K-x Different Noise Reduction Settings and Results

Update (1-22): All image files have been migrated to the Photobucket (as I do not use the sucking Yahoo Web Hosting "service" anymore), I hope it works this time! And, just to say sorry again for the inconvenience for being unable to view images these days..

Update (1-19): You can now download Crops from the original full sized images by clicking the following links. The Crops were made by IrfanViewer viewed in 100% and then saved as 100% Quality Jpegs, all EXIF preserved:-

ISO	800	1600	3200
NR Off	[Crop1] [Crop2] [Crop3]	[Crop1] [Crop2] [Crop3]	[Crop1] [Crop2] [Crop3]
NR Low	[Crop1] [Crop2] [Crop3]	[Crop1] [Crop2] [Crop3]	[Crop1] [Crop2] [Crop3]
NR Medium	[Crop1] [Crop2] [Crop3]	[Crop1] [Crop2] [Crop3]	[Crop1] [Crop2] [Crop3]
NR High	[Crop1] [Crop2] [Crop3]	[Crop1] [Crop2] [Crop3]	[Crop1] [Crop2] [Crop3]

Shooting Conditions:-

1. All shots was taken at the same time (almost) and place; Light source was diffused daylight indoor, Auto White Balance;

2. The camera was mounted on a sturdy tripod, shutter fired with an IR remote controller, SR turned off automatically as such;

3. Lens used is my early Japanese production FA 43/1.9 Limited (Effective Film Focal/AOV: 66.0 mm); Av Exposure Mode at f/5.6 (which should be the sharpest aperture for this lens), Evaluative Metering, +0.3EV Exposure Compensation;

4. Other Settings: AF-S with Central AF Point; Finest JPEG, "Portrait" Custom Image Mode with Default Factory Settings (i.e., All at Zeros and Using "Sharpness", Not "*Fine* Sharpness"), Shadow Compensation and DR Expansion Off (Factory Defaults), High ISO NR Medium (Factory Default).

My Observations and Conclusion

Of course, as I encouraged you folks to do the last several times, you can always measurbate and draw your own conclusion(s) and find out what you like by yourself!

Still, this time I would write something about what I have seen and think: NR at ISO 800 is useless, it'd be better to disable it and turn it Off, otherwise it just makes things worse! NR at ISO 1600 is useful but at the "Weak" position only, otherwise more image details and much texture are lost; Ditto for ISO 3200.

And, ISO 6400 and 12800? My recommendation is do not use them unless you must do so!

Previous Articles:-

K-x Sharpness Vs Fine Sharpness - Different Settings

My K-m Olive Vs K-x Navy (ISO Measurbation)

12(.3)M Vs 12(.8)M: APS-C K-x Vs FF 5D ISO Measurbation

K-x Sharpness Vs Fine Sharpness - Different Settings

Update (1-22): All image files have been migrated to the Photobucket (as I do not use the sucking Yahoo Web Hosting "service" anymore), I hope it works this time! And, just to say sorry again for the inconvenience for being unable to view images these days..

Update (1-20): You can now download Crops from the original full sized images by clicking the following links. The Crops were made by IrfanViewer viewed in 100% and then saved as 100% Quality Jpegs, all EXIF preserved:-

ISO	200	1600
Sharpness -2	[Crop1] [Crop2]	[Crop1] [Crop2]
Sharpness 0	[Crop1] [Crop2]	[Crop1] [Crop2]
Sharpness +2	[Crop1] [Crop2]	[Crop1] [Crop2]
Fine Sharpness -2	[Crop1] [Crop2]	[Crop1] [Crop2]
Fine Sharpness 0	[Crop1] [Crop2]	[Crop1] [Crop2]
Fine Sharpness +2	[Crop1] [Crop2]	[Crop1] [Crop2]

Shooting Conditions:-

1. All shots was taken at almost the same time and place; Light source was diffused daylight indoor, Auto White Balance;

2. The camera was mounted on a sturdy tripod, shutter fired with an IR remote controller, SR turned off automatically as such;

3. Lens used is my early Japanese production FA 43/1.9 Limited (Effective Film Focal/AOV: 66.0 mm); Av Exposure Mode at f/5.6 (which should be the sharpest aperture for this lens), Evaluative Metering, +0.3EV Exposure Compensation;

4. Other Settings: AF-S with Central AF Point; Finest JPEG, "Portrait" Custom Image Mode with Default Factory Settings at the Green Dots (the Only Variable is the Sharpness Setting), Shadow Compensation and DR Expansion Off (Factory Defaults), High ISO NR Medium (Factory Default).

