K-5 high ISO

**eccs19** · 07-29-2012, 05:10 PM

Is it just me, or am I crazy? I was shooting some low light Roller Derby stuff on the weekend, and I shot most of it at ISO 3200 (everything shot RAW). A few times I bumped the ISO up to 4500 and now that I'm working on my processing it seems that the ISO 4500 shots are a LOT more sharp & crisp / less noise that the shots at 3200. This just seems backwards. Has anyone else experienced this, or just a fluke? The difference seems more than enough to convince me that I should shoot at 4500 more often? Thoughts?

Brisboy · 07-29-2012, 05:23 PM

Yep, the noise factor definitely does seem backwards. Perhaps the higher iso gave you enough difference in shutter speed to stop the action a bit more, hence 'more sharp & crisp'.

**eccs19** · 07-29-2012, 05:36 PM

Originally posted by Brisboy

Yep, the noise factor definitely does seem backwards. Perhaps the higher iso gave you enough difference in shutter speed to stop the action a bit more, hence 'more sharp & crisp'.

Nope, only thing that changed was the ISO. I bumped it, as the people I were shooting were in a slightly darker area. (darn burnt out lights)

Eulogy · 07-29-2012, 05:48 PM

Will go and test this right now.

Edit: Either I'm going insane, or my K-5 won't go to 4500 ISO? o.o

Edit: Scratch that, have to be in 1/2 step mode as opposed to 1/3

Semi-Conclusion: Yup. Seems sharper on my LCD for sure.(With NR disabled at least)

Final Conclusion(Mine at least): Seems as though the "Noise" gets less noticeable due to it becoming "Smaller"? Don't know what would cause it, but it's noisier at 4500, just looks better because there's less pixelation style noise.(?)

Last edited by Eulogy; 07-29-2012 at 06:08 PM.

rawr · 07-29-2012, 05:56 PM

Originally posted by Eulogy

my K-5 won't go to 4500 ISO?

Make sure Expanded Sensitivity is enabled.
Menu > Custom Settings 1 > Expanded Sensitivity
Also have a look at pp 95-97 of the manual for all the sensitivity/ISO options

Winder · 07-29-2012, 06:14 PM

Originally posted by eccs19

Is it just me, or am I crazy? I was shooting some low light Roller Derby stuff on the weekend, and I shot most of it at ISO 3200 (everything shot RAW). A few times I bumped the ISO up to 4500 and now that I'm working on my processing it seems that the ISO 4500 shots are a LOT more sharp & crisp / less noise that the shots at 3200. This just seems backwards. Has anyone else experienced this, or just a fluke? The difference seems more than enough to convince me that I should shoot at 4500 more often? Thoughts?

I have not noticed a huge difference between 3200 and 4500. Even up to 5000 cleans up really well in Topaz. By the time I process the DNG files and convert them for printing the differences have vanished.

sbroadbentphoto · 08-03-2012, 10:36 PM

I think the look of noise it relative to the brightness of the photo. A well exposed photo at 6400 will generally look better and cleaner than an under exposed photo at 3200. If you bump it up brighter in post, the results should be essentially the same. after something like iso1600, the iso increase is usually just increased by software anyway and uses the improved dynamic range of the new cameras to boost brightness to mimmic iso increase to an extent.

07-29-2012, 05:10 PM	#1
eccs19 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lisle, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,510	K-5 high ISO Is it just me, or am I crazy? I was shooting some low light Roller Derby stuff on the weekend, and I shot most of it at ISO 3200 (everything shot RAW). A few times I bumped the ISO up to 4500 and now that I'm working on my processing it seems that the ISO 4500 shots are a LOT more sharp & crisp / less noise that the shots at 3200. This just seems backwards. Has anyone else experienced this, or just a fluke? The difference seems more than enough to convince me that I should shoot at 4500 more often? Thoughts?

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07-29-2012, 05:23 PM	#2
Brisboy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Cairns, Qld Posts: 204	Yep, the noise factor definitely does seem backwards. Perhaps the higher iso gave you enough difference in shutter speed to stop the action a bit more, hence 'more sharp & crisp'.

07-29-2012, 05:36 PM	#3
eccs19 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lisle, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,510 Original Poster	Originally posted by Brisboy Yep, the noise factor definitely does seem backwards. Perhaps the higher iso gave you enough difference in shutter speed to stop the action a bit more, hence 'more sharp & crisp'. Nope, only thing that changed was the ISO. I bumped it, as the people I were shooting were in a slightly darker area. (darn burnt out lights)

07-29-2012, 05:48 PM	#4
Eulogy Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Fredericton, New Brunswick Photos: Gallery Posts: 632	Will go and test this right now. Edit: Either I'm going insane, or my K-5 won't go to 4500 ISO? o.o Edit: Scratch that, have to be in 1/2 step mode as opposed to 1/3 Semi-Conclusion: Yup. Seems sharper on my LCD for sure.(With NR disabled at least) Final Conclusion(Mine at least): Seems as though the "Noise" gets less noticeable due to it becoming "Smaller"? Don't know what would cause it, but it's noisier at 4500, just looks better because there's less pixelation style noise.(?) Last edited by Eulogy; 07-29-2012 at 06:08 PM.

07-29-2012, 05:56 PM	#5
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by Eulogy my K-5 won't go to 4500 ISO? Make sure Expanded Sensitivity is enabled. Menu > Custom Settings 1 > Expanded Sensitivity Also have a look at pp 95-97 of the manual for all the sensitivity/ISO options

07-29-2012, 06:14 PM	#6
Winder Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 6,617	Originally posted by eccs19 Is it just me, or am I crazy? I was shooting some low light Roller Derby stuff on the weekend, and I shot most of it at ISO 3200 (everything shot RAW). A few times I bumped the ISO up to 4500 and now that I'm working on my processing it seems that the ISO 4500 shots are a LOT more sharp & crisp / less noise that the shots at 3200. This just seems backwards. Has anyone else experienced this, or just a fluke? The difference seems more than enough to convince me that I should shoot at 4500 more often? Thoughts? I have not noticed a huge difference between 3200 and 4500. Even up to 5000 cleans up really well in Topaz. By the time I process the DNG files and convert them for printing the differences have vanished.

08-03-2012, 10:36 PM	#7
sbroadbentphoto Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney, NSW Photos: Albums Posts: 132	I think the look of noise it relative to the brightness of the photo. A well exposed photo at 6400 will generally look better and cleaner than an under exposed photo at 3200. If you bump it up brighter in post, the results should be essentially the same. after something like iso1600, the iso increase is usually just increased by software anyway and uses the improved dynamic range of the new cameras to boost brightness to mimmic iso increase to an extent.