Maximum ISO

**Mapleleaf-Mick** · 10-18-2016, 12:28 PM

What is the maximum ISO that you would
use on your K3?
What would you set the maximum on your K3 TO?

MICHAEL

Last edited by Mapleleaf-Mick; 10-18-2016 at 02:28 PM.

virusn3t · 10-18-2016, 12:53 PM

Originally posted by Mapleleaf-Mick

What is the maximum ISO that you would
use on your K5?
What would you set the maximum on your K5 TO?

MICHAEL

I think the maximun ISO depends of the final use of the image, for product photography i never pass the 100ISO, for every other pictures i was good with the ISO4000. That on my K30 who have the same sensor of the K5

leekil · 10-18-2016, 12:55 PM

I would do auto ISO from 100-3200, and manually set it to 6400 if I really needed it. But I do a lot of candid and low-light photography of people.

It really depends on what you are photographing and how pristine you want the image to be.

**klh** · 10-18-2016, 12:57 PM

Originally posted by Mapleleaf-Mick

What is the maximum ISO that you would
use on your K5?
What would you set the maximum on your K5 TO?

MICHAEL

Hi Michael. I typically set the maximum to 3200 when I was using the K-5, but would occasionally go higher if I needed to. I would rather have to reduce noise than camera shake. It's always a trade-off. I suggest you do some experimentation to see what your eye will tolerate.

Here's an example of an indoor shot (of a ceiling) at ISO3200, f/5.6, 1/60s.

DeadJohn · 10-18-2016, 01:16 PM

You wrote K5 above but posted in the K3 forum. I assume you want to know about the K5 (the K3 is different, but similar). My short answer is ISO 3200 although it depends on the scene.

I'll readily go to ISO 800 in low light. If the scene is not moving I use a tripod + lower ISO + slow shutter. If the scene has movement that requires a faster shutter speed, or I don't have a tripod available, I get good results for on-screen viewing up to ISO 3200.

As you increase ISO, the dynamic range and colors suffer. Colors look off at ISO 6400 so I convert to B&W as needed.

Shoot in raw DNG not JPG for maximum post-processing flexibility. Noise reduction software works much better with a DNG.

Here's a sample of ISO 3200.

BrianR · 10-18-2016, 02:26 PM

Depends on the end use and the subject, but iso3200 is pretty much my limit unless I really have no choice. However, I typically stick to 80-400. Most of the things I shoot I can either light artificially or use a long exposure + tripod.

For kicks, I looked at how many photos I had taken (and kept) at each iso on my k5iis, I've grouped a few together:

iso	# of photos
80/100	4393
140/200	3157
280/400	2005
560/800	1259
1100/1600	570
3200	987
6400	135
12800	6
25600	1
51200	1

for 12,154 total photos. The "3200" count is a little inflated from several late night sequences that involved 20 to 200 or so photos stacked together into one final image (typically fireflies

).

**Mapleleaf-Mick** · 10-18-2016, 02:32 PM

My apologies. I meant K3. I don't know how much difference that makes. Once again sorry for my stupidity in typing.

Michael

virusn3t · 10-18-2016, 02:35 PM

Originally posted by Mapleleaf-Mick

My apologies. I meant K3. I don't know how much difference that makes. Once again sorry for my stupidity in typing.

Michael

For the K3 my maximun was 3200ISO.

**BigMackCam** · 10-18-2016, 03:01 PM

On the K-3 and K-3II I'd happily shoot almost any subject at ISO 6400 without worrying, assuming I was capturing RAW and fine tuning noise reduction rather than applying presets. Depending on intended size and viewing distance of the image, I'd have no problem bumping that up to ISO 12,800 for many types of subject, and even up to ISO 25,600 in a pinch, though at these levels you need to be more careful about getting your exposure right so you can avoid having to recover shadows. A lot of work is needed to get a useable image above ISO 25,600, but even that is quite possible if you're prepared to limit the size of the final image.

Below is a picked-at-random test shot from my K-3 taken earlier in the year in dim indoor lighting at ISO 12,800. It's resized here, but it looks perfectly decent when viewed full-screen at normal viewing distance (~60cm) on my 17" laptop.

EDIT: This image has both colour and luminance noise reduction applied and some masked sharpening. Without that, it wouldn't look half as good. You can still see some noise, but removing all of it would smooth everything out and make it look unnatural.

aaacb · 10-18-2016, 07:36 PM

I use 3200 without thinking too much about it. If I work in raw for very low light, I usually set 3200 and then compensate exposure from the raw file.

Just the other day I got a 11x17 print of a photo shot at iso 6400 with no particular care to reduce noise beyond the defaults of dcu at that iso. It's a little grainy, but not too bad if framed and put on a wall... so I would call it borderline. Could have taken more care processing the raw file.

