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A2 pictures out of the box

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oscar59

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Here are a few A2 pictures (these are intended to show the capabilities of the camera and definitely not the composing ability of the photographer!)

All use default settings and have deliberately received no post processing to give an idea of what the camera is capable of. All are 8MP using the fine setting and using ISO 64. All were taken within 1-2 days of receiving the camera. I'm very, very pleased with the camera but it seems to my very untrained eye that the pictures are a little softer than I expected. I've since turned on in-camera sharpening to high and that definitely helps but compared with the Canon G2 I used before they don't seem quite as razor sharp. Would appreciate any feedback as to whether these look like typical A2 pictures or whether there's a camera issue (or I'm doing something wrong). Thanks.





 
You should be getting sharper results; however, compression of images always takes away some sharpness. The A2 (as the A1) do not necessarily provide chocolate box colours like the Canon does, so sometimes the images are disappointing, but they are closer to what the scene showed. That said, the A2 produces better colour (I've now found) than my A1 used to.

To make sure everything is OK, what I'd suggest you do is set your camera for RAW and enable flex focus (hold down the centre button on the four way switch until a cross appears in the view finder). Also set you camera sharpness to normal. Take similar shots and compare the results in DIVU.

When the image first opens up in DIVU, you can increase contrast a notch if you want, which can improve sharpness depending on the type of subject. Open up the image and see how things look. You can then convert to JPG. If you reduce a JPG image size, then you really need to apply unsharp mask (USM), to recover sharpness.

Cheers

Ray
oscar59 said:
Here are a few A2 pictures (these are intended to show the
capabilities of the camera and definitely not the composing ability
of the photographer!)

All use default settings and have deliberately received no post
processing to give an idea of what the camera is capable of. All
are 8MP using the fine setting and using ISO 64. All were taken
within 1-2 days of receiving the camera. I'm very, very pleased
with the camera but it seems to my very untrained eye that the
pictures are a little softer than I expected. I've since turned on
in-camera sharpening to high and that definitely helps but compared
with the Canon G2 I used before they don't seem quite as razor
sharp. Would appreciate any feedback as to whether these look
like typical A2 pictures or whether there's a camera issue (or I'm
doing something wrong). Thanks.
Click to expand...
--

There are no limitations, only challenges - me (unless someone else said it first).

http://www.rkp.com.au/PhotoGallery/
 
Interesting first post, and followups. The original poster offered untouched images "to show what the camera is capable of." Of course, this means nothing since it's what the final image looks like, after processing that really indicates what the camera and photographer is capable of!

The followup posts both alluded to some amount of post processing--interesting. And remember, anything you do in the MRW converter stage is post-processing, which makes you realize any distinction between "totally untouched" and "fully processed" is purely arbitrary.

Capture in raw mode and enjoy the workflow!

cheers,
Ptg

btw, your images look about as sharp as my A2 do raw from the camera.
Alex Permit said:

oscar59 said:
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
Philip Ganderton
Economics Dept, UNM

Photo Gallery: http://gandini.unm.edu/personal/PhotoGallery/welcome.htm
 
While processing in DIVU is technically post-processing, as you know, it hasn't been camera processed - which is also post-processing. The camera converts the RAW into JPG/TIFF based on Minolta's settings.

I, like you, prefer to use RAW. A photograph is not completed, simply by the pressing of the shutter.

Cheers

Ray

--

There are no limitations, only challenges - me (unless someone else said it first).

http://www.rkp.com.au/PhotoGallery/
 
My own galleries are staright-from-the cameras, no processing
http://www.pbase.com/work_permit/a2_tests

I give them to the world to see what an untouched photo looks like straight from the camera. And these are "representative" samples whose purpose is to demonstrate the camera in its naked form. I DON'T share the photos I really love, the ones that are processed to look just right. They do NOT represent the A2's native ability. They represent my taste.

But when a user asks "whats with this photo", my natural incilination is to prong it into PS and make a few quick adjustments. In this case, I did AS LITTLE as possible. Namely, default highlight extraction, followed by (my default) USM sharpening. I'm curious, is this the look the photographer was after? what exactly didn't he like about what came out of the camera?
Philip Ganderton said:
Capture in raw mode and enjoy the workflow!

cheers,
Ptg

btw, your images look about as sharp as my A2 do raw from the camera.
Alex Permit said:

oscar59 said:
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
Philip Ganderton
Economics Dept, UNM

Photo Gallery:
http://gandini.unm.edu/personal/PhotoGallery/welcome.htm
Click to expand...
 
