best camera for ISO 1600

[rgolub]

I'm surprised that this hasn't come up yet (or if it did, I missed it - perhaps not enough caffeine).

Jeff - you don't mention your lenses - I presume that you are using as fast a lens as you can? Perhaps the 50 1.4 or 85 1.4 if those focal lengths work for you....

You also don't meniton post processing - have you tried the usual suspects in terms of noise reduction?

In another post, you mentioned the sluggishness of the D100 in terms of file handling. The good news is that any of the newer cameras will beat the ol 100 in that department. I shoot with the D100 and D2x - I wouldn't call the latter absolutely steller in low light. I spend a lot of time working the image with noise ninja or neat image, but I can get perfectly acceptable fine art landscape and wildlife prints routinely at 400 and occasionally at 800 with the D2x. The D100 just doesn't have the low light focusing that the newer camera has (although you could put an SB 800 on it and use if for a focus assist lamp I suppose).

--
RG
http://www.lostrange.com

 

[Alfred Arzt]

but also more dynamic range and no color loss.

I would not be so shure about that. I could not find any signifficant difference in DR.

much better color balance right out of camera.

Maybe that was true for the D100, but with the D200 I am pleased with the color balance out of the camera.

Alfred Arzt

http://www.pbase.com/artalf

 

[Joe Braun]

Right, but no one was asking for comparison between Canon and Nikon.

I for one actually appreciate seeing non-troll opinions on Canon gear. It helps us all get educated. ngeiger was giving an honest opinion and the way I took it, it was not meant to inflame anybody.

I have been shooting with Nikon gear for 25 years, currently using the D2X as my main axe. It's a wonderful camera and I love it dearly, but I would also be the first to admit that it's not the best at high-ISO poorly-lit sporting events.

We should think of ourselves more as "photographers" than as "Nikonians" vs. "Canonites." Use the tool that gets the results that you want. If my Nikon couldn't do what I needed and there was another product available (Canon, Olympus, Fuji, Sonly, whatever!), I would definitely consider it as an addition to my arsenal.

Best, Joe
--------------------------------------------
Joe Braun Photography
http://www.citrusmilo.com/joe/

 

[NOLA_Traveler]

Heres a great ISO 1600 photo from my D50 (50mm 1.8 lens)

This camera is truely great at this ISO, and makes concert shooting really easy as well.If you want to see more examples of this, just send me a message

 

[Leonard Shepherd]

With respect your question is probably fundamentally flawed.
It is normal for stage lighting to be several stops brighter than room lighting.
If so you should have no problem getting good sharp shots at 400 ISO
--
Leonard Shepherd

Usually skill in using equipment has more to do with good photography than the equipment itself.

 

[Alfred Arzt]

Saw your page. Your pictures are great!!!

I for one actually appreciate seeing non-troll opinions on Canon
gear. It helps us all get educated. ngeiger was giving an honest
opinion and the way I took it, it was not meant to inflame anybody.

Sorry, I was not shure, its always difficult to find out about motivation of others.

I have been shooting with Nikon gear for 25 years, currently using
the D2X as my main axe. It's a wonderful camera and I love it
dearly, but I would also be the first to admit that it's not the
best at high-ISO poorly-lit sporting events.

D200 is better for that than d2x and not so far behind the best.

We should think of ourselves more as "photographers" than as
"Nikonians" vs. "Canonites." Use the tool that gets the results
that you want.

Agree absolutely.

If my Nikon couldn't do what I needed and there was

another product available (Canon, Olympus, Fuji, Sonly, whatever!),
I would definitely consider it as an addition to my arsenal.

Now with D200 I never had any situation where my Nikon could not do what I needed, but with D100 I had lots of.

Regards

Alfred Arzt

http://www.pbase.com/artalf

 

[TartarFan]

30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D and oh Canon 30D
--
John
(Tartarfan)
Banned for having a SmuMug Coupon on Signature

 

[Dennis D]

I just shot weddings with my 30d and I had the sb-800s
with good nikon bodys and lens
there is no differnts with nikon and canon in flash photography
if you use the new canon flashs 580ex and 430ex..

My assistant uses a 1Ds MII with a 580ex flash while I use the D2X with the SB-800, I can tell you for a fact that her combo is far less consistent than my D2X/SB-800 combo, and I'm being nice when I say "far less". She's a very competent photographer but I think she's ready to go to Nikon because of her frustration over the flash system and the soft and vignetting edges from her Canon.

Dennis D

 

[ARClark]

30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D
30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D
30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D
30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D
30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D
30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D
30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D
30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D
30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D
30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D
30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D
30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D
30D 30D 30D 30D 30D 30D and oh Canon 30D
--
John
(Tartarfan)
Banned for having a SmuMug Coupon on Signature

John, how long have you been shooting the 30D? Based on your exhuberent response, I'd love to see some comparisons you'd made between it and Nikons that the OP inquired about.

Alan

 

[R. Bond]

I ain't tried the D200 but hope to soon.

Regards
RB

--
http://www.pbase.com/rebond

 

[digital4dummies.com]

I have a D200 and D2x and tend to use the D200 when I must use ISO 1600.

I had a Canon 5D for a month and shot it side by side with my D200 at a concert. I was lamenting how much better the 5D looked compared to the D200 at ISO 1600, until I loaded the shots into Photoshop and found that the 5D shots were actually at ISO 3200. Egad.