I think max iso and the noise reduction that can be applied also depend on the subject, I'd say the image above (of the sony camera) works a little better than photos of people because it has better delimited detail compared to, for example, skin tones and hair.

honey bo bo · 10-18-2016, 07:57 PM

I use Auto 100-800 for most of my Walk About shooting and will use the Info button to increase the ISO all the way up to 51200 - K3 The enclosed Pictures were taken the other night hand held with a 55-300WR Multiple Exposure (Double Exposure)
The Moon was shot at 1/3000" f5.8 & F27 -300mm- 51200 ISO. The Ship in the Harbour was shot & 1/20" - 51200 ISO. The ship was about 5 Miles away.The Last picture is the same but @25600 ISO.
What I'm saying is the range is all useful depending on your end Usage. These could be used for Business Card backgrounds or an enlargement that is an artist 's rendering or abstract. Keep in mind the Exif only records one of the exposures details either the first or the last I can't remember. Other than in Camera cropping on 2 of them no other manipulation done.

leekil · 10-18-2016, 10:54 PM

Originally posted by leekil

I would do auto ISO from 100-3200, and manually set it to 6400 if I really needed it. But I do a lot of candid and low-light photography of people.

It really depends on what you are photographing and how pristine you want the image to be.

My answer is the same for the K-3.

**klh** · 10-19-2016, 05:53 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Mapleleaf-Mick

My apologies. I meant K3. I don't know how much difference that makes. Once again sorry for my stupidity in typing.

Michael

On my K-3, I let auto ISO go up one more stop than the K-5, to 6400. But again, I will bump it up more if it means getting the shot. Today's noise reduction software can do some amazing things.

K-3, ISO 6400, f/4, 1/180s

**Apet-Sure** · 10-19-2016, 06:10 AM

If you want some visual guides to performance/image quality vs. ISO, check out DXO's charts here:
https://www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Compare/Side-by-side/Pentax-K-3-II-versus-Pe...__1026_914_830
Click on the third tab, Measurements. At the top of the chart you can click on signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), dynamic range, tonal range, and color sensitivity. As klh said, usually having some image noise is better than having image blurring due to low shutter speed. How far to the right on the charts you are willing to go is a personal choice.

6BQ5 · 10-19-2016, 06:46 AM

It all depends on the target of the image. If you are going to make a 4"x6" print then you can go to 6400 in dim light and maybe even 12k and beyond in better light. As your print size increases then you will want to lower your maximum ISO. Imaging Resources has a chart detailing the maximum recommended ISO for various print sizes.

Pentax K-3 Review - Image Quality

Scroll almost all the way down and you will find a section about print quality.

10-18-2016, 12:28 PM	#1
Mapleleaf-Mick Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Saskatoon, Canada Posts: 299	Maximum ISO What is the maximum ISO that you would use on your K3? What would you set the maximum on your K3 TO? MICHAEL Last edited by Mapleleaf-Mick; 10-18-2016 at 02:28 PM.

10-18-2016, 03:01 PM	#9
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,691	On the K-3 and K-3II I'd happily shoot almost any subject at ISO 6400 without worrying, assuming I was capturing RAW and fine tuning noise reduction rather than applying presets. Depending on intended size and viewing distance of the image, I'd have no problem bumping that up to ISO 12,800 for many types of subject, and even up to ISO 25,600 in a pinch, though at these levels you need to be more careful about getting your exposure right so you can avoid having to recover shadows. A lot of work is needed to get a useable image above ISO 25,600, but even that is quite possible if you're prepared to limit the size of the final image. Below is a picked-at-random test shot from my K-3 taken earlier in the year in dim indoor lighting at ISO 12,800. It's resized here, but it looks perfectly decent when viewed full-screen at normal viewing distance (~60cm) on my 17" laptop. EDIT: This image has both colour and luminance noise reduction applied and some masked sharpening. Without that, it wouldn't look half as good. You can still see some noise, but removing all of it would smooth everything out and make it look unnatural. Attached Images Last edited by BigMackCam; 10-18-2016 at 04:36 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
People Maximum security @ Navy base	bygp	Post Your Photos!	4	11-15-2015 07:26 PM
For Auto ISO, what is your maximum setting?	bladerunner6	Pentax K-30 & K-50	33	12-14-2014 09:24 AM
K-01 video quality and maximum ISO	CarlosK3	Video Recording and Processing	3	04-16-2013 05:45 AM
K-7 ISO 1600 - What is the maximum size print we can make?	raider	Digital Processing, Software, and Printing	7	11-23-2009 04:53 PM
Maximum Printed Image Size vs ISO - Successful or Not?	Sideways	Digital Processing, Software, and Printing	6	08-08-2007 11:00 AM

10-18-2016, 12:53 PM	#2
virusn3t Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 676	Originally posted by Mapleleaf-Mick What is the maximum ISO that you would use on your K5? What would you set the maximum on your K5 TO? MICHAEL I think the maximun ISO depends of the final use of the image, for product photography i never pass the 100ISO, for every other pictures i was good with the ISO4000. That on my K30 who have the same sensor of the K5

10-18-2016, 12:55 PM	#3
leekil Pentaxian Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 2,003	I would do auto ISO from 100-3200, and manually set it to 6400 if I really needed it. But I do a lot of candid and low-light photography of people. It really depends on what you are photographing and how pristine you want the image to be.

