Ian.Dobinson wrote:
I am loving the images in this thread.
what I dont get about the above picture is shouldn't that guys shirt cause all sorts of moir problems?
Its a shame that the SLR/c does not come up too often here in the UK.
The frequency of the shirt patterns probably doesn't exceed the resolution of the sensor, hence no moire problems. Or, the lower resolution of the image is hiding the problem
I got my SLR/n back from repair a few days ago (finally!). has new (old-school) plit-image/microprism collar focusing screen so I can more effectively focus the thing. Need to remember how to use the thing. My dog is being patient while i figure it all our again.
SLR/n, Zeiss ZF 35/2 at f4.0: http://www.boncratious.com/images/Stinky-July4-a.jpg
Help! I just received my SLR/c. I run into some problems. Please let me know if you think what I have received is a lemon.
1) There is strong green tint when there is a white or off white background. Is this due to the sensor dying, white balance or is this expected of moire?
2) The shutter counts states 8000 actuations. Is this the actual actuations or can be reset by firmware upgrades?
3) close focusing gives sharp image. However, shooting from far is blur regardless of manual or auto focus.
4) ISO 200 onwards is noisy. Seems like only ISO 160 is usable indoor.
5) red appears washed out.
I will bring the camera outdoor today to test. In the meanwhile, please let me know if your experience concur with mine so that I can have it returned immediately.
Very nice, pdm. And I love your hiking shots, Paul. And awesome dawg, Lotusm50. I love dogs.
ManWearPants, congrats on the Kodak. I don't really think you have a lemon, but I'll leave the questions for someone more experienced with the Kodak to answer.
Hello ManWearPants. A few thoughts on your questions:
1. It looks like a white balance issue. You may want to shoot RAW and use Photodesk in order to process your pictures.
2. You cannot reset the actuations even after the firmware is upgraded
3. You want to turn off the lens optimization for sure (in the menu). Also, these cameras demmand good lens, sorry, don't want to sound bad, just from my experience with the camera. Process the raw image and set the sharpness level as needed.
4. There's some noise setting in the menu and raw processing as I remember
5. Again, maybe lens optimization, setting, or processing. Color should be good on these Kodak camera.
I understand that you want to check out your camera so you can decide to keep it or not. Hope it works out for you.
I'd do some more systematic tests before concluding it's a lemon. Use a non ts-e lens and shoot a plain surface, like a brickwall or something. Then it will be easier to check if there really is a misalignment. As for color, the Kodak has the best color of any camera I've seen or used. I shoot raw and develop in Kodak DCS. Noise above iso160 I haven't tested, but it's not a D700.
I am not saying Kodak is no good, just that I have got a lemon. You guys carry on with the Kodak stuff. It's great. But after spending 1k and waiting for 1 month for it to arrive. I am truely disappointed. So I will probably stick to my 5D2. Just too bad my experience with Kodak SLR is a short and abrupt one.
I'll add that it's not a Nikon or Canon, the workflow and handling come with practice. However if the highest quality images are your goal, nothing short a MFDB will get you the quality of the Kodak's, period. It is an unforgiving beast at times, until you sort out issues like the lens optimization adjustment for each lens, you are using Photodesk, aren't you? If not download it from Kodak's website before it disappears, you may find all your issues suddenly go away. I do know that as good as ACR is on my other camera's, Photodesk is really needed for the Kodak's to get the best image from them.
<edit...> Thinking about this, there's two issues from what I can see, one is a focus/paralellism issue, though it would affect an entire side, not just a corner. The most likely culprit is the demands a non AA filtered sensor make on a lens. Do you have a fixed focal length, high quality lens available in the 50mm range?
I would first establish that the focus screen is consistent with the imaging chip, then verify (at all apertures from wide open to fully closed) that it's not a imager issue. Were the sensor failing, it wouldn't show up as softness, I'm pretty sure. I ran into a similar problem with my Hassy, when I first got a DB for it, nothing seemed sharp, it wasn't until I refined my focusing technique and started to get really attentive to details did the back really start to shine.
The second issue, and one that you haven't answered yet, is what raw processing are you using? the EXIF data is stripped so I can't tell, but using anything but Photodesk will cause you no end to grief with white balance issues, as well as color, sharpness and lack of DR issues. It really is that much better.
I appreciate all trying to help. A lemon is a lemon. I don't think a TS-E 24mm is a poor lens. I have no explaination as to why only the left bottom side of any image is soft. If it is a focusing issue, then the entire picture will be soft. In any case, I did not T/S/R the lens, I have other photos to show the same problem at f3.5, 5.6 and 8.0, near, midrange and far. The photos just look out of focus. I have also tried with 70-300 DO using both AF and MF mode, Minolta 58 and Leica Elmarit 90. What appears sharp in OVF will look soft when transferred to the PC.
Now the colour issue is secondary. I cannot even get a sharp photo. So I am definitely returning the camera. Maybe someone who knows how to tinker with the camera will have better luck with it.
Again, this is purely my bad luck. the photos posted here by others continues to wow me. This is an appreciation thread. I will not bore with my problems any further. Thanks again.
