Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/11/07
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Jeff, I'm still waiting for my DMR to come back from Leica, then I intend working like a man possessed to try to understand this workflow thing as well. So I will hope to post some of my findings and wiggle out peoples experience as well. If we both keep nagging the path may become clear ;-) On 08/11/2006, at 7:53, Jeff Moore wrote: > 2006-11-06-23:23:27 Douglas Herr: >> This weekend warrior appreciates the no-light capabilities of the >> DMR, >> using ISO 1600 and even 3200 when required to get the picture. I >> haven't compared it with the results from competing brands but the >> high-ISO noise looks to my eye like ISO 400 film grain, the color >> quality is delightful and none of the photos I've made with it have >> anywhere near the 'plastic' look I've seen in some digital photos. > > I'm wondering if I'm missing something about how to handle high-ISO > DMR > images. I love the way pictures made with the DMR and Leica glass > look > when there's enough light for a low to middlin' ISO; to my eye they > beat the pictures I get with a current Canon and good Canon glass all > hollow. But when the light gets dim, and the ISOs high, I get > pictures > which look kind of blotchy, with weird color that's hard to > correct. So > far, I'm pretty sure it's related to fist-sized snowflakes of noise > almost entirely in the blue channel, so I get pretty good results if I > do a conversion to grayscale mixed entirely from red and green... but > is there something I could be doing differently? Can I actually get > decent color images at the rough end of the ISO trail? > > I use Adobe CS2 and Adobe's RAW conversion; is there some other RAW > converter which works better with the DMR? (I know Leica bundle > Capture > One with the M8, and I also wonder about how the newfangled Aperture > works.) > > Oh, and to jump to the opposite side of the ISO range... as I said, I > really like the quality of low-ISO images from this camera, but I'm > not > prepared to swear that my workflow is optimal (especially since the > Leica sensor doesn't have the fairly aggressive anti-aliasing > filter of > the Canons). Can some DMR initiates let us in on their soup-to-nuts > usual processing chain, including import, any special anti-moire > processing if there is such a thing, capture sharpening if used, noise > filtering if done, editing, local contrast enhancement actions, final > sharpening, everything -- and exactly in what sequence and under what > conditions? I'm hoping for an end-to-end description of the usual > process for an image, just so see what I might have completely missed. > > To further add to the assignment (should anyone choose to accept > it) I'd > love to see the end-to-end DMR workflow compared with the same > person's > known-successful end-to-end Canon workflow. I remain confused about > issues of capture sharpening versus only sharpening right at the end. > I'm sure I'm confused about other stuff, too. > > And, Ted -- because somehow I already see your email expressing a lack > of welcome for too much technotrivia distracting you from taking > pictures -- really, all this stuff is the digital equivalent of > talking > about film emulsions and Xtol dilutions (with occasional interruptions > from the black-nailed Pyro freaks). Once we figure out the > processing, > we can just do it, and pretty much stop thinking about it so we can > concentrate on keeping that shutter button unstuck. But right now, I > have this feeling I don't have it right enough to forget about > yet. I'd > be perfectly happy to lazily adopt the techniques of someone who's put > in the time to figure it out and get it right. (F'rinstance, I > like the > look I get by applying B.D.'s channel-mix-then-local-sharpen B&W > conversion recipe, if I start with low-noise images.) > > So -- a lot of questions. But I haven't yet noticed a detailed > discussion end-to-end processing, especially with the DMR (but > comparisons with other tech would also be of interest, especially > those > damned Canons I sometimes end up having to use). I know that I'd be > grateful if a few people who've got this figured out could offer > hints, > and I suspect I wouldn't be the only one. > > We'll only have to put up with a few tens of snipes from MJS and the > rest of the most recalcitrant chemical photographers. A small > price to > pay. > > Thanks, > > -Jeff M > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information