The EP2 perfect setup. Is There Such a Thing?

blackSP · #1 April 20th, 2010, 03:25 PM

I'm wondering if there's a magical sweet spot for JPEG shooters, where all tweaks over and above the factory default gives you the perfect setup.

What is it, if it exists? Less saturation, less noise reduction, gradation on normal?

Streetshooter · #2 April 20th, 2010, 03:33 PM

shhhhhhh, don't tell anyone about this....
there is a magical sweet spot.......

it's called RAW.......
seriously, try RAW files, the Pen cameras make great files....you can make jpgs from them that you won't get out of camera.....
shooter

blackSP · #3 April 20th, 2010, 03:42 PM

I know that but RAW is not always convenient. Thats why I said 'for JPEG shooters'. Since I like shooting lots of pics I don't want to work on each and every one of them.

Personally I always have sat -1, noise reduction on low, basically applying the 'Less is more' principle.

Brian Mosley · #4 April 20th, 2010, 03:44 PM

Well, you could shoot raw + jpeg, and develop further jpegs 'in-camera' by adjusting your current settings (including selecting an Art Filter) and using the 'edit' function.

Another tip, use natural colour, contrast +1, saturation +1 to simulate the E-1 look.

Sharpening can be a bit aggressive... so set this to 0 maximum (I tend to shoot with sharpening -2 and sharpen if necessary after scaling for web)

Cheers

Brian

Ray Sachs · #5 April 20th, 2010, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackSP

I know that but RAW is not always convenient. Thats why I said 'for JPEG shooters'. Since I like shooting lots of pics I don't want to work on each and every one of them.

Not to be argumentative, but I shoot everything in RAW and I work on very very few of them. When I first got the trial version of the processing software (Aperture 3 in this case), I shot a bunch of RAW+JPEGs. The program already had an E-P2 preset (I have an E-PL1, but the jpegs are very similar) and I found that by backing off the exposure by the smallest increment on the RAW preset, I couldn't tell any difference between the jpegs and the raw files after they were processed automatically on import. So I work as I would with raw+jpeg, but without all of those extra files hanging around that I'd have to manage. 90+ percent of my shots are automatically processed on import and I never touch 'em again - I basically have my jpegs without ever touching them. The handful of good ones that I'd LIKE to work on, I work on and have the benefit of all of the raw data to work with. Or sometimes if I have a series of shots taken of the same basic subject matter in the same place with the same lighting, I may work on one of them, get it right, and then apply those changes to all of the others in the series. It takes two extra mouse clicks.

I'm new to this and assumed that working with RAW would be a hassle, but I've found that its anything but a hassle.

-Ray

Streetshooter · #6 April 20th, 2010, 04:31 PM

Ray,
Thank ya sir!

Rich M · #7 April 20th, 2010, 07:23 PM

I'm withya Ray....my workflow is to open LR....stick in my SD card and let her rip..

If there is a tweak that I need to make you have the power of the RAW file to work with.

Brian Mosley · #8 April 21st, 2010, 12:20 AM

I've been shooting raw for years, but you have to be ready to deal with that extra level of software to convert from raw to jpeg... for the OP, learn how to use the in-camera edit function (i.e. try some test shots in raw and convert to jpeg in camera) and play with the jpeg shooting parameters to get the look you want.

Cheers

Brian

Rich M · #9 April 21st, 2010, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Mosley

I've been shooting raw for years, but you have to be ready to deal with that extra level of software to convert from raw to jpeg... for the OP, learn how to use the in-camera edit function (i.e. try some test shots in raw and convert to jpeg in camera) and play with the jpeg shooting parameters to get the look you want.

Cheers

Brian

Sound advice Brian......I wish that darn LCD on the E-P2 had better resolution.

How is the LCD on the E-PL1......any better?

R

OzRay · #10 April 21st, 2010, 01:39 AM

I agree, just shot RAW. I shoot nothing but RAW for all of my sports photography and it doesn't slow my workflow one bit. I just upload everything into Lightroom and 1000s of photos from a day of sport can be selected and processed in a matter of hours or less.

The thing about shooting RAW is that RAW developers just keep improving all the time and you can go back to shots taken years ago and suddenly find that you have so much more available in a shot that you thought was good at the time. I've done this and keep being surprised. JPGs are merely a finished product baked to some engineers recipe.

Cheers

Ray