I you want great shots out-of-camera, I have just one word. LIGHTING. Let me say that again. LIGHTING. If you want "sharp" pictures, make sure you have enought contrast-enhancing LIGHTING. Through PS, the "cat" photo can be made into anything you want. But if you want a sharp-looking shot of of camera, make sure you have good LIGHTING.
Alex Permit said:
Philip Ganderton said:
Capture in raw mode and enjoy the workflow!

cheers,
Ptg

btw, your images look about as sharp as my A2 do raw from the camera.
Alex Permit said:

oscar59 said:
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
Philip Ganderton
Economics Dept, UNM

Photo Gallery:
http://gandini.unm.edu/personal/PhotoGallery/welcome.htm
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Alex Permit said:
I DON'T share the photos I really love, the ones that are processed
to look just right. They do NOT represent the A2's native ability.
They represent my taste.
Click to expand...
If I'm reading you right, I feel very sad.

I've got to say, I'd much rather look at photos that represent what a photographer loves, the ones processed to look just right, compared to ones straight out of the camera.

Crikey, just think what Ansell Adams' photos would have looked like straight out of the camera!

Cheers

Ray

--

There are no limitations, only challenges - me (unless someone else said it first).

http://www.rkp.com.au/PhotoGallery/
 
oscar59,
oscar59 said:
....but it seems to my very untrained eye that the
pictures are a little softer than I expected. I've since turned on
in-camera sharpening to high and that definitely helps but compared
with the Canon G2 I used before they don't seem quite as razor
sharp.
Click to expand...
Try turning the contrast "effect" up to +2. Given your comments, I think you'll like what that'll give you -- more apparent sharpness, I usually find in most shots with my A1....

Good luck!
--
Tom Hoots
My PBase galleries:
http://www.pbase.com/thoots
Read the A1/A2 FAQ:
http://www.pbase.com/mtf_foto_studies/mtf_faq
 
I just did a little adjustment with PS. I think the result come out great.






oscar59 said:
Here are a few A2 pictures (these are intended to show the
capabilities of the camera and definitely not the composing ability
of the photographer!)

All use default settings and have deliberately received no post
processing to give an idea of what the camera is capable of. All
are 8MP using the fine setting and using ISO 64. All were taken
within 1-2 days of receiving the camera. I'm very, very pleased
with the camera but it seems to my very untrained eye that the
pictures are a little softer than I expected. I've since turned on
in-camera sharpening to high and that definitely helps but compared
with the Canon G2 I used before they don't seem quite as razor
sharp. Would appreciate any feedback as to whether these look
like typical A2 pictures or whether there's a camera issue (or I'm
doing something wrong). Thanks.





Click to expand...
 
do you still own the G2? If so, how about a side-by-side comparison of the same scene shot with both cameras? Everything else seems dangerously subjective.

Marc
oscar59 said:
Here are a few A2 pictures (these are intended to show the
capabilities of the camera and definitely not the composing ability
of the photographer!)

All use default settings and have deliberately received no post
processing to give an idea of what the camera is capable of. All
are 8MP using the fine setting and using ISO 64. All were taken
within 1-2 days of receiving the camera. I'm very, very pleased
with the camera but it seems to my very untrained eye that the
pictures are a little softer than I expected. I've since turned on
in-camera sharpening to high and that definitely helps but compared
with the Canon G2 I used before they don't seem quite as razor
sharp. Would appreciate any feedback as to whether these look
like typical A2 pictures or whether there's a camera issue (or I'm
doing something wrong). Thanks.





Click to expand...
 
All I did were: Auto Contrast and sharpen.

It is very easy. I like the opportunity to post process, it gives me the freedom to control my picture.

I just order one A2 and can't wait.

Lei
8percent said:
lei2brtist said:
I just did a little adjustment with PS. I think the result come
out great.
Click to expand...
Impressive. Care to share what you did for the cat pic to make it
look so good?
--
8percent
'Change is rarely progress'
Click to expand...
 
