The quality *is* better in RAW format on the *ist DS than in the highest
quality JPG format. And it *is* a PITA, I'm afraid. Being a Linux user
myself, that makes it double-hard - I can't use the software Pentax
supplied with my camera.
I downloaded 'dcraw' which is a batch command-line converter, it seems
to work well. This is also available for free in MS-DOS format in
various places on the web - it is free software.
Also, for those into Perl programming...you can download 'exiftool' from
the cpan.org archive. This is a stand-alone perl program that extracts
all the lovely EXIF header info from Pentax RAW files - you can save
them to text files, embed them in converted tif or jpg files, etc.
One last thing - this I am not sure anybody else knows yet. The Pentax
PEF (RAW) format file DOES contain an embedded JPG file. exiftool has a
switch to extract CANON embedded jpg files from their raw format - it
works for PEF files too. I've read a few reviews of the *ist DS that
bemoan the fact that you can't select through the menu a way to save
each shot as both PEF and JPG - well, it does it, it just doesn't tell
you about it. I don't know if any tool other than exiftool can extract
it, though.
I tested some M42 lenses today with my Franken-Pentax *ist DS. Here's
the wide-open shots (playing wth bokeh):
http://www.cameramentor.com/images/m42_50mm_primes/
Best,
Wiggy
Kenneth Waller wrote:
The quality is simply better.
Interesting comment.
Kenneth Waller
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jens Bladt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: RE: First *ist Ds shots
Congrats, Bob.
You realy should try out shooting RAW.
I do it all the time now. The quality is simply better.
I am a D-user, so the time it takes to write the images on to the card is
a
PITA. I guess the DS works faster.
The PEF (RAW) files can be handled by various kinds of software. My rather
cheap image database software; ACDC can open them and save them as JPEGs
or
what ever. However, to make the best of RAW files, you might wnat to get a
proper RAW converter that does batch conversion - like Phase One (LE),
which
is not too expensive and very good (the best I believ - next to Phase One
SE, of course.
Jens Bladt
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://hjem.get2net.dk/bladt
-----Oprindelig meddelelse-----
Fra: Bob Sullivan [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sendt: 12. juni 2005 17:28
Til: pentax-discuss@pdml.net
Emne: First *ist Ds shots
I went to the Arboretum at 7 AM this morning.
Put the A400/5.6 on the camera.
Cranked the ASA up to 800 as it was a bit overcast.
Was quickly rewarded with this...(warning, big for dial-up readers)
http://members.aol.com/rfsindg/Deer41.jpg
This is out of the camera and simply resized to 25% in PSP.
Also captured this trio...
http://members.aol.com/rfsindg/Feeding1.jpg
http://members.aol.com/rfsindg/Feeding2.jpg
http://members.aol.com/rfsindg/Feeding3.jpg
All three are as they came out of the camera.
The first two are cropped and resized to 40% in PSP.
The last is just cropped without resizing, ie. the pixels as they came.
The 1st shot is the best, but I included the 3rd one just to show the
full size image.
I'm still a bit puzzled about sharpening these images as my habit is
to sharpen the web image a bit to better match the slide image...but
no slide image here!
I haven't shot anything in RAW yet. Don't I need something like
Photoshop or Photoshop Elements to handle the 12 bit color?
Critique, comments and suggestions solicited.
Regards, Bob S.
