All Forum Comments
Comment by prsjnb posted on IV Mining Bees - your thoughts, please at 11/09/2022 - 15:32
GrumpyGrandPa wrote:
PRSJNB: Yes please, I would be interested in the full specs of your current machine.
ASUSTeK TUF Gaming X570-PRO (WI-FI), AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, 2 x 16 GB DDR4-3200, NVIDIA Quadro P2000 5 GB, WD Black SN850 500GB M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD (OS and programmes), Kingston KC2500 NVMe PCIe SSD -SKC2500M8/1000G M.2 2280 (documents and swap file; LR 5.0 cache file) and Seagate FireCuda 2TB Solid State Hybrid Drive Performance SSHD – 3.5 Inch SATA 6Gb/s (archiving and long term storage).PRSJNB: Yes please, I would be interested in the full specs of your current machine.
The Ryzen CPU is an upper-mid range unit. The Quadro P2000, purchased secondhand, is a professional GPU dating from 2017 which supports 10-bit colour displays. It has the advantage of being a single slot card which draws its power exclusively from the PCI-E socket. The nearest gaming equivalent of similar vintage is the NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1060 6 GB, however this is a dual-slot slot solution that requires additional power connectors as its power draw exceeds the maximum available from the PCI-E socket.
A typical 31 GB RAW from the K-3 Mark III takes 19 sec to process using the Deep Prime option with global sharpening and automatic lens correction selected with the GPU option enabled. Without the GPU option selected, processing takes 46 sec, during which time the CPU is running at 100%. Because of this, multi-tasking whilst the file is being processed in the background is not really a viable option. By contrast, CPU utilisation when the GPU option is selected rarely exceeds 5 - 10%, allowing other programmes to be used without issue.
If you do decide to go ahead with an upgrade, which from what I've read may no longer be the case, from the perspective of DxO Pure Raw it is better to invest more in the GPU than the CPU.
Looking at ebay this w/e revealed that suitably specced refurbished machines with a 1 year guarantee are available within your budget of £500.00.
Best wishes
Jon
Comment by prsjnb posted on Laptop specs - upgrade???? at 30/08/2022 - 15:03
PureRaw is, in my opinion, a superb programme. It is, however, one that places huge demands on one's hardware. This is particularly the case if you opt for the DeepPrime option which is heavily GPU dependant. This need not be an issue provided that one is happy to batch process one's files and then find something else productive/enjoyable to do for a couple of hours until the process is complete.
Based on my personal experience, to acheive a worthwhile and noticeable improvement you will need to upgrade to a multi-core (4 or more) CPU (Intel or AMD) released after 2018 running on a platform that supports at least low latency, PC3200 DDR4 memory, possesses a minimum of one NVME.M2 SSD slot and PCIe 4.0 chipset. Whilst many modern CPUs have decent inbuilt GPUs, to leverage fully the potential of the DeepPrime option without incurring a serious time penalty, you are going to need a separate and dedicated GPU. This need not be a particularly recent model nor one that requires additional power connectors. I have used PureRaw with GPUs built around AMD and NVIDIA chipsets without problem, although I understand that the software has been optimised for running with those from the latter.
Unless space and/or portability are priorities, I advise that you pursue the desktop option. With the budget you have specified you will be buying used or refurbished. There is a small potential saving to be had by transferring your existing Windows license to the 'new' machine.
With a system similar to that specified, each 30-35 MB RAW file will take in the region of 18 seconds to process using the DeepPrime option with all buttons checked. Comparing this with the time it currently takes for your current machine to process a typical RAW file should allow you to gauge whether or not the projected saving in time justifies the additional outlay.
Let me know if you would like the full spec of my current machine.
Based on my personal experience, to acheive a worthwhile and noticeable improvement you will need to upgrade to a multi-core (4 or more) CPU (Intel or AMD) released after 2018 running on a platform that supports at least low latency, PC3200 DDR4 memory, possesses a minimum of one NVME.M2 SSD slot and PCIe 4.0 chipset. Whilst many modern CPUs have decent inbuilt GPUs, to leverage fully the potential of the DeepPrime option without incurring a serious time penalty, you are going to need a separate and dedicated GPU. This need not be a particularly recent model nor one that requires additional power connectors. I have used PureRaw with GPUs built around AMD and NVIDIA chipsets without problem, although I understand that the software has been optimised for running with those from the latter.
Unless space and/or portability are priorities, I advise that you pursue the desktop option. With the budget you have specified you will be buying used or refurbished. There is a small potential saving to be had by transferring your existing Windows license to the 'new' machine.
With a system similar to that specified, each 30-35 MB RAW file will take in the region of 18 seconds to process using the DeepPrime option with all buttons checked. Comparing this with the time it currently takes for your current machine to process a typical RAW file should allow you to gauge whether or not the projected saving in time justifies the additional outlay.
Let me know if you would like the full spec of my current machine.
Comment by prsjnb posted on Laptop specs - upgrade???? at 26/08/2022 - 17:41
Comment by prsjnb posted on Used SMC Pentax-M 100mm F2.8 and SMC Pentax-D FA 100mm F2.8 Macro WR at York Camera Mart at 18/08/2022 - 20:09
Shutter count of 3372 and grading of 8/10.
