Jump to content

Digilux 2 RAW - how to get "Leica color"?


asabet

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi all,

 

I am really enjoying the D2. My other cameras are collecting dust. In good light, I shoot ISO 100 JPEG and find that the D2 produces terrific JPEGs with great colors and dynamic range. At ISO 200-400, there is simply too much in-camera noise reduction for my tastes, and I tend to shoot RAW. I don't mind the time it takes for RAW files to write as I rarely feel the urge to shoot in rapid succession. I am not new to RAW - I use it exclusively with the 5D. However, I am finding it difficult to process the D2 RAW files in such a way that the colors come out as nice as what the in-camera JPEG processing gives me.

 

I *really* wish there were a firmware hack to allow one to decrease the in-camera noise reduction for JPEGs. That would make the D2 just about perfect for my needs.

 

Anyone else have similar issues and find a solution?

Link to post
Share on other sites

Which Raw developer are you using? I use Lightroom and find that it is a perfect match for my LC1 (same as D2).

 

It would be nice to use C1 as I use this raw developer for my DMR images but unfortunately the D2 raw images don't open with C1. I suppose I could try converting them to .DNG and then they might, but I have never tried that. Anyway Lightroom makes a very nice job of converting the LC1/D2 images to TIFF or PSD files.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Leica has colour ?

is it Velvia or Kodachrome

 

or perhaps you are chasing the jpg colours

take consecutive frames of jpeg and RAW

try to work up a profile that emulates the jpeg

Link to post
Share on other sites

I am chasing the jpg colors. That's what I meant by "Leica color." Ideally one of the RAW processing apps would have had a setting to reproduce the D2 in-camera default processing as a starting point for tweaking. I appreciate all the suggestions and will try them.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I downloaded the Lightroom trial, and it does seem a bit easier to work with than Bridge/CS3. I still don't get quite the same colors as the default in-camera JPEGs. I think the default JPEGs have more cyan, especially the skies, somehow giving a nicer overall look. Since Lightroom lets one put in adjustments for a given camera profile, have any of you done this of the D2 or LC1? Here are some examples of yesterday's quickly processed family snapshots so you can get a sense of the color I'm getting out of Lightroom right now:

 

475502352_557db86bbc.jpg

 

475505305_a762011139.jpg

 

475497753_dbd41573eb.jpg

 

475496405_d89ffb4beb.jpg

Link to post
Share on other sites

I get the best colors with Silkypix Developer Studio 2.x

Unfortunately, Rel. 3 no longer supports the D2. See some examples on

Venice by Night and Venice Carnival

 

 

Hi, I own a LC1 and use Silkypix 3.0. Have no problems with openning raw files. D2 files are exactly the same and I see no problems handling it in Silkypix. Sorry for interveening, but I really like Silkypix and don't want you to miss the chance of working with it. Since I discovered this software a year or so back I left other packages I used - Photoshop and Raw shooter and have been happy ever since. It would be helpfull to be able to speak Japanese to understand the Help, but...

 

Cheers,

Gennady

Link to post
Share on other sites

WIth respect to noise reduction with the Digilux 2 you'll get cleaner images by shooting under-exposed shots at ISO 100 and processing them to pull up the exposure vs shooting a more 'accurate' exposure at ISO 200/400. Sounds dumb I know but you'll get a better tonal and noise rendition than the more noisey and over processed higher ISO shots.

 

To match the JPEG colour you may want to consider using sRGB as the default colour space too. AdobeRGB typically gives me yellow-ish greens vs solid greens with sRGB (that match the JPG).

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi, I own a LC1 and use Silkypix 3.0. Have no problems with openning raw files. D2 files are exactly the same and I see no problems handling it in Silkypix. Sorry for interveening, but I really like Silkypix and don't want you to miss the chance of working with it. Since I discovered this software a year or so back I left other packages I used - Photoshop and Raw shooter and have been happy ever since. It would be helpfull to be able to speak Japanese to understand the Help, but...

 

Cheers,

Gennady

 

Sorry Gennady, but Peter is correct.

 

I have used SilkyPix 3.0 and it will not recognise my D2 raw files. SP3 happily recognises D3 and L1 raw files.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for the suggestions. I have been working with Lightroom and now find that in most cases my RAW conversions are coming out better than the in-camera JPEGs. I'm enjoying this D2 more and more - I wish I'd bought it 3 years ago!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Amin,

 

I've got to admit that I do not shot very often RAWs with my DL2, in most cases JPGs, nevertheless, I've been using RawShooter, which made a very good job, and now I also tried Lightroom, where I obtained comparable results to my satisfaction. :)

Well, the whole truth is that I export the images as 16-bit TIFFs and then sometimes make a fine-tuning in Photoshop... :o

 

Best regards, Peter.

Link to post
Share on other sites

It may be worth downloading the Lightroom developing plug-ins available from On One software. These give a great selection of preset profiles that you can apply to get the colour you want.

 

You can of course also produce you own set of processes and save them a a pre-set to apply to future shots.

 

I agree with gwelland re only using ISO100 and sRGB with the D2.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Well, the whole truth is that I export the images as 16-bit TIFFs and then sometimes make a fine-tuning in Photoshop... :o

 

No shame in that Peter. Don't all of us do that :D?

 

 

Brian, thanks for the link. I'm going to give those a try!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...