Quick questions on the DCS SLR/n

[JamieTux]

Hello, I am looking at one of these - I am sure that the files will be handled by lightroom, photoshop and/or aperture.... But I like the idea of controlling the colours more accurately and I've always experienced that manufacturers own systems are better with their files, so....

Will any of the software work on a Windows 7 machine (I've seen that OS X Lion is not a good fit already!)

Or is there a way to use ERI jpegs still?

Thanks for your help!

James
--
James
http://photos.jamestux.com
http://blog.jamestux.com

 

[bishopsmead100]

If you are considering this camera I would use RAW files not jpg . . . Lightroom and Photoshop handle conversion of these admirably IMHO. Kodak software is good too, but be aware that the tethered connection is firewire not USB and will not work with W7 as there are no drivers that work with vista/W7 - that rules out file transfer by cable too! I transfer files by card reader rather than cable. I write RAW to both cards then transfer using SD card into PC slot. You can of course use CF card reader if you prefer . . . I have used both and find that SD card is quicker and more convenient.

This is a brilliant camera if you use it within its known limitations.

Any questions please ask . . . this group has a massive reserve of knowledge and with a few exceptions a very positive and helpful attitude towards new users . . . . BTW what equipent do you use now?

 

[Zone8]

Good advice from Bishopsmead.

I have the 14n and have no problems using Win 7 Ultimate 64bit (well, not with this anyway - it's a bit of a PITA in many other ways) with the Kodak PhotoDesk or Lightroom (latest version) for dealing with the RAW files and a card reader is definitely the way to work with files anyway.

--
Zone8
3 Quotes by Ansel Adams:

"A photograph is usually looked at - seldom looked into." "A good photograph is knowing where to stand." "Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter."

LINK: For B+W with Epson 1400 (and other models) using black ink only PLUS other useful tips:
http://www.photosnowdonia.co.uk/ZPS/epson1400-B&W.htm

 

[JamieTux]

Thank you both for your help - I have been allowed to become a photographer by being involved in the tech side of internet retailing first so I am a proper techy at heart!

How do you find lightroom handles the colours of the Kodak? I am looking at this for studio work as I've been playing with some non-AA cameras and think that this might be a way to increase the intangible texture detail I see on textiles (I am aware that moire might be an issue but I really don't think so with that number of photo sites).

To answer the questions you asked...

Real hobby parts excluded...

I used to shoot motorsports with a Nikon D300, When I knew that I had a few fashion assignments coming up I switched to Sony a900 (I was a Minotla 35mm film camera user as a child and teenager).

I had a potential opportunity to shoot sports again - and I was getting really annoyed with the AF on the Sony (flexibility, not speed) so I jumped ship to a lower resolution Nikon D700.

I also play with the files from Hassleblads and Nikon D3x so I am getting a feel for the differences.

I am hoping that the Kodak will give me more detail in textures than the very plastic looking Nikon files - and hopefully as much quality in terms of tonality and highlight detail as the Sony a900.

I don't mind 2 cameras - I just can't afford to run 2 complete systems (bodies are the cheap part!)

Please feel free to check out my gallery if you want to see what I'm up to - my work can be seen in the wild here:

The lifestyle shots are from someone else and shot on the D3x, the product cut outs on a white background are hassleblad. As I manage the site I play with (and do final edits of) all of our files.

http://www.vanessaknox.com

and lifestyle shots are here:

http://www.pipetto.co.uk/shop/hunter-wanderer-collection.html

Oh and as for card readers, I always use those - plugging a camera in seems silly to me!

--
James
http://photos.jamestux.com
http://blog.jamestux.com

 

[Zone8]

Enjoyed the links Jamie.

As mentioned, I have the DCS14n - works fine in good lighting but the detail and colour are very good, so am sure you will enjoy the model you have. Hopefully, someone with that model will pick up on this thread and give more specific info to help.

--
Zone8
3 Quotes by Ansel Adams:

"A photograph is usually looked at - seldom looked into." "A good photograph is knowing where to stand." "Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter."

