Here is a frame grab from Las Vegas, where I am visiting for a shoot. Does this image look right? I mean.....seriously......does the EX-1 do this justice?

http://www.dvinfo.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=855&c=2

Benjamin, the image looks slightly blurry to me (maybe camera shake, auto focus on (don't recommend it), shutter speed to slow, or simply detail/crispness settings need some fine tuning.

I downloaded the 1920x1080 and viewing in photoshop on a cinema display.

There is also the slight possiblity that backfocus is off

It's not that severe - whatever it is - it looks about 15% off what i'm used to seeing

It could be the JPEG artifacts.

What is your gain setting, focus (auto/manual), and what framerate and shuttter?

Do you have a TIFF

Exposure looks ok to me

Paul

Here is a frame grab from Las Vegas, where I am visiting for a shoot. Does this image look right? I mean.....seriously......does the EX-1 do this justice?

http://www.dvinfo.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=855&c=2

No. No. Seriously out of focus.

Was the aperature at f16?

I had a shot that was terribly soft when the lens was stopped down to f16. I hadn't seen anything like that with any other lens. Now it's just something to be aware of.

Was the aperature at f16?

I had a shot that was terribly soft when the lens was stopped down to f16. I hadn't seen anything like that with any other lens. Now it's just something to be aware of.



SAME thought...

If this is what we get when stopping down to F16 then F16 would be unusable. Hope this is "only" an out of focus shot.

F16 is unusable - but not only on this cam!
The picture looks already soft at F11.

Don't use it. Better use some additional ND-Filters or faster shutter.


regards Dennis

F16 is unusable - but not only on this cam!
The picture looks already soft at F11.

Don't use it. Better use some additional ND-Filters or faster shutter.


regards Dennis


Yep - seen the same on my cam. And I remember that it was really important to use the right ND-filters on my old PD150 to avoid soft images on bright sunny days.

Hhhm, I hoped that the much better lens of the EX1 would show less softness even when stopped down. A good DSLR zoom lens (e.g. Nikon 18-200) does not get that soft at F11 or F16. Can anyone explain?

Unfortunately, this is true about all cameras in this price range; the diffraction softness could be seen with F8 and up with my V1E - with EX1, F11 is the smallest usable aperture, I'd say (but it's better to stay around 5.6 as the best compromise).

PS: Benjamin, I bet lots of beer you were not kidding when first posting the picture; there is NO motion brur but diffraction softness at its best in it :)

You're right, Piotr.
But I'd really like to understand (from a technical point of view) why this is obviously different for photo lenses, which sure get softer due to diffraction when stopped down, but much less than camcorder lenses, even professional ones. Any ideas?

Camera lenses DO exhibit the same softness when stopped down. It is not advisable to use DSLR lenses below about f11 or maybe f13. It is softness due to diffraction as light passes through the very small opening in the iris.

This link explains it better than I can... http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/diffraction-photography.htm

Holy crap, I did NOT think you guys were going to take me seriously. I guess it is hard to post a cyber joke. I was in the car and laughed out loud when we drove by the Sexpresso (this was my first time to Vegas so I wasn't so used to all the blatant sex stuff). Anyways I grabbed the cam out of my bag in the back seat as we drove through the parking lot and I shot this out of the car.

I am sure the image was crap, but people get so serious here I just wanted to post a funny picture or the "Hottest Coffee in Vegas".

BTW, I am thinking of buying a a franchise for the Boston area. Good idea?

This is what happens when you get a bunch of camera geeks together. You could show us a room full of beautiful naked super models and we would be busy talking about the resolution or the lack of CA on the edges. Sometimes you have to knock us over the head to realize there is actual content in the images we are looking at. Sorry we missed the joke.

However just about all the technical talk seemed right on. I have messed up a few times with my XLH1 and shot with auto exposure on and no ND Filters. In the EVF it looks fine but then later you see it and realize that f16 really softens everything.

Peace.

FWIW, I am almost positive I had both NDs in as I had just been shooting outside before I got in the car, and I don't think I have had auto iris on since I got the camera, but shooting in about 5 seconds out of a moving car could probably account for some softness. You think?

Content people, content!!!!! I am trying to make people laugh.

Marty I may try posting naked shots next and see what happens.

Hhhm, I hoped that the much better lens of the EX1 would show less softness even when stopped down. A good DSLR zoom lens (e.g. Nikon 18-200) does not get that soft at F11 or F16. Can anyone explain?

A better lens won't cure the problem of "diffraction softness", unless better means bigger lens. Diffraction softness is a function of the wavelength of the light and the physical diameter. f/numbers aren't really absolute measurements of aperture diameter. The diameter, at a constant f/number, gets smaller when the sensor format gets smaller. Hence, a 1/2" sensor lens at f/16 has a smaller physical aperture than a 35mm lens at f/16.
(see what you started, Benjamin)

You guys make me a little sad to be honest.

Thanks, John Hedgecoe and Bill Ravens, for the link and the explanation.
(And thanks, Benjamin Eckstein, for giving me back my hope that the EX1 might not be that soft at F16.)

Holy crap, I did NOT think you guys were going to take me seriously. I guess it is hard to post a cyber joke. I was in the car and laughed out loud when we drove by the Sexpresso (this was my first time to Vegas so I wasn't so used to all the blatant sex stuff). Anyways I grabbed the cam out of my bag in the back seat as we drove through the parking lot and I shot this out of the car.

I am sure the image was crap, but people get so serious here I just wanted to post a funny picture or the "Hottest Coffee in Vegas".

BTW, I am thinking of buying a a franchise for the Boston area. Good idea?

Well you see Benjamin, if you had been a loyal NAB/ Las Vegas attendee like some of us you would have experienced so much sleaze that you would not have thought that cafe unusual. Regarding the pic, I said before it was out of focus but if it was shot at f16 then it is likely aberration. I NEVER shoot the EX1 slower than f5.6 and try to keep to about f4. With the small sensors and a big zoom all cameras in this price range are made to be shoot nearly open. That's why if you get a RED1 you will pay 20K just for a lens.

Thanks, John Hedgecoe and Bill Ravens, for the link and the explanation.
(And thanks, Benjamin Eckstein, for giving me back my hope that the EX1 might not be that soft at F16.)

I bet Benjamin started kidding only when he learned what made the picture look soft. There is no motion brur, but diffraction softness at all its glory in it.

I bet Benjamin started kidding only when he learned what made the picture look soft. There is no motion brur, but diffraction softness at all its glory in it.

Hahahaha!

I apologize for trying to impart a little humor with you guys. I am shocked people didn't think the Vin Diesel problem was a real Sony problem, after reading this. Seriously, guys.......seriously!

PS. Piotr. Lots of beer. Send to Boston. Thanks.

Benjamin,

I'd love to have some bears with you in Boston, where I spent a week back in 1994 on a Computervision's training. I enjoyed it very much then (lots of beer, too :)

Don't get me wrong; I saw your lovely "Ice and Snow" footage and have no doubts about your abilities. But the point is that even if you intented this thread as a joke from the very beginning, it misfired - because that's exactly what diffraction does to the picture.

Here is a frame grab from Las Vegas, where I am visiting for a shoot. Does this image look right? I mean.....seriously......does the EX-1 do this justice?

http://www.dvinfo.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=855&c=2

More importantly, does the coffee do the advertising justice?