My 'new' FZ50 first three images: RAW + 2 JPG

Thanks DM - I'll take a look at that package. Stuart

Fine set, Stuart.. well composed, sharp and very clear images, love all the detail (flower - ).. to my liking the lily pond looks with each new posting better and better .. excellent work.

Thanks for sharing,
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Bruno

Been watching on the sideline of the saga unfold with your new purchase.....looks like it is more than worth it Stuart - cracking set of pictures - glad you got a good result......Take care......Suttzzs.

Thanks Bruno. Yes, I too was surprised when I saw the lily pond image. Not sure I want to try shots in the rain that is now pouring from the grey sky Stuart

Thanks Suttzzs. Yes, a moment of disappointment, then another as I realised my own stupid error Still, all's well that ends well Stuart

Very nice set, stuart. The colors in No.1 are outstanding. I am always impressed when I look back at the images that I have taken with my old FZ30. I am sure you will really enjoy the FZ50. Some of the older FZs are hard to beat.
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geeno
http://genet.smugmug.com/

Thanks gene. If images continue like those first three I'll be very happy indeed. Stuart

Very nice, especially first two. I have never tried RAW with the FZ-50. All in all, the FZ-50 is a pretty darned good "compromise". Best regards, Charles Baxter

Thanks Charles. Although I've tinkered with RAW and Silkypix in the past (FZ100 & LX5) I don't think it is necessary most of the time for the LX5, which usefully supports saving both JPG and RAW versions. However, with the FZ50 it is one or the other, so the user is committed if RAW is selected. As the FZ50 JPG processing degrades IQ when moving up from ISO100, I tried the Silkypix issued with the FZ50. I found it somewhat simpler than later versions of Silkypix and easy to use for basic adjustments. As ever, the hurdle is spotting the Development function is the one used to save as a JPG. Obvious it isn't.
Best Regards - Stuart

That looks like a fine tool you got there Stuart, with superb optics. Hope to see more when the lillies bloom. Quiet a special place and beatiful captured!

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maarten

windmillgolfer said:

Thanks Charles. Although I've tinkered with RAW and Silkypix in the past (FZ100 & LX5) I don't think it is necessary most of the time for the LX5, which usefully supports saving both JPG and RAW versions. However, with the FZ50 it is one or the other, so the user is committed if RAW is selected. As the FZ50 JPG processing degrades IQ when moving up from ISO100, I tried the Silkypix issued with the FZ50. I found it somewhat simpler than later versions of Silkypix and easy to use for basic adjustments. As ever, the hurdle is spotting the Development function is the one used to save as a JPG. Obvious it isn't.
Best Regards - Stuart

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Hi Stuart,

If I've understood your post correctly it seems that you are under the impression that with the FZ50 you have to choose between JPEG and RAW. That however is not completely true. The Choice is between Fine Quality (Low compression) JPEG and RAW plus Standard Quality (High compression)JPEG. See Page 88 of the FZ50 Operating Instructions.

Although I normally use the Fine Quality JPEG setting I have taken several sets of test shots to allow me to compare the quality of the images shot in each mode.

I may be mistaken but I have a recollection that John Miles, our resident FZ50 enthusiast, uses Standard Quality JPEGS for most of his shots and is happy with the quality obtained. Perhaps if John is following this thread he will confirm my recollection or let me know that I'm mistaken.

Jimmy
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J C Brown

Jimmy, thanks for the input. I guess the high compression was of value in the days when 2GB was a large card. Nowadays 8gb cards are fat and cheap. So, I'd never use high compression and it'll be RAW or Fine JPG. The RAW processing with the Silkypix was so simple I may well stick with RAW until I'm more confident about the JPG IQ above ISO100. Stuart

Thanks Maarten. Stuart

I think you will like it on overcast day too stuart, I dont think there is a camera made that can reproduce what our eyes see in bright sunlight though they get close. cheers.

windmillgolfer said:

Jimmy, thanks for the input. I guess the high compression was of value in the days when 2GB was a large card. Nowadays 8gb cards are fat and cheap. So, I'd never use high compression and it'll be RAW or Fine JPG. The RAW processing with the Silkypix was so simple I may well stick with RAW until I'm more confident about the JPG IQ above ISO100. Stuart

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Hi Stuart,

I'm sorry to say that I must have suffered a 'senior moment' in submitting my last post. I should have realised that having already shot some RAW images you would already be well aware that they are always accompanied by Standard Quality JPEGs.

