What Is This?

Recently I got a X-Pro3, and I have taken some lovely snapshots so far. What I discovered though, are some obvious quality issues that I do not see on the X-T4 body.

Here is just one example:

Smeary, wormy & messy outline around the hand, but why?

Where does this smeary, wormy outline come from, and how can I avoid it to take better photos?

Shooters on My Squad wrote:

Recently I got a X-Pro3, and I have taken some lovely snapshots so far. What I discovered though, are some obvious quality issues that I do not see on the X-T4 body.

Here is just one example:

Smeary, wormy & messy outline around the hand, but why?

Where does this smeary, wormy outline come from, and how can I avoid it to take better photos?

Probably your processing - can you post the original?

Greybeard2017 wrote:

Probably your processing - can you post the original?

Unfortunately I cannot post the original image due to privacy reasons. The artifacts in the RAW file on a bigger screen look identical, so I don’t see how any EXIF information might lead to a better understanding of the underlying issue.

If this is the processing, this would mean it is basically happening in-camera before the RAW file gets written, so that I cannot influence the behavior?

Greybeard2017 wrote:

Probably your processing - can you post the original?

Just in case it might help: The photo was taken on the X-Pro3 with the XF27mmF2.8 lens at f/4.0 with the shutter speed at 1/250, ISO 320, and EC -0.33.

Perhaps you can duplicate the issue in some more images that do not show the problem because I cannot work out the image you posted.

A whole SOOC JPG with the EXIF data will help, ideally more than one showing the problem.

a_c_skinner wrote:

Perhaps you can duplicate the issue in some more images that do not show the problem because I cannot work out the image you posted.

A whole SOOC JPG with the EXIF data will help, ideally more than one showing the problem.

The foliage in the background is far away. At the right side is a person + left hand standing near the camera.

The focus distance / subject is somewhere between the person & foliage (cropped away), so both are out-of-focus areas, and this is exactly where this smeary, wormy artifacts appear.

Is this maybe a lens construction issue?

Shooters on My Squad wrote:

a_c_skinner wrote:

Perhaps you can duplicate the issue in some more images that do not show the problem because I cannot work out the image you posted.

A whole SOOC JPG with the EXIF data will help, ideally more than one showing the problem.

The foliage in the background is far away. At the right side is a person + left hand standing near the camera.

The focus distance / subject is somewhere between the person & foliage (cropped away), so both are out-of-focus areas, and this is exactly where this smeary, wormy artifacts appear.

Is this maybe a lens construction issue?

There just isn't enough information here for us to diagnose remotely - if you think its a lens issue do you have a different one to try (same settings - same subject)?

Have you tried exactly the same settings and lens and subject on X-T4 and X-Pro3?

Does the same happen with your X-T4?

To me, it looks like that's the way the lens renders OOF backgrounds.

I simply cannot see that in the attached image.

To my untutored mind it looks as if some processing has been applied too strongly.  I'd have guessed far too much sharpening but I still cannot make out the original image.  If you need help then more images that show the problem and you are able to share might help cleverer people than me.

I guess this is dpreview’s version of a code to crack?  Too little info from a bad crop and a hesitant OP to provide anything makes this ridiculous to try to answer.

io_bg wrote:

Does the same happen with your X-T4?

To me, it looks like that's the way the lens renders OOF backgrounds.

I never noticed it on the X-T4, but I was using the camera primarily with the 16-55mm.

To me the most plausible explanation so far is the lens construction itself. I will try to use the pancake on the X-T4 body, which then should lead to similar rendering issues for out-of-focus areas.

Thanks for your feedback!

a_c_skinner wrote:

I simply cannot see that in the attached image.

To my untutored mind it looks as if some processing has been applied too strongly. I'd have guessed far too much sharpening but I still cannot make out the original image. If you need help then more images that show the problem and you are able to share might help cleverer people than me.

As I already said the issues in the RAW file look the same, and there is no (known) processing applied at this point. I thought I already made this clear enough. I have taken a couple of shots that day that show similar issues, but on this photo it is the strongest.

This leaves either the body or the lens as the root cause, and my suspicion is the lens itself, as it is known to be of a mediocre quality. I will put the 16-55mm on the X-Pro3, and I will also put the 27mm on the X-T4. I hope this will clarify my issues.

John Gellings wrote:

I guess this is dpreview’s version of a code to crack? Too little info from a bad crop and a hesitant OP to provide anything makes this ridiculous to try to answer.

This is a false statement. Neither am I trying people to "crack a code", nor hiding information that I can share. So far I answered every question as thoroughly as possible.

If you find this ridiculous to answer, why do you even answer, and not just ignore?

I am just trying to get better photos, and I thought that many visitors here have a similar goal in mind. It looks like I might be wrong.

There were already some people in this thread that pointed me to the right direction and were helpful. I will investigate further, and hopefully find an answer.

I just see no point in your comment Mr. John Gellings.

Shooters on My Squad wrote:

John Gellings wrote:

I guess this is dpreview’s version of a code to crack? Too little info from a bad crop and a hesitant OP to provide anything makes this ridiculous to try to answer.

This is a false statement. Neither am I trying people to "crack a code", nor hiding information that I can share. So far I answered every question as thoroughly as possible.

If you find this ridiculous to answer, why do you even answer, and not just ignore?

I am just trying to get better photos, and I thought that many visitors here have a similar goal in mind. It looks like I might be wrong.

There were already some people in this thread that pointed me to the right direction and were helpful. I will investigate further, and hopefully find an answer.

I just see no point in your comment Mr. John Gellings.

Don't be offended - everyone has pointed out that you just aren't supplying enough information for remote diagnosis.

Just curious.  Assuming the subject is in focus does it have the same issue around its edges ( i guess it is the face) but not so prominent ?  Also do you remember what shutter type was used ? Try both types and see how it works.

The 27/2.8 is not mediocre, mine is optically more or less the same as my 16-55.  Whatever the cause I doubt it is that.  I look forward to seeing more images which can be posted complete that show the effect.  I'd factory reset before taking more to be sure it isn't the in camera processing.

No text.

pifilos wrote:

Just curious. Assuming the subject is in focus does it have the same issue around its edges ( i guess it is the face) but not so prominent ?

Nope, the subject is in focus and the edges are crisp & clear. I would even go that far to say that the IQ is great there.

I guess that the issue is present in areas where the OOF rendering in front of the focused subject “touches” the OOF rendering behind the focused subject. I will try to take some boring shots with similar compositions to further analyze the behavior.

Also do you remember what shutter type was used ? Try both types and see how it works.

ECFS. Thanks for the hint, I will try this out, too.