Donald, the following web page might help you to understand the effects of shadow and highlight settings on the k-30, and whether to apply them:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentax-k-30/13

Cheers.
Philip

Smeggy has consistently made well-reasoned comments in this thread, based on the available evidence, and his contributions deserve serious consideration.

If you are one of the great majority of Pentax enthusiasts, with normal eyesight, good sense and judgement, and a limited wallet, who produces prints no bigger than A2 (24 inch) and views them from a sensible distance, then it is worthwhile to seriously consider keeping (or upgrading to) the k-5, and to put any spare funds towards a good lens.

Unless someone comes up with some really convincing evidence, it is clear (except to those with ENCV) that there is so little to be gained in any further "small incremental" body upgrade. Far better to be patient and wait for Pentax to produce their next giant leap.

Cheers.
Philip

(ENCV = Emperor's New Clothes Vision)

In discussions of this topic, it can seem as though there is a (sometimes not so) hidden agenda - the attempt to influence others to believe that someone's photo morality rules for each branch of photography should be applied to everyone.

If a photograph is being produced for a particular purpose, e.g. for criminal evidence or for a specific competition, then it should be expected that the photographer will comply with the rules necessary for that purpose. If a photograph is for personal enjoyment, then how it was produced and whether rules were self-imposed should not be a moral concern of anyone else.

Photography is in essence an art form that uses tools and techniques to create a "painting with light". Freedom in creative art must be valued and defended, even though the method and product might be disapproved by some. It would simply be wrong to prescribe restrictions regarding the procedures of image capture and image processing used in making the work of art, other than those already present in the Law of the Land.

Cheers.
Philip

People tend to fall asleep when I show them my photos, so presumably mine are anaesthetic.

Philip

Damn it - I forgot all about the end of the world today. Did anyone capture any good photos of it?

Philip

John, in your K-5 menu do you set +1 for "sharpness", or "fine sharpness", or "extra sharpness"?

Thanks.
Philip

On ePHOTOzine - the Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG OS = 3 Stars; the Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro = 4 Stars. The Tamron is available new for under £130. Any comments from someone with practical experience of these lenses?

Philip

Smeggy summarises it well. How many people would normally view a full-size 100% image with their noses only a few inches away from it? And is the level of difference that some people might claim to see in normal viewing perhaps directly proportional to the extra funds used up in an unnecessary upgrade from the k-5?

Philip

The colours are still there, even in the little uploaded Jpeg file above.




So, from the original Raw file, it might be possible to restore them quite effectively.

Cheers.
Philip

As a relative novice, I enjoy perusing two monthly magazines - Digital SLR and Digital SLR Photography. The great majority of their editorial content is about images but, as they don't proselytise Raw on every page, presumably the "serious" photographers aren't interested.

Philip