D2Hs totally unscientific High ISO experiment

[The Dude]

Cropped but not re-sized, taken from my couch, all hand held with the 85/1.4, I have way too much free time and do not sleep nearly enough...

I was simply trying different settings ISO 200 to ISO 6400 equivalent ... (Yes that's a mustard yellow wall, still have yet to paint this room, one wall came in this color in the apartment... I kid you not.)

At ISO 200 ambient light (incandescent... books sitting on top of a dresser) f/1.4 of course... 1/10 of a second exposure



At ISO 800 = 1/45 sec... If ya ask me, not much of a difference between 200 and 800 hence I skipped a whole bunch of steps... Awesome, just awesome!



... ISO 1000 = 1/60 sec, same light same aperture but gaining in speed fast and pretty good results noise wise so far, excellent for speed! love it!



... ISO 1600 = 1/90 sec wow! Still low noise to me, good for indoor sports and night time city shooting



... ISO 3200 equivalent (One step over 1600!) = 1/180 second exposure... Wowser but starts getting noisier, yet still usable IMHO if you need to.



and last but not least ISO 6400 equivalent (Two steps over 1600, whatever that means...) = 1/350 sec hypersonic fast but freaky noisy...



Not too shabby up to ISO 1600 after which ya gotta need it to use it...

Lets recap a little

1600 Cropped



1600 Resized



6400 Cropped



6400 Resized

[Uncle-AJ]

I guess you bought a new camera Patrick?

[The Dude]

Originally Posted by Uncle-AJ

I guess you bought a new camera Patrick?

Kinda/Sorta yes, I started by buying a 54mm/1.4 then got a 18-200 VR and an 85/1.4 but the D2Hs was $1000 off retail at this store in Montréal soooooo what was I to do? I mean, high ISO and hyper fast (8 frames a second) camera with one of the best image sensor in the Nikon line up, I couldn't pass it up, it was that or a new watch and frankly - I have been using the camera a lot more...

[montecristo]

Just curious, whats the typical ISO on a point and shoot camera?
Isn't high ISO setting for taking pics in the dark?

[Uncle-AJ]

Nice choice Patrick, I have a D2Xs which has seen a lot of use since August last year. I must admit, I try not to shoot at anything over ISO 400 because with birds you usually have to do a lot of cropping and then the noise starts to show.


Ken regarding point and shoot camera ISO values, I'd say they went no higher than ISO 400 but all cameras are not the same.

[Gedanken]

That's impressive, Patrick! ISO 1600 on my 400D is noisy enough, and I try to avoid anything over 400.

[The Dude]

Originally Posted by montecristo

Just curious, whats the typical ISO on a point and shoot camera?
Isn't high ISO setting for taking pics in the dark?

It really depends on the models and how many features you have in the menu, most point and shoot do not go higher than 400 ISO but I have seen some advertized as high as 1600 ISO or was it 1200 ISO? I can't recall... My old Konika/Minolta had ISO 800 on it if I remember correctly but then again it had more manual features than any P&S I ever saw and some of the best glass in its class.

[charles]

The D2Hs is one of Nikon's best for indoor low-light work but it's low pixel density didn't work for me with indoor sports where cropping can be heavy. I use a D2Xs and primes for all my indoor sports work...I can shoot at iso400 and keep noise in check.

The D2Xs and 85/1.4 is one of my favorite combos...

[Uncle-AJ]

Great pictures Charles and that 85mm f1.4 sounds tempting.

[charles]

Originally Posted by Uncle-AJ

Great pictures Charles and that 85mm f1.4 sounds tempting.

Thanks...it's a classic...I wish they'd update it with AF-S tho!

[Uncle-AJ]

Originally Posted by charles

Thanks...it's a classic...I wish they'd update it with AF-S tho!

That's a thought, maybe I'll wait and see what happens.

[The Dude]

Originally Posted by charles

The D2Hs is one of Nikon's best for indoor low-light work but it's low pixel density didn't work for me with indoor sports where cropping can be heavy. I use a D2Xs and primes for all my indoor sports work...I can shoot at iso400 and keep noise in check.

The D2Xs and 85/1.4 is one of my favorite combos...

Awesome images, great captures and crisp clear

[charles]

Originally Posted by Uncle-AJ

That's a thought, maybe I'll wait and see what happens.

Nikon is notoriously slow for upgrades. The upside to the 85/1.4 is it's awesome...just needs a little horsepower boost. Optically about perfect!

[charles]

Originally Posted by The Dude

Awesome images, great captures and crisp clear

Thanks! Enjoy your 85/1.4! Looks like you already are!