Nice illustration, Moose.
Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA
----- Original Message -----
From: "Moose" <olymoose@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "Olympus Camera Discussion" <olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2012 5:42 PM
Subject: [OM] Lens/partial system/full system testing
> On 2/6/2012 10:35 AM, Ken Norton wrote:
>> If a lens happens to be technically better than another, but the rest of
>> the system interferes then is it actually better?
>
> Interesting turn that thread was taking, while I was doing some
> lens/system stuff myself, although the direction is
> different. :-)
>
> I've been learning about the S100 and the files it produces as I process
> shots. Although I bought the camera in part for
> better IQ at higher ISOs, one thing that has impressed me is the IQ at
> base ISO, 80. This is an entirely new sensor,
> CMOS, as opposed to the CCD sensors in the prior S and G series cameras.
>
> Here's an image with a little of everything, wide DR from direct sun and
> deep shadows and lots of fine detail of various
> types center and edge.
> <http://www.moosemystic.net/Gallery/tech/S100_ISO80/IMG_0179.htm>
>
> 1. Full frame, RAW, ACR conversion.
> 2. 100% samples of parts of the image.
> 3. Neat Image applied. It's quite difficult to see the difference, but
> it's there.
> 4. Shadow/Highlight Tool applied only to lower right, revealing only
> subtly noisy detail from very deep shadows.
> 5. Focus Magic, out of focus correction, radius 2 pixels.
> 6. LCE & Curves.
> 7. FF, after.
>
> Although the G11/12/S90/95 sensor is certainly not particularly noisy at
> 80, there is definitely noise there in the
> shadows of RAW conversions. This noise sets a floor for dynamic range. One
> can't go too far with exposing to the right
> if one wants to be able to hold detail in the shadows. As they are brought
> up in post, they bring noise with them.
>
> Also, processing like deconvolution, sharpening, LCE, etc. can make noise
> in brighter areas that was initially not
> visible start to become a factor. This puts a practical limit on what can
> be done to shadows and low midtones.
>
> The S100 lowers the shadow noise and changes it. It's possible in Neat
> Image to really knock down even the subtle noise
> that's there. It makes no practical difference until doing other
> processing; most folks probably can't even see the
> difference at 100%. But when deconvolution is applied, shadows are lifted
> and LCE applied, no odd, grotty looking
> noise-ish stuff shows up. I'd say it adds at least a stop of practical DR,
> maybe more.
>
> The other thing about S100 files is that they seem to naturally lend
> themselves to deconvolution without revealing all
> sorts of artifacts - they just get sharper! The result of these factors
> together is an amazingly better IQ. You'd almost
> think the lens and sensor were designed for such processing.
>
> After post, these files look more like those from a small sensor DSLR of a
> generation or two ago than a compact camera
> the size of a pack of cards!
>
> So how does one evaluate the S100's lens? It's quite adequate for web
> images and prints up to 8x10, although even at
> 8x10, I'll bet post processed versions would look better. But this is a
> tiny camera from which one could make quite
> large prints.
>
> What if shadow NR and overall deconvolution customized for the lens, focal
> length, aperture and focal distance were
> built in?
>
> Next - I just peeked at an image with huge DR and some twigs against sun
> and sky in Canon's Raw converter. Toggling the
> lens correction adjustments, I see that Canon is doing some very
> interesting things that I don't think I can duplicate
> in anything else. Looks like it can send the image directly to PS, as ACR
> does. Hmmmm
>
> De' Convolutin' Moose
>
> --
> What if the Hokey Pokey *IS* what it's all about?
> --
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