Good Day Guys!

I would like to ask how do we calibrate this color representation. First of all I had my Sony A100 for quite sometime around 1 year but I use it as P&S until I became interested in pursuing the hobby. I would say I am definitely a newbie and using manual focus I always get an unsatisfied result (as compared to nikon and canon from my colleagues) because I don't know (definitely me - lack of skill and knowledge) why is my picture always seems to be UNSHARP from my point of view.
What I would do is copy the picture to my computer and look for its properties and compare it with others, with this I am able to see the detailed property of my captured images and notice that the COLOR REPRESENTATION is UNCALIBRATED, don't know what it means but I think it has effect on the sharpness of the image.

I would like to ask how do we calibrate this? Also I have observed that our LCD is a bit darker as compared with sharp displays of Nikon and Canon? Is it true or I just need to start using glasses?

Thank you!

Try looking your exif with a better viewer such as Opanda, fastone or irfanview... Windows don't really care much about profiles.

LCD brightness can be adjusted in-cam, check the user's manual.

As for sharpness, are you comparing straight-off-the-cam images on all cams? If not, you may be viewing images that were sharpened in post processing.

If you're a jpeg shooter, your Sony can be set with sharpening settings in-cam. Again, refer to your manual.

As always, comparison of sharpness should always be done when cams are mounted on a tripod or solid surface and after AF confirmation.

@Jed, a 4 months newbie here too :) What is your DEC setting? I usually set my A100 to either Vivid(for casual shots) or Adobe(If I want to PS more) and the color is comparable to C& N, I have a friend whose using a C 400D and for me the color of A100 is much better.
-As for the sharpness, yeah the kit lens is soft but for me I consider it as not that bad cos I dun really do pixel peeping - hobbyist only..hehe. As what David mentioned, maybe what you're seeing are those sharpened during PP which can be applied also to our A100 shots.
-As for the brightness, yeah u can just adjust it in the settings.

btw, also please take note that once you set the cam to Auto mode, sometimes it will use ISO more than 400 which will give a noisy picture too. I usually just shoot at max ISO400.

Also we have bros here who are I believe veterans already...hehe...can ask them to comment here too :)

Bro, just shoot and shoot and that's how we can learn. Cheers!

@David Tong
thank you, for the suggestion i'll find another viewer.

I have adjusted the LCD to Highest level but I think IMHO, the LCD of Sony is a bit darker.

For sharpness, I compared it to the LCD view of the camera. I have concluded this that I have the problem not the camera. Still a newbie, just trying to shoot shoot shoot. I'll try shooting jpeg. By the way whats the difference shooting JPEG, RAW, FINE, STANDARD?

Last question, is the posted pics from the thread Macro and Pics from Alpha raw or processed? Its very sharp, I dont know if I could take a shot like that..

@ chrisdapito
Thank you! My DEC setting is standard and sometimes Adobe RBG. I'll try vivid, can this be used under the sun shooting? 'Bout 1pm?

I hope there would be an EB so I could mingle with them and learn something (alot) if possible..

Hi Jed,

Maybe your a100 LCD screen has a defect or something. if you have warranty, bring it to your near sony service center for them to look at. For what I know, we can only adjust brightness on our LCD other than that there is no configuration for colors I think. The DEC configuration applies on the pictures. Maybe you put a darker LCD screen protector :)

Regards!

@jeffreybuot

Thank You! What LCD protector do you use? the camera was a gift from my mom, it was bought from the US, i don't know whether it has an international warranty. But If ever I saw one (a100) I'll try to confirm the brightness of the LCD against mine.

Thank you guys for the response. Nga pala, where could I find a reasonable priced 70-200 APO G? I have search few stores at hidalgo but haven't seen one.. A bit interested but don't know about the price yet. What would you recommend?

@jeffreybuot

Thank You! What LCD protector do you use? the camera was a gift from my mom, it was bought from the US, i don't know whether it has an international warranty. But If ever I saw one (a100) I'll try to confirm the brightness of the LCD against mine.

Thank you guys for the response. Nga pala, where could I find a reasonable priced 70-200 APO G? I have search few stores at hidalgo but haven't seen one.. A bit interested but don't know about the price yet. What would you recommend?

I use the DICAIN brand from Korea. If you are looking for the 70-200 APG G (aka Great White) locally, unfortunately you could see none at all. Even accessories for alphas are hard to find here. There is no Alpha cameras in hidalgo too :(... even visiting in Sony Avid Stores most of the time you would only see posters but no display of the product. I guess they dont want to sell it :Grin: so dont be surprise.

If your looking for Sony Camera System, to hold one and at a reasonable price... Sony HongKong, Japan and US is the place to look at. I think the 70-200 is around 95K.

Wow that is GOLD, hehehehe.. I thought mga 30-50K for a second hand lens. Anyway sir what would you recommend na zoom lens? Maybe a walk around lens.. then it could be fitted by a teleconverter and a macro lens, para po konti lang dala dala!

How about mirror lens, anu po ba yung medyo ok and affordable lens for Sony a100.

