Aircraft Museum Belgrade, Serbia (How to improve Sony RX100 RAWs)

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DSC02317SONY DSC-RX100 (13.25mm, f/3.2, 1/40 sec, ISO125)

Another business trip. This time it’s Belgrade in Serbia. Late November 2012. Cold, grey and wet. Beside a couple of shots I took during a walk through the center I did not take a lot of images. When we went to the airport to get home we saw an old airplane museum. I loved the look of the building, my colleague loves planes and we got some time to kill so we went there. 

DSC02195SONY DSC-RX100 (10.4mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec, ISO125)
DSC02217SONY DSC-RX100 (10.4mm, f/2.8, 1/30 sec, ISO160)

On the outside it was already promising: A post communist utopia that supposed to look modern and it does somehow in a strange way. Of course it is in a very poor state today but it’s patina only adds to the look. Inside it was even better. And of course there were lot’s of planes. From very early machines like the on the first image, over lot’s of second world war fighters to modern jets. I was glad that I now own a very, very good compact camera that gives me almost DSLR like results: the Sony RX100. A little further down this posting I explain how to get most out of it’s RAW files but here are some planes first:

DSC02304SONY DSC-RX100 (10.4mm, f/2, 1/80 sec, ISO125)
 DSC02303SONY DSC-RX100 (10.4mm, f/2.5, 1/80 sec, ISO125)
 DSC02291SONY DSC-RX100 (10.4mm, f/1.8, 1/80 sec, ISO125)
 DSC02285SONY DSC-RX100 (10.4mm, f/1.8, 1/100 sec, ISO125)

In this rather strange plane the pilot needs to lie on his belly totally flat. Not the best position if you suffer from claustrophobia or in case of a crash. There was even the chance to get into a cockpit. Well, only of course if you are five years old. I can’t imagine how the pilots managed to get into their seats. They must have looked like jockeys.

DSC02248SONY DSC-RX100 (10.4mm, f/1.8, 1/80 sec, ISO125)

The Sony RX100 is a wonderful camera. It produces great pictures with lot’s of detail and it has a very high dynamic range BUT I think that the images come out a little flat because there is so much detail in the shadows and highlights. I prefer them to have more punch.

Here is an example: ( RAW straight out of camera opened in LR 4 ). Click on image to view it large.DSC02326-2SONY DSC-RX100 (10.4mm, f/2, 1/25 sec, ISO800)

And here is the same image processed.DSC02326SONY DSC-RX100 (10.4mm, f/2, 1/25 sec, ISO800)

Here is another example: RAW opened in LR 4. Nice tones and colors but to me it is flat and lifeless.DSC02329-2SONY DSC-RX100 (11.32mm, f/2.5, 1/30 sec, ISO200)

And here is the enhanced version. It looks far more 3D than the untouched file. The bolts come out very nice and the metal is shining. To me this picture looks clearly better. DSC02329SONY DSC-RX100 (11.32mm, f/2.5, 1/30 sec, ISO200)

What did I do to get there? I’m no post processing guru. Actually I hate it but the new cameras with the high dynamic sensors make it a necessity to process the images. First I corrected white balance to make the image a little warmer. Then I used VSCO film ( I think it was Kodak Portra NC ), increased level on the dynamic tool to get stronger colors and finally the clarity tool to get the punch. Done. I have done it for one picture and copied the changes by using the synchronize function of Lightroom. That’s why I can’t tell which film simulation I have used. I can’t find the master.

DSC02246SONY DSC-RX100 (12.48mm, f/2.8, 1/40 sec, ISO250)
 DSC02315SONY DSC-RX100 (10.4mm, f/2, 1/30 sec, ISO125)
 DSC02320SONY DSC-RX100 (10.4mm, f/2, 1/60 sec, ISO125)

There is also a sad reminder of the war that took place here just about 20 years ago. This is the tail of a F-16 they kept as a trophy.

DSC02322SONY DSC-RX100 (10.4mm, f/2, 1/25 sec, ISO400)

I can think of more attractive cities than Belgrade but if you go there don’t miss to visit the aircraft museum at the airport.