Pentax K2000

Focal length: 35mm
Aperture: f/9
Shutter: 1/250
ISO: 100

This scenic shot in Brightwaters, NY was taken, appropriately enough, using the Landscape image tone setting, with automatic white balance and center-weighted metering. The effect of the Landscape setting is most notable in the postcard-blue sky and slightly boosted contrast; we find the effect pleasing here.

Focal length: 42.5mm
Aperture: f/11
Shutter: 1/80
ISO: 100

This was shot handheld in bright sunlight, with the camera set to the default Bright image tone, using multi-segment metering and shutter priority exposure. There’s some softness and color aberration in the lower left corner, but overall the details come through nicely and the colors look right.

Focal length: 55mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter: 1/640
ISO: 400

This photo of Grace was taken in aperture priority mode, with the Bight image tone setting, using automatic white balance and multi-segment metering. What pleases us here is the accurate texture reproduction, from the dog’s fine hairs to the sunshine on the leaves and grass and the detail in the plastic chew toy.

Focal length: 35mm
Aperture: f/4.5
Shutter: 1/6
ISO: 1600

This was taken in the dead of night using center-weighted metering in Program mode. The image tone is set to Natural. We experimented with the high ISO noise reduction setting, and finally went with ‘weak,’ which is actually the middle setting.

With noise reduction off the blotchiness in the very dark sections was much worse and the white in the bench was less clear; the higher setting wiped out detail in the shutter.

Focal length:50mm
Aperture: f/9
Shutter: 1/160
ISO: 100

This culinary mecca on the south shore of Long Island was shot on a grey, overcast day. In the default mode it looked relatively lifeless, so we went with Vibrant image tone, which made the brightly colored highlights pop (though the red on the garbage can and metal poles may be too pronounced). Color intensity is raised here but the hues remain accurate.

Aperture: f/8
Shutter: 1/160
ISO: 100

On the same overcast day as the photo above, this was shot using Natural image tone and multi-segment metering, with the camera set to Program exposure mode. The edges are clear, with no visible fringing even at the extremes, and the level of detail is very good.