How to measurbate?

Just go figure about differences (if any) on edges, textures, details, digital artifacts, noise or even colours and etc., at the camera's real base ISO of 200 and the contemporary typical high ISO of 1600. Well, I test, blog and post, you can decide!

My Observations and Conclusion?

I like Sharpness at Zero (0) myself, which has the best balance of sharpness, details, texture reproduction, and with less digital artifacts. On the other hand, Fine Sharpness does produce sharper details for very high spatial frequency parts of the image, but it promotes noise (especially at higher ISO) and would destroy some details for those moderate high frequency areas (note the purple part of bird in the "Crop2" images).

Well, what I would say the sharpening algorithm of the K-x is much improved over the K-m. With K-m, I would opt to use Fine Sharpness by default instead as "Sharpness" is not that good indeed. This maybe owing to a better sensor used anyway. After all, I am quite satisfied with the default Sharpness setting in the Portrait Custom Image mode (and with the "Bright" mode, I would tune down the Sharpness level a bit).


Read Also:-

K-7 FW 1.02: Sharpness Vs Fine Sharpness Vs Fine Sharpness 2

K-x Different Noise Reduction Settings and Results

My K-m Olive Vs K-x Navy (ISO Measurbation)

12(.3)M Vs 12(.8)M: APS-C K-x Vs FF 5D ISO Measurbation

My K-m Olive Vs K-x Navy (ISO Measurbation)

Well, it's also about CCD Vs CMOS and 10.2 Vs 12.4 MPs! ;-)

The shootout was carried out at almost the same time, for the same target at the same distance, with the same lighting condition (diffused daylight indoor) and using the same lens. The cameras were mounted on a sturdy tripod, shutter fired with an IR remote controller.

Both cameras were set to use the Exactly the "Same" available Pentax Settings; Lens used is my early Japanese production FA 43/1.9 Limited (Effective Film Focal/AOV: 66.0 mm); Av Exposure Mode at f/5.6 (should be the sharpest aperture for this lens); Single AF Mode Focusing on the Centre; Finest JPEG, "Bright" Custom Image Mode, Default Factory Settings at the Green Dots, Factory Default "Sharpness" (Not "Fine Sharpness"), Auto White Balance, Evaluative Metering, No Exposure Compensation, SR Off (as Remote Controller was Used), Shadow Compensation and DR Expansion Off, High ISO NR Starting from ISO 800 and Up at Medium (Factory Default) for the K-x and "Weak" (actually also the Middle Setting) was Selected for the K-m;

(Well, I think this test is much meaningful enough for setting up the cameras like that! No more "Apple to Orange" argument?! ;-D)

Last but not least, and of course, full EXIF data are preserved:-

ISO	K-m	K-x
100
200
400
800
1600
3200
6400	Not Available
12800	Not Available

Remarks:-
1. Click on any of the Thumbnails will download Large Files in size near 12MPs each;
2. If you still want to view original un-retouched full sized sample, see them here (under the "download" option, select "high res image").

Yet once again, as usual, Happy and Endless Measurbation!


Read Also:-

12(.3)M Vs 12(.8)M: APS-C K-x Vs FF 5D ISO Measurbation

K-x Vs K-m (K2000) ISO Measurbation (by Other)

My K-m Review, Tips and Tricks

My New K-x Navy

Actually I have already finished testing the K-x (as loaned from Fred) and a full review is in progress. At the same time, I have ordered a "099" K-x (Silver Body + Brown Grip) from the Mapcamera at the Japanese Rakuten (which is to be then forwarded by the Tenso), as overall I really like the K-x (although it does / Pentax do still have its/their problems). However, since existing stock of the 099 at the Mapcamera has just run out and that they later on do not accept credit card payment against what I have been successfully selected and confirmed when I placed the order online (which resulted in two more weeks for waiting the new stock as well as more complicated payment procedures plus some cost increase), I simply chose to cancel that order when I have seen a "standard" Navy Blue K-x (#091) today in Hong Kong a few hours ago of which the stock is of new arrival, which is cheaper and also looks nice (the styles of the 099 and 091 are somehow different anyway) and I can yet enjoy the local (Hong Kong & China) warranty.


