be expecting too much ( and I'm prejudiced against it anyway)

I would suggest just going for a 3 spread bracket and HDRing them if they don't produce.

HDR can only be suitable for a predetermined shot as without a tripod it is pointless. You can't have stuff moving about. (including leaves, so no windy days either, no water either). If you have to wait for three shutter slaps then its probably 1/2s.

I might(probably) be wrong and there are some fab HDR shots out there, but I think if you pixel peep them there will be issues.

The K-7 only does HDR in Jpeg mode. Once processed you can't undo and get a clean exposure. Sooo. no RAW and once HDR, no going back. So if you have the three brackets, you can at least return to base and create the HDR monster in your lab. But if its a pile!!! you may have a decent clean image still usable.

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Lurking is shirking.!