Oh those cute eyes .....

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hello folks back to Seal business ....:t3
I wanted to see how my latest toy will perform in terms of IQ when cropped heavily ( from my understanding ) in combo with " high iso " .
So this is a 50 % crop , will post the full frame in pane 2 .
I would like to know your honest thoughts ....
With hindsight i would have gone for more DOF ..... but in the field i overlooked that .... like many times :bg3:.Well nobody is perfect :2eyes2:

Well here you go ...

Canon EOS 1Dx II
EF 200-400 IS L at 400 mm
Tripod

F 5,6 ; Iso 12800 ; 1/2000 sec ; man exp.

Processed with DPP 4 and PS CC 2017 ; 50 % crop for comp

Thanks for watching and sharing your honest thoughts .

Cheers Andreas

[Andreas Liedmann]

here the full frame .....:S3:

[Mike Hitchen]

This is so much more than just 'cute'.
I prefer the uncropped shot - I think it is because of the 'small pup in a big world' and vulnerability feel to it. Adds an aside, the DOF also becomes less of an issue. And although the seal is central the fact it is leaning to the viewer's left means you can get away with it.

[Alex Becker]

This is great -- I too prefer the uncropped shot for the inclusion of the second flipper and more of the really nice soft sky and sand color combo. The image quality and detail is very nice for the high iso high crop version, although I think I'm seeing a trace of noise in the blacks of the eyes (maybe my imagination looking for a nit).

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Andreas - My initial impression before reading your intro and realizing it was a large crop was huge cuteness factor but the IQ doesn't seem up to your usual standards. There just isn't as much detail in the face as you normally extract. Then reading I understand why and I also prefer the wider view, though perhaps the intimacy effect is not there. Love the soft tones of the ff. There is a darker spot to the left and above the seal in the bg that I would do something about if it were mine.

TFS,
Rachel

[Julie Rathbone]

This is gorgeous, great subject, depth of field, nice colour...

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Andreas, this along with other images by both you and Mike P must sure prompt Loi to look at using higher ISO and faster SS?????

Both have different merits, but personally the original works for me better, but just a tad. However this really does illustrate, good techs, careful PP delivers, although a crop of 50% is never ideal nor really should it be considered unless used small to retain as much IQ as possible, don't want to bash those pixels.

TFS
Steve

[haseeb badar]

Hi Andreas -- At the first instance I too felt this is a lovely portrait and at this size the IQ doesn't really appears as getting hampered. But again having a closer look i too feel that a big crop has affected the IQ but not too bad from my POV. So i guess considering the size at which the image is going to be used is directly related to the amt of cropping it can sustain .
BTW i liked the uncropped version much better .

TFS !

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hello folks ....thanks a lot for the various comments , as always much appreciated .
I really like you being honest , thumbs up for that !!!!!!
This is for sure a crop i would normally NEVER do , for obvious reason of IQ loss !!!! Even if IQ holds relatively ok from my POV in this case .... and i even did not look that much during PP work on the quality of my work . With a little more effort i think i can do better .
Regarding the overall pleasing look , i agree the wider view is better .
But this post is more for techies amongst us .....:t3
Anyhow thanks again for your sharing of thoughts

Andreas

[keith mitchell]

Uncropped for me Andreas and I certainly see what you are getting at with the IQ,beautiful work.

Keith.

[Andreas Liedmann]

Thanks Keith for your kind words ....much appreciated .

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi all as a result of your comments i reworked both images with Capture One Pro 10 , taking Steve´s words from my recent Rhino posting where he claimed that the C1 images might give better results compared to DPP conversion .
The wider image is cropped slightly , the tight one almost the same as the OP .
So take your critical eyes and judge yourself .... i hope for your honest critique ...:bg3:.

Cheers Andreas

[Andreas Liedmann]

Here the wider version .....

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the looser composition of the image. To my eye I prefer the DPP conversions. The High ISO capabilities of that camera body are amazing when put in the right hands!