Tag Archives: High ISO

Gear, Reviews

Nikon D850: High ISO Samples

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Nikon D850 High ISO Performance Tests

Nikon D850 High ISO Image
My test scene for Nikon D850 high-iso images

The Nikon D850 DSLR camera not only produces 45-megapixel images perfect for landscapes and studio work, but its fast frame rate makes it potentially appealing for sports and action photographers. In sports and action photography, shutter speed is critical, and that means being able to push the camera ISO well above its base value. I decided to do some Nikon D850 high ISO testing to see how it fares.

Watch: Nikon D850 unboxing video

The Nikon D850 has a base ISO of 64, but you can expand it up to 25,800. Beyond that, you can push the ISO two full stops (Hi 1 and Hi 2 settings) to get corresponding ISO values of 51,200 and 102,400, respectively. Nikon uses the “Hi” nomenclature to denote sensitivities that are not truly “in-spec” and in accordance with the ISO standard.

Nevertheless, we push our gear, so I captured a  sequence of shots from ISO 1600 through Hi-2 (102,400). Continue reading Nikon D850: High ISO Samples →

Gear, Reviews

Nikon 1 V1 ISO Performance: Pixel Peeping vs. Image Sharing

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Pikes Peak alpenglow, Nikon 1 V1 at ISO 450 (hand-held)

In my review of the Nikon V1, I subjectively rated ISO performance. It seems as though the first thing people want to do with any new camera is crank the ISO and then try to shoot in the dark (ok, I’m guilty, too). While ISO performance shouldn’t be the only judgment factor when purchasing a camera, it’s certainly true that being able to shoot at high ISOs absolutely opens up creative possibilities that didn’t previously exist. In fact, one reason I really enjoy walking around with my D3s is that I can set ISO-Auto and forget it!

Of course, walking around with a D3s and a fast lens, like the 35mm f/1.4 AFS G Nikkor means lugging around a 2,021g (4.45 lb) kit! The Nikon V1 with 10mm f/2.8 “pancake” lens weighs in at 314g (0.69 lb). While I certainly don’t expect the V1 to come anywhere near the ISO performance of the D3s, I did think it would be interesting for me to compare it to my D3oos, which uses an older CMOS sensor design. Continue reading Nikon 1 V1 ISO Performance: Pixel Peeping vs. Image Sharing →