Low light ability
Discussion
I've currently got a canon 500D, the camera does almost every thing that I want apart from it's low light ability.
Is the iso ability of the camera mainly down to the sensor size or would going up to a 60d or 7d make a big difference?
One of my friends has a nikon D3s and it's low light ability is staggering but it's flipping massive!
Is the iso ability of the camera mainly down to the sensor size or would going up to a 60d or 7d make a big difference?
One of my friends has a nikon D3s and it's low light ability is staggering but it's flipping massive!
The size of the sensor, or more specifically the size of the pixels on the sensor, makes a big difference to how noisy the images are. All else being equal, bigger pixels means less noise.
However, improvements in technology mean that noise performance tends to improve with each generation, even though more pixels are added. Canon's current APS-C sized sensor which is used in the 600D, 60D, and 7D would probably be a slight improvement on what you have at the moment.
The Canon that would come closest to the D3S is the 1D MkIV.
However, improvements in technology mean that noise performance tends to improve with each generation, even though more pixels are added. Canon's current APS-C sized sensor which is used in the 600D, 60D, and 7D would probably be a slight improvement on what you have at the moment.
The Canon that would come closest to the D3S is the 1D MkIV.
14-7 said:
I have a 7D and to be honest am not at all impressed by low light ability. As soon as you push the ISO above 400 I think the noise is extremely noticable.
Really? I reguarly shoot non league football under floodlights of varying quality at 3200 usually. Sure it needs a bit of NR software, but it cleans up nicely.I did think the mid iso noise was a little too much, but over 800 I'm pretty pleased with mine. Having said that, I know there was a bit of moaning about it from some quarters.
Mind you, when you consider what noise problesm there used to be, things have moved on by a fair amount!
SamHH said:
The size of the sensor, or more specifically the size of the pixels on the sensor, makes a big difference to how noisy the images are. All else being equal, bigger pixels means less noise.
Pretty much they've solved all the problems with photosites and loosing light , so you dont get worse noise with more pixels, now you can easily pixel bin for better noise. But mostly its down to the surface area of the sensor. The 5D2 is actualy about on par with the D700 even though it has a lot more pixels.
1D4 is about on par with the D3s (in terms of efficiency) but looses out overall because its APS-C.
The 7D is pretty good, the D7000 is better though as its newer.
A lot also depends on exposure and processing. This is effectively an ISO 6400 shot on a 7D (3200 -1ev pushed a stop):
That would print fine 8x6 or 10x7 or something. A D7000 would do a little better etc.
Speed addicted said:
with the 1D ahead of the 5D?
No.The 5D2 is better in low light than the 1D4 or the 1Ds3.
1D4 gives up surface area and doesnt make it up with being newer.
1D3 is optimised for low ISO quality more than the 5D2 is.
Your trying to shoot landscapes from a moving boat in low light?
When you put it like that...
I'm on holiday in Malaysia and I was taking pictures during a tour of the mangroves at about lunchtime, but because of the amount of foliage it's pretty dark in there.
So yes, I was taking pictures from a moving boat in low light, but there was no other choice.
This trip has been another learning curve. It's amazing how long it takes for the condensation to clear when you move from air-con to 30degrees with 100% humidity!
It's not just pictures of mangroves that have made me wonder about this, it gets dark really quickly here and I've missed some good shots as it's just beyond what's achievable due to light levels.
I'm on holiday in Malaysia and I was taking pictures during a tour of the mangroves at about lunchtime, but because of the amount of foliage it's pretty dark in there.
So yes, I was taking pictures from a moving boat in low light, but there was no other choice.
This trip has been another learning curve. It's amazing how long it takes for the condensation to clear when you move from air-con to 30degrees with 100% humidity!
It's not just pictures of mangroves that have made me wonder about this, it gets dark really quickly here and I've missed some good shots as it's just beyond what's achievable due to light levels.
I guess it depends on what you want to achieve.
How often can you not use a tripod, which is really the best answer to low light , so long as the subject isnt moving.
How often can you use a fast lens? Fast lenses give shallow DOF so often arnt good for landscapes (in that mode).
Do you have a good IS/OS lens? The newish kit lens has what 4 stops IS but isnt at its best at f5.6 etc.
Are these images for print or sale? If so getting an extra stop or more from a FF camera may be worth it.
Are you using good noise removal software? This gets better all the time, I use noise ninja but I think neatimage is best at the moment?
How often can you not use a tripod, which is really the best answer to low light , so long as the subject isnt moving.
How often can you use a fast lens? Fast lenses give shallow DOF so often arnt good for landscapes (in that mode).
Do you have a good IS/OS lens? The newish kit lens has what 4 stops IS but isnt at its best at f5.6 etc.
Are these images for print or sale? If so getting an extra stop or more from a FF camera may be worth it.
Are you using good noise removal software? This gets better all the time, I use noise ninja but I think neatimage is best at the moment?
RobDickinson said:
Speed addicted said:
with the 1D ahead of the 5D?
No.The 5D2 is better in low light than the 1D4 or the 1Ds3.
1D4 gives up surface area and doesnt make it up with being newer.
1D3 is optimised for low ISO quality more than the 5D2 is.
Your trying to shoot landscapes from a moving boat in low light?
The lens is a sigma 17-70 which is 2.8 at the wide end. I was also using a 75-300 canon usm lens earlier in the trip to take pictures of eagles and monkeys (that was bloody difficult from a boat!).
At the moment it was just wondering how far up the ladder I would need to go to allow me to use the camera hand held in low light situations.
I have no intention of selling the pictures so a £2000 camera is beyond my needs (and budget if the wife found out!). If it was a matter of a few hundred to upgrade i'd consider it but it's too big a jump just now.
I'll just keep dreaming for the time being
At the moment it was just wondering how far up the ladder I would need to go to allow me to use the camera hand held in low light situations.
I have no intention of selling the pictures so a £2000 camera is beyond my needs (and budget if the wife found out!). If it was a matter of a few hundred to upgrade i'd consider it but it's too big a jump just now.
I'll just keep dreaming for the time being
Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff