Ok, X1 is the worst camera but...

[ravinj]

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those who are actually using it, will you please share how much sharpening do you need to apply in LR to make the DNGs print worthy?

 

I realize that the amount of sharpening will vary depending on the subject (people, landscape, etc) but I have observed two things:

 

1. High levels of sharpening are needed on the X1 DNGs to actually bring out the details.

2. X1 DNGs can withstand really high sharpening levels without showing processing artifacts.

[phancj]

those who are actually using it, will you please share how much sharpening do you need to apply in LR to make the DNGs print worthy?

 

I realize that the amount of sharpening will vary depending on the subject (people, landscape, etc) but I have observed two things:

 

1. High levels of sharpening are needed on the X1 DNGs to actually bring out the details.

2. X1 DNGs can withstand really high sharpening levels without showing processing artifacts.

 

Haha I like your title...

 

Dunno about everyone else, but I set the sharpening to medium low in camera and for the most parts (95% of photos) I get away with using just the jpegs and do PP on them. I am still figuring it out, but it seems there cannot be a one formula for sharpening, much as I wish for one.

 

For raw files I would spend even longer times to tweak and toy around with the sliders to see what looks best, but again I am still trying to establish a formula with little success.

[RichardM8]

Assuming you work with LR3 I find that the default sharpening level of 25 is right for good shots. I rarely go past 40 - 45 though.

 

I find that most DNGs from the X1 actually need very little sharpening work. 90% of my post work is straightening, correction of perspective, WB and exposure. And a shade of noise filtering with high ISOs or stongly lifted shadows. Usually around 15, max 30. The noise filtering of LR3 is really world class btw. It's so good that it made my beloved Noise Ninja plug-in in Photoshop obsolete. When I use some noise filtering I also bumb up the sharpening a bit to 'compensate' for any softness due to the filtering. The results are brilliant imo.

 

During export to JPGs I set the export sharpening to low.

 

As a side step, has anyone noticed that the X1 files a virtually free of color noise? If any, there is only luminance noise. Excellent.

[tom0511]

I also find the default values of LR for sharpening fine so far. I havent printed much though.

[ravinj]

Thank you gentlemen for your responses. My experience is actually very different from yours. I find that unless I sharpen to at least 60, the images look very soft. I will try to post a few pre/post processing photos today. I am using LR 2.7.

 

"For raw files I would spend even longer times to tweak and toy around with the sliders to see what looks best, but again I am still trying to establish a formula with little success."

 

phancj: I was in the same boat as you so far a LR usage and DNGs are concerned. Then I met someone at work who is a master of LR and is a pro shooter. He showed me his workflow in LR. I gained a bit more confidence after that and at this time DNGs are starting to make sense to me and I can see the benefits compared to OOC jpgs (which good in their own right).

[jsrockit]

Wow, 60? That doesn't seem right at all...

[vicpeh]

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I usually do not use sharpening in ACR but apply an unsharp mask of 100%, 1.0, 0 in PS. Crisp but no sharpening artifacts at all.

[soleforeal]

I felt the same way when I printed 16" x 20" prints. I do notice that the DNGs are less sharp than the JPGs. I sharpen as much as I can without it appearing that it was sharpened. I'm still experimenting.

[cheewai_m6]

Thank you gentlemen for your responses. My experience is actually very different from yours. I find that unless I sharpen to at least 60, the images look very soft. I will try to post a few pre/post processing photos today. I am using LR 2.7.

 

you're not leaving it on manual focus are you? i don't have an x1, but i took 2 shots with my sd car at a shop, in jpg. the files are sharp as a tack on manual focus. at f2.8 1/30.