Salamat po!

Sir,

Also I'd like to ask anu ba gamit nyong file settings? RAW, RAW+JPEG, FINE or STANDARD? I've observed that when I export the images to my PC, images is only 72dpi..

Thanks!

Jed: Search about what DPI is, it has no bearing in relation to image quality or resolution. Read my reply (http://www.digitalphotographer.com.ph/forum/showpost.php?p=336572&postcount=120) on this thread (http://www.digitalphotographer.com.ph/forum/showthread.php?t=6175&page=12) as well.

@David Tong

thanks

Lots and lots of questions... lots and lots of learning to accomplish.

First and foremost, allow me to correct some misconceptions about the Alpha-100.
LCD screen... I believe it's one of the brightest and the crispi(est) screen you'll see among current dSLRs... Sony Bravia eh!... hehehe. Maybe you're using a dark screen protector, or maybe you're trying to view the images on the LCD screen outdoor under bright sunlight.

Image sharpness... Alpha-100 provides very very sharp images, the sensor is very much capable to resolve all the pixels it can accomodate. I wouldn't rely much on manual focussing as the autofocus mechanism is very accurate and ultra fast too (especially with using the eye-start focussing). Or maybe you are referring to manual exposure as indicated in the image properties in your original message posting. Chances are, your exposure is wrong and you are getting under-exposed images; hence they look dark in your LCD screen.

Lenses...
Of course lens plays a vital role in capturing sharp and excellent quality images. The kit-lens (18-70mm) is a good lens, and it will give you excellent sharpness at aperture setting of f/8-f/16. Open wide, at f3.5-5.6, it is a bit softer; expected on this kind of lens. If you really want excellent sharp images, try using high-end glass... you may want to start with a good prime lens (say the 50mm f/1.7). Unfortunately, Sony sells prime lenses at very high prices. Try to find older Minolta A-mount lenses as they are the forefathers of Sony lenses, and sells a lot cheaper. You were already inquiring about the 70-200mm f/2.8 lens... yes, it's one of the best lens made by Sony, hence carries a very high price. There are cheaper alternatives, 3rd party lenses, Sigma or Tamron both offer 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses. Any lens that carries a constant f/2.8 aperture is expected to be highly-priced.

Colors and DEC parameters...
I would recommend that you stay on the sRGB color scheme for now. Don't use Adobe-RGB unless you have specific purpose for doing so (e.g. photos to be used for four-color processing/printing like magazines that gets printed in imprenta's). With regards to DEC settings, I find that the Portrait setting is the most neutral and provides excellent skin tones, especially if you set your ISO to Low-80 (very very smooth skin texture and pleasant skin tones). In most of my portraitures and people-photography, I use the Portrait DEC setting, Contrast (-1) - Saturation (+1) - Sharpness (+1).

Resolution, Image quality settings...
Shooting RAW means that you'll post-process the images yourself (in your PC or MAC)... none of the camera settings (white balance, sharpness, saturation) will apply since you will have to apply them once you open the images in Photoshop (or any other image editing software). JPEG images are already processed via the camera's algorithm. You may still perform editing in Photoshop, but not as effective when using a RAW image.

FINAL THOUGHTS...
I believe your main concern at the moment is understanding more about exposure; that is learning the proper combination of f-stops and shutter speed in relation to the prevailing light condition. Don't go into flash photography yet (that's another story). Understand the basics of light first; it so happened that photography is all about light. Attend one of those workshops about basic photography (e.g. Jo Avila's). Don't compare images by way of comparing camera brands (you'll definitely go nowhere). Talk to photographers (pro's and serious hobbyists)... stay away from camera collectors!... hehehe.

@jose_deluna

Thanks for the info.

I have removed the LCD protector and its true! the LCD has a good view. The LCD protector was a stock LCD protector pala, pero it is a good stock protector, hehehehe.

Need to have a class or even an EB for a free coaching, even sa kwentuhan lang ok na, hehehehe....

Still scouting for some minolta lens, hope makachamba dyan sa tabi tabi.

Is a quick sheets? cheat sheets? on ebay worth buying? Would somebody share there own quick sheets? Thanks

@jose_deluna

Thanks for the info.

I have removed the LCD protector and its true! the LCD has a good view. The LCD protector was a stock LCD protector pala, pero it is a good stock protector, hehehehe.

Need to have a class or even an EB for a free coaching, even sa kwentuhan lang ok na, hehehehe....

Still scouting for some minolta lens, hope makachamba dyan sa tabi tabi.

Is a quick sheets? cheat sheets? on ebay worth buying? Would somebody share there own quick sheets? Thanks

Hi Jed, its hard to bid in ebay specially for the minolta lens that are still in prestige condition and consider that alpha system is gearing up so the demand is really high nowadays for these gems. :Grin: if you cant resist bidding just be cautious on its condition.

try to also look for brand new 3rd party lens on sigma, tokina and tamron around. theyre really good. ka pepe has the tamron 17-50 2.8 which is a thumbs up :)