D800E Moire isn't issue Software NEF conversion is the surprise

[joseph_smith3]

<p>I use Nikon Capture NX2 ver 2.3.2 as my primary RAW processor. I have just started to learn how to use Lightroom 3. At this time my images go into NX2, get corrected if needed, and then into LR as a TIFF. I tried starting with LR but gave up on that approach as being too cumbersomb.<br>

I alos have taken the same NEF files(copied) into LR and used just LR. In general I like the NX2 work flow better (better processed images) , but my results are biased in that I am still too new to LRand Nik Vivesa. I do not have a D 800 of 800 E.<br>

Joe Smith</p>

<p> </p>

[habsphoto]

Upgraded my LR4 to RC2 (resin coated???) it made no difference to the NEF conversions. CA the same with correction checked.

[pete_s.]

<p>:-) RC2 stand for Release Candidate number 2, not resin coated :-)<br>

It's software that is not good enough to be release to the public just yet, but they're working on it.</p>

 

[richard__]

<p>What about RC2's new <a href="http://blogs.adobe.com/lightroomjournal/2012/04/new-color-fringe-correction-controls.html">color fringe correction controls</a> ? Do those help ?</p>

[habsphoto]

<p>The non RC (fiber???) version of LR4 before the RD2 version was just as good as the new version at the kind of CA that's showing up on the D800E. The new features help with purple fringing that I do not have. there is an interesting write up at Adobe labs on the Lightroom RC2 tools.</p>

[zafar1]

<p>Hi Steve</p>

<p>Thanks for giving the chance to play with D800e files. It gives me chance to drool, until I get my own :)</p>

<p>I ran your truck file through LR4 production. I think that the file sharpens very well. I really did not see much CA before or after applying lens profile, so this could be some auto fix in LR4 processing. I did not use moire brush, as I had posted an example of that earlier.</p>

<p>Two crops of before/after view in LR4 are below. All I can say is Wow!, and I am not sure how much better CNX2 can do</p>

<p>First Crop<br /> <img src="http://zkfotos.com/downloads/lr4-1.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Second Crop</p>

<p><img src="http://zkfotos.com/downloads/lr4-2.jpg" alt="" /></p>

[zafar1]

<p>I see that the images above are reduced by PN. The full size crops are at</p>

<p>http://zkfotos.com/downloads/lr4-1.jpg and<br>

http://zkfotos.com/downloads/lr4-2.jpg</p>

<p>It seems like I over sharpened a little, but this may be a jpg artifact (I used screen capture to get the picture, this was not an LR4 export).</p>

[jimitoucan]

<p>Thanks Steve and others for all this info. I have tried NX2, think a mentioned that to you, just can't seem to break the LR habit. Lots to digest here and on your blog. I have some more to report too at my blog http://stamates.blogspot.com/<br>

I've been shooting lots and figuring out which settings are working for me. I'm loving the fact that I can push the fn button and switch to DX for instant 15mp crop. I wish Nikon would have given us a 12x36mm crop size. 18mp Panorama would be sweeeeet. </p>

[habsphoto]

<p>Yes, I'm with you, I hope the LR4 conversions get better or I figure out how to build preset that matches the luminosity and pop of the Nikon CNX2 conversion in default. I already have set up an import preset that applies lens corrections and CA corrections + a bump in sharpness in the import phase, that saves a step.<br>

I'm going out on my first commercial job with the camera tonight a local affordable housing project that was just completed. I will have my D300 there for a side by side with my assistant. The lucky client will get two dusk views for the price of one...</p>

<p>-Schaf</p>

[sem_svizec]

<blockquote>

<p>I've heard that the new Adobe Camera Raw has Nikon camera and lens data baked in, so will it correct the CA in my bus image automatically if I click that lens Corrections section and select DEFRINGE ALL EDGES? Is tat the same a sauté CA correction in NX2?<br />Lightroom 4 has a "Lens Correction" section in which I can find my 28mm lens and click Correct CA. And it works. Is it that easy? Maybe that's the answer... maybe the ACR and LR4 use the same lens algorithm when correcting this thing? Just looking for insight. Thanks? I would never have gotten this far or even clicked on "Lens Correction" Profile in Lightroom without all your help.<br>

<br /><br>

Upgraded my LR4 to RC2 (resin coated???) it made no difference to the NEF conversions. CA the same with correction checked.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>LR4 has a different CA removal approach than LR3 which had two manual sliders. The new approach is fully auto and not lens-profile-based like with Nikon lateral CA removal, except that Nikon turns it on by default. In most cases it works great, and this has been one huge missing feature previously. But it has been spotted that it sometimes fails in cases of huge CA, for example with cheap macro or WA add-on lenses. Maybe this is the problem with the D800E - that CA are so huge in pixel dimensions. I think you should prepare full-res samples (crops) and complain in Adobe support forums. <br>

Defringe is a different tool aimed at green/purple fringing / longitudinal CA and is probably related with the Nikon's axial (longitudinal) CA removal tool. These kinds of CA are generally more tricky to remove, especially when they're affecting larger areas. Sometimes defringe helps remove lateral CA if auto removal fails, but not as well. There is an initiative to make Adobe bring the old sliders back to LR. But notice that manual laCA removal may fail too if the sliders are not long enough for one's bad case of CA. </p>

[reisenberger]

<blockquote>

<p>I wish Nikon would have given us a 12x36mm crop size. 18mp Panorama would be sweeeeet.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Completely agree on this. We are getting enough pixels horizontally now that we can afford to crop off the top and bottom to make panoramas rather than have to go the multi-shoot-and-stitch route. Seems like a missed opportunity to also make a panoramic camera (which after all was enough of a niche in film to make dedicated cameras, XPAN and GX617 etc, former of which I am still shooting).</p>

<p>My $2 workround for this on the D800 has been to cut a simple 1x3 mask for the liveview screen (with an extra strip cut out below to still see the shooting data), and slip the mask between the screen and plastic cover when needed, which holds it v tight. Basic but effective - can now compose 1x3 panos in liveview. I like to compose my panos v tightly, so the main upside is I can see my whole pano in one go as I compose it, not 'guess' how it will look after stitching. <br>

D</p>

 

[habsphoto]

<p>The panoramic crop seems like it could be executed in firmware and then the mask on the display would work well.</p>

[habsphoto]

<p >OK, I just uploaded my first paid architectural gig with my new D800E to Flickr, and yes there was a tiny bit of moire that was easily removed in LR4 with the selective moire brush. My client would never have noticed it... even I didn't for the first day, till I started looking at 100% crops. Anyway a full-size is up at with the screen captures of the moire before and after.</p>

<p >The 20mm 2.8 D lens I was using just isn't holding up to this level of resolution. (sad, it was great on film) The image will probably never be used bigger than an 11x14 so I'm not too concerned, and a 16-35 is on order, I hope that will improve things a bit.</p>

Stephen Schafer, HABS, HAER, HALS, ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY