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Author Topic: Lamplight Redux  (Read 915 times)

RSL

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Lamplight Redux
« on: April 07, 2017, 03:13:48 pm »

Thought somebody might be interested in this one. Shot with the Pen-F and a Summilix lens at ISO 5000, the original, which I posted a few days ago, was pretty nosy, though when I posted it first time I'd reduced the noise with Nik Dfine 2. Here it is again after a minute's work in DxO OpticsPro Elite 11. That's a tool worth having.
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Eric Myrvaagnes

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Re: Lamplight Redux
« Reply #1 on: April 07, 2017, 06:24:28 pm »

That's a good plug for OpticsPro.
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RSL

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Re: Lamplight Redux
« Reply #2 on: April 07, 2017, 07:51:49 pm »

Actually I don't feel very pluggy. When I installed the dang thing it told me the activation code was wrong. I tried something like seven times with a failure every time, then emailed DxO about the problem since there's no way to phone or chat. After what seemed like a rather extended delay they told me they'd activated my account. At that point I was able to get the software installed. I wasn't too happy with the whole operation, but I have to admit that the software is very good stuff.
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BobDavid

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Re: Lamplight Redux
« Reply #3 on: April 08, 2017, 01:05:51 am »

Impressive. I've been using Topaz Denoise, but I think the results you're getting with DxO look amazing. How do you like the Pen F?
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RSL

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Re: Lamplight Redux
« Reply #4 on: April 08, 2017, 09:57:25 am »

Hi Bob, Yeah, it really is impressive. I got the idea of trying DxO's stuff from an answer from Kelby to a writer's query in Shutterbug. My favorite thing is night on the street. Used to go out practically every night after dinner when I lived in Colorado Springs. In the sixties it was with one or the other of my Leicas. In the early 2000's it was with the 3.3 mpx Casio QV-3000EX. Nowadays I love going to St. Aug and walking St. George street at night. The result, of course, is noisy photographs. I've had reasonably good noise-reduction results from Nik's Dfine 2, but DxO OpticsPro Elite 11 is a whole new world. I'm not thrilled with the interface, and I'm pretty angry about their delivery method, but the software itself is great stuff.

The Pen-F is a mixed bag. Like its brothers and sisters it's loaded with crap, advertised as "features" -- stuff I'd rather not have on my cameras. If I want movies, for instance, I'll buy a movie camera. I haven't shot a film-clip with either of my recent Nikons or my Pen-F and I never will. You can't hang a movie on the wall.

On the other hand the Pen-F is small and black, like my Leica M4, but with an ISO range (it was ASA until the Kodak standard became "international") at least two stops higher. I've got a Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 25mm on it, which roughly is the equivalent of 50mm on its four-thirds sensor. The combination of f/1.4 and the Pen-F's built-in VR gives me even better results on the night street than I can get with my D750 with a Nikon 50mm f/1.4, which has no VR. The Pen-F also has a really good EVF, which helps a lot, especially at night.

My E-P1 was a good street camera. The Pen-F is even better.
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Russ Lewis  www.russ-lewis.com.

BobDavid

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Re: Lamplight Redux
« Reply #5 on: April 08, 2017, 12:26:10 pm »

I've got an Oly E-M5 II. The IS on the E-M5 II is excellent, especially in tandem with the Oly 17mm f/1.8, 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro zoom, and the 75mm f/1.8.  Olympus packs superfluous "features" in their cameras. However, the high-resolution mode is great--especially for the static nighttime photos I like to take. The "Live time" feature is worth the price of admission. It enables you to watch the photo as it is captured. It is very helpful for long exposures. I don't think this feature exists on other cameras.

I have no interest in shooting movies. If I wanted to make movies, I'd use a dedicated video camera. I've played around with the Pen F. It's the nicest Pen yet. I am stymied, as most, as to why the dial on the front of the camera is dedicated to "art effects."

I haven't shot with a dSLR since 2013. I love EVFs. I've recently picked up a Sony A7r II. I use it exclusively for ultra wide to 55mm focal lengths. Nothing beats the Oly for tele shots--It's quite a revelation to use the 75 f/1.8 at 1/8" and get a tack-sharp result.

I may think about upgrading to an E-M5 III. I reckon it will be announced by the end of the year. I usually wait six months or so after a camera is released to get an idea of how well it is being received by credible photographers.
« Last Edit: April 08, 2017, 12:34:42 pm by BobDavid »
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Rob C

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Re: Lamplight Redux
« Reply #6 on: April 08, 2017, 01:51:05 pm »

Hi Russ,

Nice to see my island hanging on the wall!

;-)

Rob

RSL

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Re: Lamplight Redux
« Reply #7 on: April 08, 2017, 02:17:41 pm »

Hi Russ,

Nice to see my island hanging on the wall!

;-)

Rob
;D
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Russ Lewis  www.russ-lewis.com.
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