This is impressive indeed. I really appreciate you taking the effort to improve my meagre pictures. Seeing this makes me realize I've really got to dive in and understand the world of PP more than I've been willing to do so far. I really love the usability of the A2 and so this would be a small price to pay. I would be very interested to know the workflow you applied to the pictures.

Many thanks as well to the other responders to my post. I've already implemented some of the suggestions (such as contrast +2) and am starting to see better results (will post something once the weather improves here). I'm new to this forum and am very impressed with the helpfulness and responsiveness to newbies like myself by everybody. Thanks!
lei2brtist said:





oscar59 said:
Here are a few A2 pictures (these are intended to show the
capabilities of the camera and definitely not the composing ability
of the photographer!)

All use default settings and have deliberately received no post
processing to give an idea of what the camera is capable of. All
are 8MP using the fine setting and using ISO 64. All were taken
within 1-2 days of receiving the camera. I'm very, very pleased
with the camera but it seems to my very untrained eye that the
pictures are a little softer than I expected. I've since turned on
in-camera sharpening to high and that definitely helps but compared
with the Canon G2 I used before they don't seem quite as razor
sharp. Would appreciate any feedback as to whether these look
like typical A2 pictures or whether there's a camera issue (or I'm
doing something wrong). Thanks.





Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
lie2brtist, THAT IS AMAZING. I thought the pictures looked good before, but you've made these pictures 10x better! I'm new to this. I'm guessing PS is Photoshop? Which version is it Photoshop or Elements?
lei2brtist said:





oscar59 said:
Here are a few A2 pictures (these are intended to show the
capabilities of the camera and definitely not the composing ability
of the photographer!)

All use default settings and have deliberately received no post
processing to give an idea of what the camera is capable of. All
are 8MP using the fine setting and using ISO 64. All were taken
within 1-2 days of receiving the camera. I'm very, very pleased
with the camera but it seems to my very untrained eye that the
pictures are a little softer than I expected. I've since turned on
in-camera sharpening to high and that definitely helps but compared
with the Canon G2 I used before they don't seem quite as razor
sharp. Would appreciate any feedback as to whether these look
like typical A2 pictures or whether there's a camera issue (or I'm
doing something wrong). Thanks.





Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Thank you.

If you have Photoshop (I use version 7.0), it is very easy.
Here is what I did,

Image Adjustment -- Auto contrast
Filter -- Sharpen

I believe you can make more improvment byr advance using of PS. I just want to show what an easy PP can do for better Picture quality.

Lei
Bonorden said:
lei2brtist said:





oscar59 said:
Here are a few A2 pictures (these are intended to show the
capabilities of the camera and definitely not the composing ability
of the photographer!)

All use default settings and have deliberately received no post
processing to give an idea of what the camera is capable of. All
are 8MP using the fine setting and using ISO 64. All were taken
within 1-2 days of receiving the camera. I'm very, very pleased
with the camera but it seems to my very untrained eye that the
pictures are a little softer than I expected. I've since turned on
in-camera sharpening to high and that definitely helps but compared
with the Canon G2 I used before they don't seem quite as razor
sharp. Would appreciate any feedback as to whether these look
like typical A2 pictures or whether there's a camera issue (or I'm
doing something wrong). Thanks.





Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I guess over time I'll post shots that "show off" some techical tricks. I guess I could share that. I see many hots posted on this forum that could use some processing skills. In this shot, I went "out of my way" to show what would be done with "default" post-processing. Perhaps I should make the phot "look right".

But all this has nothing to do with my own photography. The photographs I take that I love resonate with me, personally, at a very emotional level. It feels like poetry, or music. I guess I don't feel comfortable sharing such a "private" side of myself to the public.
OzRay said:
OzRay said:
I DON'T share the photos I really love, the ones that are processed
to look just right. They do NOT represent the A2's native ability.
They represent my taste.
Click to expand...
If I'm reading you right, I feel very sad.

I've got to say, I'd much rather look at photos that represent what
a photographer loves, the ones processed to look just right,
compared to ones straight out of the camera.

Crikey, just think what Ansell Adams' photos would have looked like
straight out of the camera!

Cheers

Ray

--
There are no limitations, only challenges - me (unless someone else
said it first).

http://www.rkp.com.au/PhotoGallery/
Click to expand...
 
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