(按:這是GX200評測第二部分)
(Note: The text and photos below are published by courtesy and with copyright of the original author, Wouter Brandsma. The copyrighted Chinese translation is done by Nevin. Permission is required for use.)
The images
The GX200 sports a different sensor than the GX100 with 2 megapixels extra. Since Ricoh doesn’t develop their own sensor they have to buy what the markets offers/forces them. As a result of the new sensor Ricoh updated the GX200 image processing engine.
The new sensor resulted in some different features like a lowest ISO of 64 instead of ISO 80 with the GX100. They increased the amounts of possible in-camera settings with more B&W settings (just like the Ricoh GR Digital 2), and there is a new feature to compensate the white balance.
Even with the noise reduction off there is still some noise reduction applied on the in-camera jpegs, even at the lowest ISO. For the pixel peeper this might be a problem, but for those who actually print their work I personally see no problems. But if you don’t like any noise reduction, or you want to do your own noise reduction, it helps to shoot in RAW. And that brings me to the RAW files.
With the GX100 I intentionally underexposed slightly to retain enough information in the highlights, and because the camera had a tendency to overexpose to retain information in the shadows. Photographs had a nice and fine noise, even so after post processing that could increase the noise. With the GX200 RAW files I noticed more noise in the blue channel that restricted my post processing possibilities. As a result, I looked at how I could improve the image quality of the RAW files, prior before shooting and in the post processing. I will explain more about the post processing in the last segment, ‘the appropriate workflow’. But how to get better quality of files from a camera with a small sensor and a limited dynamic range?
More than with a dSLR you have to make choices when you expose for a scene. When you underexpose you will likely get more information in the highlights, but you will also get darker shadows. I personally don’t mind darker shadows, but unfortunately underexposing will also result in darker mid grays. In post processing this can (and I noticed often will) lead to more blotchy noise in your images. I noticed that when you don’t compensate your metering, or even slightly overexpose, at daytime or with a bright light you will get more detailed RAW files. This works really well at ISO 200 and even ISO 400. And with some luck, when you nail your exposure right, you will get pretty decent ISO 800 photographs too. The most important part is to expose your subject right, even when that will give some blown highlights at other parts of your photograph.
Ricoh GX200, f4.6, 1/30 sec, 35mm equivalent, ISO 200, +0.3 EV (DNG edited in Adobe Lightroom)
Use the LCD screen or viewfinder to frame, and use the live histogram to expose properly. The histogram is so much more accurate than the LCD screen. The metering system is pretty accurate, and the white balance works quite well (although for my B&W photography I am personally less interested in the accuracy of the white balance).
While I had some difficulties with the RAW files at first I start to like the look of the GX200 RAW files. I just took some extra time. The reason I start to like it has to do with the last segment. I have already made large A2-sized prints and they look sweet. The noise that might be a problem for you on screen will mostly be gone when printed (or give a pleasant texture).
But how are the jpegs? In my opinion these are very useful. Sharpness at +2 will give you some sharpening artifacts. Like said before, there will always be some sort of noise reduction, even when you switched the in-camera noise reduction off. But I think it doesn’t harm the photograph. Of course for those who prefer to view their photographs at 100% magnification it will be. But those who actually view them normally or even print them will have no problems in my opinion.
Ricoh GX200, f4.1, 1/470 sec, 35mm equivalent, ISO 100, 0.0 EV (B&W jpeg edited in Adobe Lightroom)
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