Fortunately, I don't need ISO 1600 or 3200 very often, which is why the 5D went back and I still have my D200. It's fine at high ISOs, but anyone who uses them extensively might prefer something else.

dave

Which camera would you prefer for shooting poorly lit stage scenes
at ISO 1600 - no flash allowed:

1) D100,
2) D200, or
3) D2x

--
Jeff

 

[slvrfxsks]

D200 is really good in high ISO. It's better than a Provia 400@1600...
You Just need some basic thing... Shoot at 1600.. underexposed by 1 stop.
Put in ACR, make more Shadows..

All in ISO 1600 @ -1.3EV, 70-200, 1/4s.

 

[Negative287]

This was covered by Imaging Resources who showed that the entire new Nikon Line (short of the D200 which wasn't out yet) was at the bottom of the ranks when it came to DR at High ISO...

I believe he did this test for the 30D review... At ISO 100 - 400 all things were pretty equal...

Unfortunately, this isn't really Nikon's fault as it is the product of another crappy design by Sony! This is also why I will never consider a Sony DSLR.

but also more dynamic range and no color loss.

I would not be so shure about that. I could not find any
signifficant difference in DR.

much better color balance right out of camera.

Maybe that was true for the D100, but with the D200 I am pleased
with the color balance out of the camera.

Alfred Arzt

http://www.pbase.com/artalf

--



'The probability that we may fall in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just; it shall not deter me.' -- Abraham Lincoln

 

[Negative287]

Canon's E-TTL II is where Nikon was with D-TTL so it is safe to say that Canon is easily a few years behind in this area... You can get around this by shooting manual but you really shouldn't have to.

I just shot weddings with my 30d and I had the sb-800s
with good nikon bodys and lens
there is no differnts with nikon and canon in flash photography
if you use the new canon flashs 580ex and 430ex..

My assistant uses a 1Ds MII with a 580ex flash while I use the D2X
with the SB-800, I can tell you for a fact that her combo is far
less consistent than my D2X/SB-800 combo, and I'm being nice when I
say "far less". She's a very competent photographer but I think
she's ready to go to Nikon because of her frustration over the
flash system and the soft and vignetting edges from her Canon.

Dennis D

--



'The probability that we may fall in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just; it shall not deter me.' -- Abraham Lincoln

 

[dadalee]

D200 is really good in high ISO. It's better than a Provia 400@1600...
You Just need some basic thing... Shoot at 1600.. underexposed by 1
stop.
Put in ACR, make more Shadows..

All in ISO 1600 @ -1.3EV, 70-200, 1/4s.

Very impressive shots. I reckon the D200 is MUCH better than my Nokia 6220 even at ISO3200.

 

[Jim VeNard]

Dumb questions

I would not wast my time shooting in poor light at any iso. It will suck regardless of the camera.

Which camera would you prefer is a dark room with no lights?

 

[fuzzytalz]

If ISO 1600 is really that important to you then none of the above
options are "ideal".

I'm not going to make any suggestions other than you might get a
better sampling of suggestions by making this question in the
"open" or "pro talk" forums where you'll be given morfe and better
options.

--
Garland Cary

 

[nizar ghosn]

did u see the noise in your pictures ,, at iso 2000 ie 1600 canon side .. just to compare .. best wishes to u all

nizar out.



http://www.pbase.com/photoniz

 

[John W Peterson]

Whenever we ask what camera performs best at high iso, it is probably reasonable to concede at the outset that Canon appears to have the clear lead here. Specifically the Canon 5D, followed by the D20/30. More then a few of us nikonians keep a canon or two around for high iso performance. My personal take on this is that Nikon makes the better bodies and Canon Makes the better film. Perhaps someday we will be able to "drop in" standard Canon digital sensor modules into Nikon bodies.

This is of course no great attack on Nikon. If you look at who leads with what I would say:

Nikon leads in: Overall Camera design, ergonomics, "performance/weight ratio", autofocus in medium and low light, lens quality "out of the box", wide angle lens performance, flash performance, shutter life, edge of field performance (lack of vignetting using 1.5x crop - compared to 5D with FF). Nikon also leads IMHO in price / performance ratio.

Canon leads in: high iso image quality, noise at long exposure, pleasing skin tones, locally available service center (in my case - I live in NJ, but this depends where you are).

Having said all that, I agree that in the field of high iso, nikon only, the apparent prevailing wisdom is that pre-photoshop, the nikon D50 leads the pack, followed by the D70 and that the D2x comes up last or close to last.

For the sake of balance, we should probably give an "Olympus leads" in innovation in dust removal, lens mount design, weather resistant small camera (E1 - but D200 possibly taking the lead here).

 

[TartarFan]

John, how long have you been shooting the 30D? Based on your
exhuberent response, I'd love to see some comparisons you'd made
between it and Nikons that the OP inquired about.

Alan
--

Alan,

I have never even seen one in person. Only in magazines.

I am just so fristrated with the Noise of my D200 at ISO 320 or higher, I don;t think anyone who has to shoot medium to high ISO, should be using a Nikon anymore.

If I could find an even swap for all my Nikon Gear, to a 30D, I would make the switch
--
John
(Tartarfan)
Banned for having a SmuMug Coupon on Signature