K10D sharpness still raging (will it ever be put to bed)

I was initially quite concerned about the 'softness' of images I was getting with my k10, and this was in raw as i don't bother with jpeg.

After fiddling about with settings and learning to use the camera, I now have in camera IQ to default settings (no boost to sharpening, colour or contrast), and using raw DNG.

I have learned more about apertures and tend to use the green button set to MSE to give me an idea of what size hole to use, then adjust from there depending on what DoF I want.

Previously I was using mostly extreme setting, wide open or tight shut. Now I'm mostly using F8 - F11.

I'm now much happier with the original images, after a tweak to sharpness in LR I'm proud enough to display my pics here for people to comment on.

I just tried a quick pics of a Siemens Star with the K10D

All edges as straight and defined as the original even without sharpening.

What's more concerning that because the star is B&W and therefore chromatic aberration is more pronounced.

IMHO we should worry as much about getting that right than how sharp or not the images are.

Surely a good picture is one where everyting is right not just sharpness

Do the SD cards not have C1LE too?

Dan

Hi All
My test results are in Pentax K10D V Canon 400

I am going to post a new thread Based On what I have seen and testing 4 lenses shooting jpegs.

1. Kit lens Pentax 18-55 v canon kit 18-55

2. £79 Old Penatx 55mm F 1:1.7 againts Canon 85mm f 1.6 £250 lens

My Sandisk III 2Gb SD card has C1LE on it

Andy

but does that mean that those who make the most sound are just empty vessels?

Graham

Perhaps more time spent fully understanding the capabilities of the camera and less time submitting endless posts might be beneficial !

I kind of like to take pictures with my camera...

If anybody is still worried about sharpening just read Bruce Fraser's book Image Sharpening with Adobe Photoshop CS2

ISBN 0-321-44991-6

I'm not one for books but I can't put it down as it answers all these posts within it. It is (putting it bluntly) Bl**dy FANTASTIC

Even if you don't have CS its a must as many of the tricks and tips can be transfered to other software. Plus it will tell you why some cameras oversharpen and why sharpening looks different on different monitors

MUST promise myself
1. Never sharpen an image in a raw editor again
2. Never sharpen the entire image except for the very final print output

Buy it borrow it but READ IT

Rodger,
Your aversion to RAW software sharpening isn't entirely justified. Not all are the same - a few are very good

Bruce himself proposed the three stage sharpening (which I happen to use). But, as he says you have to be cautious!
http://www.creativepro.com/story/feature/20357.html

And yes, it requires caution, and skill (which, incidentally takes time and practice to acquire!!).
(FWIW, I've also been using the Fixerlabs FocusFixer as a first stage sharpen and it produces good results, but visibly equal to Silkypix's sharpening when used properly )

Thanks for the heads up on the book though - might take a read

Matt

PS: There's also www.thelightsrightstudio.com which has sharpening stuff - not for wimps or newbies though

"That's me!, That's me!" I say, suddenly realizing my cue...

Can you suggest a good book or online tutorial for us wimps and newbies ?

I don't even know the right questions to ask - I downloaded GIMP the other day - thought I'd take a look at a free one before laying out the $ for PS... I'm a computer programmer by trade, but have never done any graphics, just business stuff - so this is entirely new to me...

Jamie

Jamie,
There's also www.gimpshop.net (more Photoshop like version of Gimp).
There's a few layer tutorials and the like on my website (and some I wrote linked to the ePhotozine website - a fine place to start)

Matt

I only use LightRoom for my photo's. I've tried leaving sharpening to last, first, in-between, doesn't matter. I'm pleased with the results.

LR is not the best at sharpening (apparently, I've not tried anything else), but for me the results are great. And if I don't like it, I've done no damage to the original.

I have an exhibition of Limited Edition images at Lumas Galleries in New York, Germany and worldwide over the internet. They just contacted me. They wish to expose four of my images from the "Divine Inspiration" series shot with the Pentax K10D that will be blown up, as usual to 1.20 x.0.80 meters. They are 171 mega per image. Now if that is not a thumbs up for the K10D and it's quality, I don't know what!

Ben

http://www.lumas.com/?id=719&artist=616&motiv=1617