Six month warranty
£999.00
link
On Pentax Forums the Tamron has an average rating of 8.8 (n = 77)
link
Six month warranty
£999.00
link
On Pentax Forums the Tamron has an average rating of 8.8 (n = 77)
link
Comment by prsjnb posted on K1 Mark 1 with Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 AF XR DI LD Macro SP Zoom at York Camera Mart at 18/08/2022 - 19:57
Reduced to £50.00 for both plus p&p.
prsjnb wrote:
Both items, taking into account their vintage, are in good/very good condition and, as far as I can ascertain, fully functional. Pricing (excluding p&p; items will be shipped in accordance with the buyer's wishes and at cost):
Body and lens (my preferred option and hence offered at a discount) - £65.00
Body only - £50.00
Lens only - £25.00
With regard to the ME Super, my description of 'fully functional' is based on inspection and testing of the camera's metering, shutter and wind-on actions. Should the buyer find the camera to be defective in actual use (i.e., when used with film), they will, on provision of the supportive evidence, have the option to negotiate a partial refund or, if preferred, receive a full refund excluding the original cost of p&p.
Please note that the lens cap, whilst remaining secure when attached, is missing one of the spring-loaded retaining clips, as is apparent from the uploaded images.
Note that offers for the camera and lens will take precedent over those for the individual items, irrespective of the order in which they are received.
I have checked prices (dealerships and 'fleabay') on line and pitched mine accordingly (comparatively low, in fact), but remain willing to negotiate within reason.
Thanks for looking
Jon
Both items, taking into account their vintage, are in good/very good condition and, as far as I can ascertain, fully functional. Pricing (excluding p&p; items will be shipped in accordance with the buyer's wishes and at cost):
Body and lens (my preferred option and hence offered at a discount) - £65.00
Body only - £50.00
Lens only - £25.00
With regard to the ME Super, my description of 'fully functional' is based on inspection and testing of the camera's metering, shutter and wind-on actions. Should the buyer find the camera to be defective in actual use (i.e., when used with film), they will, on provision of the supportive evidence, have the option to negotiate a partial refund or, if preferred, receive a full refund excluding the original cost of p&p.
Please note that the lens cap, whilst remaining secure when attached, is missing one of the spring-loaded retaining clips, as is apparent from the uploaded images.
Note that offers for the camera and lens will take precedent over those for the individual items, irrespective of the order in which they are received.
I have checked prices (dealerships and 'fleabay') on line and pitched mine accordingly (comparatively low, in fact), but remain willing to negotiate within reason.
Thanks for looking
Jon
Comment by prsjnb posted on Pentax ME Super and SMC Pentax-M 50mm f/1.7 - as a package or individually at 24/05/2022 - 14:01
Reduced to a tenner plus p&p. Any takers?
prsjnb wrote:
HAMA HTMC UV 390 Filter (49mm; Silver Edition): never used and, as far as I can ascertain, no longer available in the UK.
£15.00 including postage (RM First Class Signed For).
Hopeful hagglers welcome to message me
HAMA HTMC UV 390 Filter (49mm; Silver Edition): never used and, as far as I can ascertain, no longer available in the UK.
£15.00 including postage (RM First Class Signed For).
Hopeful hagglers welcome to message me
Comment by prsjnb posted on The Ultimate Accessory for DA Limited (Silver Edition) Lenses? at 24/05/2022 - 13:57
An increasingly rare sight in the UK and now on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's red list of globally threatened species (https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/pasqueflower; link)
These particular specimens were photographed on a sun-soaked, unimproved chalk grassland slope in Gloucestershire (Barnsley Warren; link), which is home to the largest known remaining population of these flowers in the Cotswolds.
Apart from cropping, all the images are unedited, straight from camera JPEGs (K-3iii except for the 'group shot', for which I used a K-3).
Flowers, however wild and rare, are not, I know, to everyone's taste, but I hope that I might be indulged in this specific instance
These particular specimens were photographed on a sun-soaked, unimproved chalk grassland slope in Gloucestershire (Barnsley Warren; link), which is home to the largest known remaining population of these flowers in the Cotswolds.
Apart from cropping, all the images are unedited, straight from camera JPEGs (K-3iii except for the 'group shot', for which I used a K-3).
Flowers, however wild and rare, are not, I know, to everyone's taste, but I hope that I might be indulged in this specific instance
Comment by prsjnb posted on Wild Purple Pasqueflowers at 21/04/2022 - 17:39
Super light and colours, Gareth. Also, kudos for spotting the potential for a great image. Not one that I would have seen, for sure
Comment by prsjnb posted on Yellow seating at 21/04/2022 - 17:10
Harrison Cameras in Sheffield. Long-standing, family business which used to be my favourite photography shop back in the 1980s when I had the good fortune to live, work and study in Steel City.
£85.00 including hood, caps and tripod mount. Fourteen days return and twelve months warranty.
link
Still capable of producing fine results, even on a K-3iii 🙃
£85.00 including hood, caps and tripod mount. Fourteen days return and twelve months warranty.
link
Still capable of producing fine results, even on a K-3iii 🙃
Comment by prsjnb posted on Tamron Adaptall 2 SP 500mm f/8 (55BB) plus PK mount at 21/04/2022 - 14:45
All images were shot handheld with an Irix 150mm Macro mounted on a K3iii (one using natural daylight and three with supplementary off-camera flash and DIY beauty dish).
Curious to know if they have appeal and which, if any, would rate as the 'stand out' shot and, ideally why.
Jon