Comparing the DPxM series with the Pentax K-70

It was bothering me that my comparison between the SD1M and K-70 was inconsistant (and I suspected focus issues were the cause), so I repeated the test, this time using the DP1M, DP2M, and DP3M for the Merrill images. I shot all the comparison images within a few seconds of each other, e.g. K-70@17 mm and then immediately the DP1M, and so on. All the Pentax images were shot in pixel-shift mode. All images were f/8 iso 200.

For each image, I adjusted the exposure and color-corrected on the white chair. I used the default sharpening on the Merrills, then, because I've read here that the default is oversharpened somewhat, I sharpened the Pentax 0.3 radius @100 (starting from the standard sharpening turned off). Pentax also has a 'super-fine' mode which is heavily oversharpened; I didn't use that. Not quite sure yet what that actually does.

The re-assuring thing about this series of comparisons is that, in all cases, the DP cameras gave as good or better images than the Pentax (if you like the high micro-contrast of the DPs). The only inferiority in the Merrill images that I saw were that there are some flowers in front of the red towel, and for one of those flowers, the stem has disappeared into the red (I guess from heavy NR)

Anyway, you can judge for yourself:

DP3M vs K-70 @ 48 mm

DP3M vs K-70 @ 48 mm, 100% crop

DP3M vs K-70 400% crop

DP2M vs K-70 @31 mm

DP2M vs K-70 @31 mm 100% crop

DP2M vs K-70 @ 31 mm 400% crop

DP1M vs K-70 @ 17 mm 100% crop

DP1M vs K-70 @ 17 mm 400% crop

David