Having been used to working with 50 and 100 ISO colour slide film for 40 years prior to making the switch to digital I've been happy to accept the quality of OOC JPEGs from my FZ20 which didn't have a RAW option and from the FZ50 which I bought to replace it.

I almost always shoot 10 MP full frame images at 100 ISO and like you use an 8GB SD card which in my experience is more than adequate for storing Fine Quality 10MB JPEGs and/or RAW images.

Having retired from a career in engineering R&D I am always reluctant to discard any data which may be of value so I suppose I should ideally always use RAW. However due to all my other interests and commitments and being content with the quality of my Fine Quality JPEGs I've found that investing the time required to acquire sufficient skill to make a serious attempt at processing RAW images is a low priority for me.

Jimmy
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J C Brown

windmillgolfer said:

Jimmy, thanks for the input. I guess the high compression was of value in the days when 2GB was a large card. Nowadays 8gb cards are fat and cheap. So, I'd never use high compression and it'll be RAW or Fine JPG. The RAW processing with the Silkypix was so simple I may well stick with RAW until I'm more confident about the JPG IQ above ISO100. Stuart

Click to expand...

(IMO), due to the dicey nature of the Venus III in-camera JPG-engine processing (detail-smearing followed by over-sharpening), ISO=200 is not recommended for JPGs of any subject-matter of interest which includes high spatial-frequency (finely-detailed) elements (i.e., hair, fur, foliage. etc.)

On the other hand FZ50 RAW-format can and does provide adequate recorded quality (once RAW processed) - as long as one takes care to maximize the Luminous Exposure (which is itself a function of incoming light-levels, F-Number, and Shutter Speed only, and is essentially independent of ISO Gain except for where it comes to Read Noise in the very darkest of shadow-areas only). The lower the values of the F-Number and Shutter Speed, the higher Luminous Exposure will be.

In order to be able successfully maximize the Luminous Exposure in moderate to low light-level environments, a mono-pod is a portable and handy tool to use for the purpose of allowing one to set the Shutter Speed to lower values than would be practicable when shooting hand-held, while at the same time being able to use F-Numbers that are sufficiently high to achieve adequate DOF.

Here are a couple of favorite FZ50 RAWs (recorded at ISO=100 and ISO=200, respectively) where a mono-pod was used in order to allow the use of low Shutter Speeds, processed using RT 4.x :

Hello Stuart - I always enjoy seeing quality photos taken with the FZ50 and these are no exception. The FZ50 is still my first choice. I will usually shoot in High Quality JPEG in bright light and then use RAW + JPEG when overcast or in heavy shadows. Your flower shot is fantastic, as is the pond. Ready to see more.
Clancyboy

Thanks John. There's plenty of opportunity to try the FZ50 with an overcast sky - that'll be today then Stuart

Thanks again DM. As it happens, I have a walking-pole monopod, which I often take out because it is so light; unlike the Culman monopod I've had for years that is very sturdy and heavy so rarely used.

I downloaded RAW Therapee 4.0.8 (?) last evening. So, all set for a little experimentation today.
Regards - Stuart

Thanks Clancyboy. Both you and JC seem to imply that when set to RAW then both RAW ad HC JPEG are recorded (maybe you just take two shots switching between RAW and JPEG, not sure\0. It isn't shown like that in the menu, nor do I see it in the manual. It is an option on my LX5 and I sometimes use it, then ditch the RAW if the JPEG is good. Anyway, I'll test it on the FZ50 . Stuart.