Stupid High ISO Values

Samko

@NSXTypeR
I moved from d90 to d7100, the iso and DR are better , but its not like wow better.

I figured that the iso dont make my photography better.

spraynpray

@NSXTypeR: You are dead right about the D7000 which is why I went to the D7100. I am still with the D7100 and just this morning took some pics at ISO6400 to verify the results shown in the comparison above. Result? Mine were far less noisy. Those pix may be OK for showing the comparison between bodies, but they are not representative of real world results (straight out of camera).

WestEndFoto

Did you crop to the extent that comparison did?

spraynpray

I always check my images at 1:1

WestEndFoto

Was straight out of the camera a JPEG or Raw file?

spraynpray

I did both but was referring to the raw. Obviously the jpeg was better, but I also processed the raw in lightroom and easily beat the in-camera jpeg.

These tests don't mean a thing unless they are all carried out in standard light levels and that light level is standard for all tests of all cameras by all testers. My test was possibly brighter which may account for the difference. I used no exposure compensation in AP mode, so wasn't deliberately exposing to the right and darkening in post.

BVS

To be fair, the crop I selected was one of the most extreme cases - a dark area of the image, in low light, at high ISO. @Samko wanted to know why the D5 was so expensive. In short, it's an extreme camera for extreme situations, and in such situations the D5 has about 1.5 - 2 stops advantage over the D7100. However, if you select a brighter part of the image, and/or switch to bright light mode (sun icon at the top), the noise in the D7100 shot is (much) less severe, and the performance difference is less.

WestEndFoto

Yes, agreed Spraynpray. We can only assume that DPreview was rigourous and it also demonstrates that comparing two testors (you and DPreview in this case) is futile. BVS, the Nikon sensors really show their mettle in the ability to pull detail out of the shadows and their noise in the shadows. That was an appropriate test that illustrated the point.