Re: 3 DSLR Basic Questions

[Elgenper <elgenper@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

5 jan 2007 kl. 12.12 skrev Kostas Papakotas:

Greetings all, and may you have a happy & productive New Year.

 

With my first DSLR (K-10D) in my hands there is two issues solved before I start recording any significant images.

OK, try to get them solved, but do start shooting right away!  You may find (very likely) that these issues are a bit less important than you think now.

 

1. I will be using my older 135 format lenses, but I have discovered that my camera reads the focal length the lens gives and does not compensates.

 

So what functions are influenced by this in your DSLR?

 

In my case focal length is taken into account for the shake reduction function. And I am dreading the case that flash operation is affected accordingly (though Pentax does not have a D metering like Nikon does)

 

This is a big minus one for that manufacturers in general, since they could include the x1.5 feature in their APS sized lenses and DO NOT compensate for it. (In such a case when the camera does not receive such a signal it will by default assume and compensate for a 135 format lens)

Well, the actual focal length of the lens is the same whichever camera body it happens to be mounted on (and if it rests unmounted in a cupboard, for that matter...).  So my guess is that metering, shake reduction &c will work just fine.  The image that a lens projects on a surface is identical whether that surface is film or silicon.  The "x1.5 feature" just means that the size of the sensor chip is that much smaller than a 35 mm frame, so you´ll get a crop, not an 1.5x enlargement.

 

2. Should I shoot in adobe RGB or SRGB?

 

I know the aRGB range is greater, but both the internet and the digital minilabs work in sRGB. And even though I hate the color shift, I hate the need to correct for it MORE!

Yes, there is the need to convert web images to sRGB last thing, lest they look flat on most people´s monitors.  But that´s no reason to stay there from the beginning.  It´s crippling a good camera and workflow unnecessarily.

 

I guess taht shooting sRGB and then converting to aRGB will gain me nothing. Since color detail/tones will be lost when writting in sRGB.

In jpeg, that´s correct.  In RAW, see below.

 

Or does RAW format does not care of RGB profiles?

No, it doesn´t.  The RAW converter determines (ideally, lets you select) the colour space.

 

I can see me in the feature buying a high end A3 printer (currently I opted to have none) cos this way I will be totally free from all those junk professional printer shops here in Greece with their cheap nosy attitude. Modern printera DO print in aRGB don't they?

Good printers (and good labs) have a MUCH larger gamut than sRGB, in some cases even larger than AdobeRGB.  Also, they can use colour profiles tagged to the image files sent to them, so they will do the best job possible.  However, this is a complex subject.

 

3.  What about the DNG format? Unless I am mistaken PS 7.0 does not support it. I won't upgrade to CS but I am conseidered by the longevity of the PEF media. What about the case a feature PC is not compatible with the Pentax and general windows software?

If you´re worried about that, get the DNG converter from Adobe and convert your images and store them separately.  Storage is cheap, and this should give you an extra level of backup.

 

Thanks guys and gals, kostas

Per

Per Öfverbeck

http://ofverbeck.se

"In a world without walls or fences, who needs Windows or Gates?"