p.s. I have intentionally mismatched my two DAL lenses on the two bodies! ;-D

An Energizer NiMH rechargeable battery kit is also bundled (4 x 2450 mAh, retained 70% of charge after 6 months, with an "Auto" charger). It has the official Pentax and K-x label on the packing:-



Well, the next thing I will do is to test my own K-x and will complete my full K-x review duely. I may add in more comments and information as such.

I shall also write a more detailed article/guide for briefing how customised colour K-x can be ordered directly online from Japan locally and then forwarded to your home via International shipping and dispatch service! (Just in case you don't like "standard" items but just want to get one of the other 100 coloured K-x!)

Previous Stories:-

Colour Ranking of the 100 K-xes

The K-7 Failed My Test, So I've Bought This One!

K-m Olive Colour Matching

DA 15 Vs DA 12-24: Who Wins?

Here is a shootout test by a DPR Pentax user, full size comparison shots and crops are posted:-

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=34097456
(Full Size Samples - Warning: Very Large Files to Download)

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=34098453
(Crops)

Well, the differences are obvious and I agree with the observations of and conclusions as drawn up by the poster. Of course, you can ignore all those and just view, inspect and judge yourself, first.

Happy (or maybe unhappy anyway) measurbating! ;-x

12(.3)M Vs 12(.8)M: APS-C K-x Vs FF 5D ISO Measurbation

First of all, I would like to say HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of YOU who read here!

As a New Year Gift, I have this measurbation shootout, with all full sized original samples directly out of the cameras posted, as below!

The shootout was carried out at almost the same time, for the same target at the same distance, with (almost) the same lighting condition (diffused daylight indoor). The cameras were mounted on a sturdy tripod, shutter fired with IR remote controller (for K-x) or cable switch (for 5D). Other key essential shooting information as follows. And of course, full EXIF data preserved:

- Pentax K-x with FA 31/1.8 Limited (Effective Film Focal/AOV: 47.6mm), Av Exposure Mode at f/8, Single AF Mode Focusing on the Centre, Finest JPEG, "Bright" Custom Image Mode, Default Settings 0, 0, 0, 1, 1 for Saturation, Hue, High/Low Key Adj, Contrast and *Fine* Sharpness, Auto White Balance, Evaluative Metering, Exposure Compensation +0.5EV, High ISO NR Starting from ISO 800 and Up at Medium (Factory Default), SR Off;

- Canon 5D with EF 50/1.8II, Av Exposure Mode at f/8, Single AF Mode Focusing on the Centre, Finest JPEG, "Portrait Snapshot" Picture Style, Default Settings 3, 0, 0, 0 for Sharpness, Contrast, Saturation and Hue, Auto White Balance, Evaluative Metering, No Exposure Compensation;

Do note that it's my sole intention to keep the colour response, exposure and sharpening etc. as close as possible for the two cameras, so that a more useful and meaningful shootout and comparisons can be achieved.

ISO	K-x	5D
50	Not Available
100
200
400
800
1600
3200
6400		Not Available
12800		Not Available

Remarks:-
1. Click on any of the Thumbnails will download Large Files in size near 12MPs each;
2. If you still want to view original un-retouched full sized sample, see them here (under the "download" option, select "high res image").

Well, I don't comment anything this time on all the IQ performance, exposure accuarcy and focusing accuracy etc. YOU are the one who measurbate, observe, compare and re-measurbate again, inspect and make up your own conclusions this time! (could be endlessly until the end of the days, forever! ;-D)

P.S. and Acknowledgement: My Special Thanks to Fred, who is a regular reader here, for kindly lending me his K-x with his FA 31 Limited (Vietnam made version), for doing this test. And, a Full Review with Tips and Tricks (and my Recommended Best Settings) for the K-x will follow, at a later stage.

Read Also:-

K-m Olive Vs 5D Pixel Peeping

K-7 Vs 5D Pixel Peeping

K-x Vs K-m ISO Measurbation

My K-m Review, Tips and Tricks