First with the 5DS + 11-24 f4

[Donald]

At last, managed to get out with my new combo and try them out for real. Playing about in the garden is fine, but I needed to get out and do what I normally do.

First thing you realise is that this is a whole new learning experience. So, whilst this one is not in line for the pic-of-the-year, it was good to be out there learning.

I've loaded it up at full size so that, if you wish, you can go into the lightbox and look at the detail. It comes in at 5792 x 5792 pixels. It has no sharpening done to it whatsoever. Nothing. One of the things to learn is that this camera changes all the previously known 'rules' about sharpening.

As regulars know, my preferred aspect ratio for images is 1:1 (square). A wonderful thing about the 5DS, which I have never experienced before, is that it allows you to set the aspect ratio for viewing both in the viewfinder and in LiveView (on the back screen). So, you can nail the composition exactly before you fire the shutter.

Any thoughts, comments, views are always appreciated.

[Cantab]

Donald, I was bown away when I read you'd done absolutely no sharpening! I'm glad you're enjoying your new camera. I want one too!

[Shadowman]

Nice start off.

[Ziggy]

Looks good. I'm pulled right down that road.

[FootLoose]

That is very impressive, Donald - both the lens and the camera.

[Mike Buckley]

Very nice, Donald! I'm sure you're going to enjoy using your new equipment.

You mentioned that there is no sharpening whatsoever. Does that mean there is also no in-camera sharpening?

[John 2]

Nothing like a bit new kit to get you out having a play. A play to some effect in this case Donald. Nice shot and excellent conversion - in camera?

[Donald]

You mentioned that there is no sharpening whatsoever. Does that mean there is also no in-camera sharpening?

This is from a raw file.

... and excellent conversion - in camera?

No. As said above, this is from a raw file, with my usual workflow then applied - 1) Raw processed with DxO Optics 10; 2) TIFF then into Silver Efex Pro. The step missing with this one is, 3) Open converted tiff in the GIMP for re-sizing and output sharpening and save as JPEG (and png if going to post on Facebook).

[ST1]

Well done Donald

[dje]

I like the composition a lot Donald.

For someone like me who is bordering on "sharpness obsession", the image looks pretty good without any sharpening although I would still be inclined to add a small amount of capture sharpening. I can't see any EXIF but I was wondering what focal length and f stop were used.

Dave

[Donald]

For someone like me who is bordering on "sharpness obsession", the image looks pretty good without any sharpening although I would still be inclined to add a small amount of capture sharpening. I can't see any EXIF but I was wondering what focal length and f stop were used.

Thank you for commenting, Dave.

I agree with you. All images, even from this camera, need sharpening. What I feel, however, is that with the 5DS, it needs to be with a much lighter touch than with, say, pics from my other camera body, the 7DMkII. I just put this one up with no sharpening for illustrative purposes. And even then, I'm just learning this camera and lens, so I hope that future efforts will be even better.

Everyone I've read who's writing about this camera, emphasises the absolute need for best photographic practice when capturing the photo, particularly the importance of stability. As anything less than perfect practice is going to be emphasised in the resulting file.

So, I have the camera set for mirror-up lock. It's secure on a tripod, my bag is hooked on the tripod to give it more weight and I'm using a cable release. I don't expect ever to use this camera for a hand-held image.

As for info on this one - 1/180@f11. 11mm.

[dje]

What I feel, however, is that with the 5DS, it needs to be with a much lighter touch than with, say, pics from my other camera body, the 7DMkII. I just put this one up with no sharpening for illustrative purposes.

Understood and agreed Donald. Thanks for the lens info.

Dave

[pnodrog]

Nice shot - tripod almost in a ditch? I like the perspective and the left hand lead in the iron gate gives. No need for a refund on the camera or lens. If this shot is anything to go by you are going to enjoy the combination.

When I went from a Nikon D200 to a D800 I found I needed to increase the width of the capture sharpening. Not so much for printing where the extra resolution gives very satisfying results.

[Donald]

Nice shot - tripod almost in a ditch?

One leg was on the stone wall that is, as you can see, mostly overgrown.tion.

When I went from a Nikon D200 to a D800 I found I needed to increase the width of the capture sharpening. Not so much for printing where the extra resolution gives very satisfying results.

That is very helpful. Thank you. Like I said above, it's a whole new learning curve for me ... which is part of the fun.

[Mike Buckley]

Donald,

I'll explain why I asked about in-camera sharpening even though you shot a raw file. I also always shoot raw files and my camera is always configured to sharpen all captures the same amount as a matter of convenience. That's because I often evaluate focus by reviewing the embedded JPEG in the camera's LCD and that evaluation is more effective for me if I have applied in-camera sharpening. In fact, anyone who configures the use of a Nikon Picture Control and does not customize it to negate the sharpening is always applying sharpening in the camera. When I post-process the image, my first step is to undo the sharpening that had been applied by the camera. However, some people don't undo that unsharpening and then mention that they didn't apply any sharpening during post-processing as if the image hadn't been sharpened.

[chauncey]

As for info on this one - 1/180@f11. 11mm.

What was your ISO...the noise in the unsharpened sky is disappointing to me.

I was curious, so I went back over some of my sky images taken with my Canon 1Ds3 shot at ISO 200.
The ones that were sharpened to 100 in LR showed similar noise to the one you displayed.

Your WA lens, according to the MFD Charts, is first rate and your image very minimal distortion.

Can I assume that your point of focus was about 1/3 up from the bottom of the image...
that seems to be the sharpest point.

I've read those reviews that indicate that superior technique is necessary for this beast.
That causes me to wonder...why is it necessary in this body as opposed to a 50MP, MF camera?

[Donald]

I'll explain why I asked about in-camera sharpening even though you shot a raw file.

Mike - you had me thinking that there was something about in-camera sharpening that I didn't know about. So your post set me off on a trail of investigation and, indeed, I am now more informed than I was 30 minutes ago (Yet another example of the excitement of learning).

It seems (and I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong), that Nikon's nef files DO carry in-camera sharpening in them, just as you have written. However, Canon's cr2 files DO NOT. In the Canon, in-camera sharpening only applies to the JPEG (including that which appears on the back screen), but is not attached into the raw file.

[Donald]

What was your ISO...the noise in the unsharpened sky is disappointing to me.

Me too. I pushed the 'Amplify Blacks' slider in Silver Efex Pro and that always produces a bit of noise. However, noise like that doesn't bother me and I'm quite happy for it to be an artifact of my achieving the vision I had for the finished image.

The ISO was 100.

Can I assume that your point of focus was about 1/3 up from the bottom of the image...
that seems to be the sharpest point.

Focus was on my finger that I held 14 inches (35cm) from the front of the lens in a test shot. That is the hyperfocal distance for f11 at 11mm.

That causes me to wonder...why is it necessary in this body as opposed to a 50MP, MF camera?

Don't know. Is it because the sensor is smaller and that they've crammed a lot more megapixels on to it?

[Mike Buckley]

Your information about the different ways Nikon and Canon handle in-camera sharpening when shooting raw files is interesting and new to me. Thanks for that explanation!

[AlwaysOnAuto]

Now maybe my quest for SOOC shots makes more sense to you.
Nice picture.
Have fun!