OLPF filter on D3

I have read threads on the D750 forum of people having their OLPF filter removed by a company called Life Pixels. It is suppose to give you a sharper picture after removal, and the people who have had it done on their D750's are raving about it.This company is now removing the low pass filters on the Nikon D3 and D3s. I was wondering if anyone has had it done. Any opinions about doing it, is it worth it or would it make as big of a difference as the D750 people say it does? I have a D3 with just under 30,000 clicks so I plan on having this camera for a while as my sports and action camera. Just wondering.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
I have read threads on the D750 forum of people having their OLPF filter removed by a company called Life Pixels. It is suppose to give you a sharper picture after removal, and the people who have had it done on their D750's are raving about it.This company is now removing the low pass filters on the Nikon D3 and D3s. I was wondering if anyone has had it done. Any opinions about doing it, is it worth it or would it make as big of a difference as the D750 people say it does? I have a D3 with just under 30,000 clicks so I plan on having this camera for a while as my sports and action camera. Just wondering.
I didn't realize other D750 owners were having this done, I'm the only such person I was aware of... You might want to read through my thread on this topic, I Had the OLPF Removed From my D750 for starters. If you have specific questions, though, fire away.
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Hi Paul
I have read on other forums and talked to a couple of people who had it done. I have a D3 with just under 30,000 clicks and I'll probably have this camera for quite some time to use for sports and action photography. I was just wondering on an older camera such as mine would you get as good or almost as good results on a D3 as you got on your D750. They are different sensors and the D750 has twice the megapixels, I was just wondering if your wold see enough of a difference to warrant the $350.00 the Life Pixels wants.

Brian
 

Blacktop

Senior Member
Hi Paul
I have read on other forums and talked to a couple of people who had it done. I have a D3 with just under 30,000 clicks and I'll probably have this camera for quite some time to use for sports and action photography. I was just wondering on an older camera such as mine would you get as good or almost as good results on a D3 as you got on your D750. They are different sensors and the D750 has twice the megapixels, I was just wondering if your wold see enough of a difference to warrant the $350.00 the Life Pixels wants.

Brian

Could you please link to these forums? I would be interested to read others opinions . I trust Paul's, but it's always nice to have more than one.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Hi Paul
I have read on other forums and talked to a couple of people who had it done. I have a D3 with just under 30,000 clicks and I'll probably have this camera for quite some time to use for sports and action photography. I was just wondering on an older camera such as mine would you get as good or almost as good results on a D3 as you got on your D750. They are different sensors and the D750 has twice the megapixels, I was just wondering if your wold see enough of a difference to warrant the $350.00 the Life Pixels wants.
Having the OLPF removed would improve the sharpness of your D3, of that I'm sure. An AA filter is an AA filter whether the sensor has 6MP or 60. Exactly how much of an increase you'd see, and if you'd find it worth the price of admission, though, are two questions I really can't answer. As you point out, we're discussing two very different camera bodies and I just can't be sure your results would mirror my own.
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mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Could be on the wrong track but isnt the AA filter to help prevent moire effect and is that more likely with older sensors ?
 

cbay

Senior Member
Unless i pixel peep in raw editing i cannot tell the difference between my D7000 and D7200. One has the filter and the other does not.
 
It was just a question I asked out of ignorance. I heard it worked well on the D750 so I was wondering if that would be true of other cameras. I guess i would have to fine someone who has had it done. Right now I think I'll put the money towards some new glass. Anybody like the new Tamron 15-35 f/2.8?
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Anybody like the new Tamron 15-35 f/2.8?
I've seen some of the faculty carrying one and everyone is very happy with the lens even while complaining it's a big ol' fat piece of glass. The overall IQ looks good but I've only seen shots from this lens coming from Canon bodies at this point. From the shots I've seen and from what I've heard, the lens shows some pretty noticeable barrel distortion at long end, and has some CA across the board, but nothing out of the ordinary. The lens-hood is a little weird (it's a built-in, retractable sort of affair) and the front element is a bit... bulbous, shall we say, so screw-on filters are not gonna work, which bums me out, personally, in case that matters to you. Everyone seems likes the VC and all agree it's very effective.
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Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Hey Paul
Thanks for the info. It was just a thought.
I just re-read my previous post and it might sound like the overall impression I have of that lens is not good, which could not be further from the truth. Just to clarify, everyone I've spoken to that shoots the Tamron 15-35mm f/2.8 loves it and while I haven't seen thousands of images from it, I have seen hundreds and I'd say it's pretty impressive. I don't know what it costs but it appears to be a damn fine lens overall, even if a tad on the quirky side (IMO).
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Paul, I believe you can get the lens for $1199.00 right now. You can get the Nikon 16-35 f/4 VR for $100.00 more. It's not 2.8 but it has VR. I've been told some good things about the Nikon 18-35 3.5-4.5.
 
I still have not done anything with my camera in regards to having the AA filter removed. The question I am now asking myself is, "Can I get the same sharpness by using Lightroom or some other sharpening program".
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
I still have not done anything with my camera in regards to having the AA filter removed. The question I am now asking myself is, "Can I get the same sharpness by using Lightroom or some other sharpening program".
An Optical Low Pass Filter is an anti-aliasing filter that is designed, specifically, to blur detail. That, in short, is the sole purpose of the AA filter, to blur the image. This blurring changes the frequency of patterns that are passed through the lens to the sensor and in turn helps prevent moire.

Sharpening done in post', on the other hand, works by making edges in your shot appear more defined by darkening pixels that are already dark and by lightening pixels that are already light. This creates a crisp edge between light and dark portions of the image, giving it more contrast. In effect, it's an optical illusion that gives the impression of sharpness.
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Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Do you think it was money well spent?
Well now THAT'S the $64,000 question, isn't it?

Am I glad I did it? Yes, absolutely. That being said I would have a hard time SUGGESTING you follow suit unless you know you're going to be holding on to your D750 for a while or you have money falling out your a--. If you frequently upgrade your camera body I don't really think it would be worth it but I plan on holding on to my D750 for quite some time and the cost wasn't an issue, not that I'm made of money by any stretch of the imagination; it was still a significant investment for me. Had I thought about it too much before-hand I'm sure I would have talked myself out of it...

In short, it's hard to put a value on a thing like this and the cost was just enough to have me second guessing my snap decision almost as soon as I made it. In-camera sharpness is a wonderful thing but I think you need to gauge how serious you are about your photography and how long you think you're going to value your D750 as your primary body. Lastly, I'd say if you're going to miss the cash, don't do it; too many other things far outweigh sharpness when it comes to quality photography (meaning technical merit). Maybe, for you, that money would be better spent taking a class instead. But in short, yeah... I'm glad I did it. But that's me.

I hope I haven't just totally muddied the waters for you and good luck with whatever you decide!
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Thanks for the info Paul, you are not muddying the waters. I was going to upgrade to a D810 until I had some major unexpected expenses. So I have to start saving again, which in a way might be a good thing. I saw on another board that an upgrade to the D810 might be coming before Christmas. I love my D3 because it takes great pictures and I have 250,000 clicks left on the shutter, so I have no need to buy a new camera. I'm being real wishy-washy about the hold thing. Should I, shouldn't I buy a new camera. I sometimes get the buying bug and think I have to have something new because it's better.
I don't know how you feel on the subject but they say these new mirror-less cameras from Fuji and Sony are getting real close to being as good as a top of the line DSLR. They are smaller and some what lighter to carry around. Should I save my money and buy one of these or a Nikon equivalent when they come out with one(Not a Nikon 1) that's as good as a DSLR?
Until then I will sit here and do what I do best,(Nothing).

Thanks Paul


P.S.
I just talked to Life Pixels and they told me they can remove the AA filter from the D3, but it will be up to me to see if there is enough difference to meet my satisfaction.
 
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