M8 and M9 side by side

[raid]

The main difference between DNG/RAW files and JPEG files is DNG/RAW are 12-14 Bit files (16bit in the case of some digital backs) While JPEG are 8bit files. Its this greater bit depth that allows a greater latitude when processing image files.
As to how much this greater bit depth matter well that depends on how close to the perfect/ideal exposure the file coming out of the camera is.
A good way to see what difference this play is editing is to shoot DNG/RAW+JPEG then with little or any processing in LR/ACR create a 16Bit and an 8Bit TIFF or PSD file from the DNG/RAW file and an 8bit TIFF/PSD file from the JPEG file and then open all three files in Photshop.
Next do some extreme adjustments to the levels and/or curves then look at the histograms where you'll see gaps beginning to appear in the histograms of the 8bit files vs the 16bit file.

I am still relatively new to LR, and I have not saved any DNG files to TIFF files with LR before.
Thanks for the tips.

 

[raid]

It was much simpler to use film and then find a good lab for processing and making prints. I hope that "all this stuff" is worth it in the end.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Hello Raid -- About these comparisons… I think it is very difficult to find differences without very clean comparables. I use a slightly different approach: Put comparable lenses on the two cameras (e.g. a 35mm on the M8 and a 50 on the M9). As closely as you can, shoot the same scene, same camera position, close in time so the light is the same. Same processing.

Doing so, I've been better able to see differences. I suspect the IR filter difference will be visible in the right setting. I'll be curious in what scene would the M9 sensor make a visible difference in the image.

A quick comment about the Lightroom processing, or the in camera processing that produces camera JPEGs. I consider these part of the photographic system that produces the image. I don't want to try to make them identical; probably impossible anyway. To me, these basic differences in processing are part of my comparison.

On the other hand, when you want to compare camera bodies (espec. sensors), you don't want lens differences. Matching the lenses for a good camera test is more difficult.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

What is the best/easiest way to lock in WB in a camera?

To get the same WB in your workflow, using Lightroom, just set the WB to the same temp for the images you want to compare.

Getting the right WB is another question. Gray card, the product WhiBal, or a ColorChecker.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

raid, thanks for looking and your comment.

we all have our own ways of working, trying to find ways to present what we see. what i do toward that end is:
a: shoot raw format.
b. open and process dng file, saved on external hard drive.
c. edit dng file and save as tiff, saved on hard drive and ext hd.
d. resize the finished tiff file to jpeg for web.

i end up with the original DNG, a full size tiff for printing, and a jpeg for web. My goal for 2014 is to burn archival discs of the keepers.

Mine is a little different:
a. Shoot raw+jpg (sometimes the camera jpg are handy)
b. Import into Lightroom. Select and discard ruthlessly.
c. Edit and adjust in Lightroom. Export a full resolution jpg and discard the original camera jpg. Thus, for selected images, I am saving the raw file, the Lightroom adjustments, and the finished full-res jpg forever.
d. From Lightroom, export again in the proper res if I want a print. Export again in the proper res (as jpg) if I want an image for a computer screen or the web.
e. Archival keeping… More to say at another time.

 

[raid]

Hello Col. Sebastian,

I did not do a side by side experiment with planned photos. It was the regular practice for me to have the M8 and M9 with me. I should have used a different title for this thread.

I feel that both cameras give me good results. This is simply put.


Raid

Hello Raid -- About these comparisons… I think it is very difficult to find differences without very clean comparables. I use a slightly different approach: Put comparable lenses on the two cameras (e.g. a 35mm on the M8 and a 50 on the M9). As closely as you can, shoot the same scene, same camera position, close in time so the light is the same. Same processing.

Doing so, I've been better able to see differences. I suspect the IR filter difference will be visible in the right setting. I'll be curious in what scene would the M9 sensor make a visible difference in the image.

A quick comment about the Lightroom processing, or the in camera processing that produces camera JPEGs. I consider these part of the photographic system that produces the image. I don't want to try to make them identical; probably impossible anyway. To me, these basic differences in processing are part of my comparison.

On the other hand, when you want to compare camera bodies (espec. sensors), you don't want lens differences. Matching the lenses for a good camera test is more difficult.