LINK: For B+W with Epson 1400 (and other models) using black ink only PLUS other useful tips:
http://www.photosnowdonia.co.uk/ZPS/epson1400-B&W.htm

 

[p3142]

James,

I use W7 64bit. The Kodak Software only runs in an XP "container" started from W7. However, I hardly ever use it and stick to LR 3 practically all of the time.
Rgds
Peter

 

[Ohnostudio]

Lightroom handles the files just fine, as does Adobe Camera Raw. While I see some differences with the Kodak Photodesk, they're not important enough to make me want to use it all the time.

I work with a variety of different cameras because I do high end retouch for a number of photographers, and even a wider variety of raw processors. I keep the different processors on hand for troublesome files, or those that need just "a little something more". I use the Adobe products, Bibble, Lightzone, and even the free Raw Therapee. All are brilliant with the Kodak.

On the moire issue, I've had little trouble with fabrics. The bane of this camera and moire is white house shingles! On rare occasions, I'll get cyan "sparklies" in tree detail which cam show up in tree detail near the blue sky, but the Bibble raw converter minimizes it. For the tree sparklies, all depends on the light that particular time and day.

On shooting tethered with the Kodak software - LOL. Be prepared to wait! The firewire setup is not exactly firespeed ;-)The dual card suggestion is the best. I do use tethered on occasion like when I have a tabletop setup, because that's a slow process anyway. It is a simple 4 to 4 or 4 to 6 pin basic firewire cable. I use a basic older laptop on a stand using XP. Works fine, but painfully slow. I use it mainly for DOF and focus checks - don't care about the color at this checkpoint because the files will be processed on a different machine anyway.

The SLR/n was and is still a brilliant camera if you have the patience in using it. Enjoy!

 

[Zone8]

I use W7 64bit. The Kodak Software only runs in an XP "container" started from W7. However, I hardly ever use it and stick to LR 3 practically all of the time.

Hi Peter, I use also (can boot into either as installed on separate drives) Win 7 Ultimate 64bit and XP-PRO. My Kodak PhotoDesk works fine in both. I wonder if there are different versions around, although I do have the latest (not exactly new of course) same version in both. Can get most things working in Win7 BUT it is a bit of a nightmare regarding the situation for the registered Administratopr in that it requires configuring to give permissions totally to Admin rather than the daft SYSTEM as by default.

As said thought, latest Lightroom 3.4.1 deals well with the image files too.

--
Zone8
3 Quotes by Ansel Adams:

"A photograph is usually looked at - seldom looked into." "A good photograph is knowing where to stand." "Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter."

LINK: For B+W with Epson 1400 (and other models) using black ink only PLUS other useful tips:
http://www.photosnowdonia.co.uk/ZPS/epson1400-B&W.htm

 

[bishopsmead100]

I have used Kodak software in XP and in W7 running XP mode, but if you have LR and Photoshop (especially latest versions) why bother? IMHO these work extremely well with DCS RAW files from my SLRn . . . .look in my gallery pictures for some images as examples (but note that these are jpgs . . can't upload anything else) there is far more detail in the RAW files than shows on the jpgs!!

If you want to see some RAW files from te SLRn let me know, and if fabrics are your thing I can take a few shots of fabrics for you (woven, knitted etc. . . . . my wife is a spinner/dyer/weaver so no problem to find a variety of textures for you) . . . will have to load the RAW images somewhere though ;-)

 

[bishopsmead100]

Here is a link to a RAW file (nothing special, just a record shot of the fleece cleaning process for sheep wool) . . . as shot with no tweaking at all . . . enjoy playing . . . . P.S. It is about 13Mb and you will have to download it to open it an a suitable program with RAW conversion.

https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=cdc2d342a7b5c368&sc=photos&uc=1&id=CDC2D342A7B5C368%21532#

thn go to G5NP7275 and download it

 

[JamieTux]

Thanks very much George, Skydrive won't let me view it though sorry.

I am really intrigued by this camera, the one that I had targeted was sold when I went back but I think I will scour the bay until I can find one - it's more for experimental reasons - I sometimes shoot MF still so the speed of operation won't be an issue for me, as long as the files have a different look that I like!

The biggest reason that I was asking about Kodak's software is because Lightroom is great - but I always find that you can't quite get the same looking file as you can from the camera companies own software and I would be looking at this to save time overall for the colour accuracy - I guess it's just calibration for each shoot like I do at the moment with any other camera.

Thanks again for the feedback everyone!

--
James
http://photos.jamestux.com
http://blog.jamestux.com

 

[bishopsmead100]

Sorry you missed it Jamie . . . try this link . . . I have altered the permissions to Public so you should not have a problem accessing it . . .

https://skydrive.live.com/?sc=photos&cid=cdc2d342a7b5c368# ! ?cid=cdc2d342a7b5c368&permissionsChanged=1&id=CDC2D342A7B5C368%21532

In the Alpacas folder navigate to thumbnail view then to the end of the file G5NP7275 and click on it to download

 

[bishopsmead100]

In fact the original link now appears to work as well . . . :0

 

[p3142]

Hi Peter, I use also (can boot into either as installed on separate drives) Win 7 Ultimate 64bit and XP-PRO. My Kodak PhotoDesk works fine in both. I wonder if there are different versions around, although I do have the latest (not exactly new of course) same version in both.

Amazing. I had downloaded it from the Kodak site - so it should be one of the newest versions....anyhow, I don t think I will bother to install it on the next computer I ll get. The modern noise reduction is also quite helpful.
Regards,
Peter

 

[JamieTux]

Thank you for sharing

There's a huge amount of highlight detail there as well as it being a really clean file....

I'm going to stop hassling you guys now, that's shown me some answers to questions that I hadn't asked yet... I'll keep my eyes open for one that's in the price range I am happy to pay again and post back photos if/when that happens!

Thanks again guys

--
James
http://photos.jamestux.com
http://blog.jamestux.com

 

[bishopsmead100]

Thanks Jamie,

Actually the sensor is covered in crud and needs a good clean . . . . maybe crud doesn't show up with the detail in the shot . . . . . try highlight recovery a tad and you will really see the dynamic range that this amazing piece of kit has. Upsize it and see how large an image you can get before you start to lose detail (shadows will go first . . . but de-noise it and keep going!). . . . its hard to beat . . . . other than top-of-the-range Nikon or Canon . . . realistically IMHO you need to go MF to better this camera handled within its limits.

Happy hunting . . . . BTW the modified 14nX is essentially the SLRn sensor and upgraded memory . . . . probably won't have the LED window in the CF/SD door tho' . . . also watch out what CF/SD cards you buy to go with it . . . see discussion on other threads. Best stick to Lexar CF (some other makes give problems - data loss) and basic SD - I use Sandisk (the SDHC cards will not work).

 

[Ohnostudio]

I'm going to stop hassling you guys now,

We need another live body so don't stay away too long ;-)

 

[Big Ga]

(I am aware that moire might be an issue but I really don't think so with that number of photo sites).

Oh dear ..... be prepared for a nasty surprise if you hit the wrong fabric at the wrong distance

But of course if you shoot tethered say, it will be so obvious that you can always re-position and carry on regardless. And may all your south's be beautiful ....

Cheers
G.

 

[JamieTux]

(I am aware that moire might be an issue but I really don't think so with that number of photo sites).

Oh dear ..... be prepared for a nasty surprise if you hit the wrong fabric at the wrong distance

I know that AA filters are there for a reason

Talking of which... I had a really good look at some Sigma SD1 prints in February - and they were stunning - loads of fine detail, no moire.... I wish someone else would go the same route or that they would make it more affordable! The SD15 is slow and clunky and has relatively few spatial photosites but I almost persisted with it for the same reason.

Cheers
G.

--
James
http://photos.jamestux.com
http://blog.jamestux.com

 

[Cole-Scott]

Strange about Kodak Photo DCS Photo Desk not running on OS 10 Lion. It runs fine on OS 10.6.8 Snow Leopard...not that I use it much. I get consistently good results from Lightroom or ACR and they are more user friendly.
--
Cole
http://colescottphoto.com

"Visual ideas combined with technology combined with personal interpretation equals photography. Each much holds its own; if it doesn't, the thing collapses."
---Arnold Newman