10-18-2016, 12:57 PM	#4
klh Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2009 Location: West Lafayette, Indiana, USA Posts: 827	Originally posted by Mapleleaf-Mick What is the maximum ISO that you would use on your K5? What would you set the maximum on your K5 TO? MICHAEL Hi Michael. I typically set the maximum to 3200 when I was using the K-5, but would occasionally go higher if I needed to. I would rather have to reduce noise than camera shake. It's always a trade-off. I suggest you do some experimentation to see what your eye will tolerate. Here's an example of an indoor shot (of a ceiling) at ISO3200, f/5.6, 1/60s.

10-18-2016, 01:16 PM	#5
DeadJohn Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,834	You wrote K5 above but posted in the K3 forum. I assume you want to know about the K5 (the K3 is different, but similar). My short answer is ISO 3200 although it depends on the scene. I'll readily go to ISO 800 in low light. If the scene is not moving I use a tripod + lower ISO + slow shutter. If the scene has movement that requires a faster shutter speed, or I don't have a tripod available, I get good results for on-screen viewing up to ISO 3200. As you increase ISO, the dynamic range and colors suffer. Colors look off at ISO 6400 so I convert to B&W as needed. Shoot in raw DNG not JPG for maximum post-processing flexibility. Noise reduction software works much better with a DNG. Here's a sample of ISO 3200.

10-18-2016, 02:32 PM	#7
Mapleleaf-Mick Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Saskatoon, Canada Posts: 299 Original Poster	My apologies. I meant K3. I don't know how much difference that makes. Once again sorry for my stupidity in typing. Michael

10-18-2016, 02:35 PM	#8
virusn3t Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 676	Originally posted by Mapleleaf-Mick My apologies. I meant K3. I don't know how much difference that makes. Once again sorry for my stupidity in typing. Michael For the K3 my maximun was 3200ISO.

10-18-2016, 07:36 PM	#10
aaacb Pentaxian Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,726	I use 3200 without thinking too much about it. If I work in raw for very low light, I usually set 3200 and then compensate exposure from the raw file. Just the other day I got a 11x17 print of a photo shot at iso 6400 with no particular care to reduce noise beyond the defaults of dcu at that iso. It's a little grainy, but not too bad if framed and put on a wall... so I would call it borderline. Could have taken more care processing the raw file. I think max iso and the noise reduction that can be applied also depend on the subject, I'd say the image above (of the sony camera) works a little better than photos of people because it has better delimited detail compared to, for example, skin tones and hair.

10-18-2016, 10:54 PM	#12
leekil Pentaxian Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 2,003	Originally posted by leekil I would do auto ISO from 100-3200, and manually set it to 6400 if I really needed it. But I do a lot of candid and low-light photography of people. It really depends on what you are photographing and how pristine you want the image to be. My answer is the same for the K-3.

10-19-2016, 05:53 AM - 1 Like	#13
klh Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2009 Location: West Lafayette, Indiana, USA Posts: 827	Originally posted by Mapleleaf-Mick My apologies. I meant K3. I don't know how much difference that makes. Once again sorry for my stupidity in typing. Michael On my K-3, I let auto ISO go up one more stop than the K-5, to 6400. But again, I will bump it up more if it means getting the shot. Today's noise reduction software can do some amazing things. K-3, ISO 6400, f/4, 1/180s

10-19-2016, 06:10 AM	#14
Apet-Sure Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Goldsboro North Carolina Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,872	If you want some visual guides to performance/image quality vs. ISO, check out DXO's charts here: https://www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Compare/Side-by-side/Pentax-K-3-II-versus-Pe...__1026_914_830 Click on the third tab, Measurements. At the top of the chart you can click on signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), dynamic range, tonal range, and color sensitivity. As klh said, usually having some image noise is better than having image blurring due to low shutter speed. How far to the right on the charts you are willing to go is a personal choice.

10-19-2016, 06:46 AM	#15
6BQ5 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Nevada, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,348	It all depends on the target of the image. If you are going to make a 4"x6" print then you can go to 6400 in dim light and maybe even 12k and beyond in better light. As your print size increases then you will want to lower your maximum ISO. Imaging Resources has a chart detailing the maximum recommended ISO for various print sizes. Pentax K-3 Review - Image Quality Scroll almost all the way down and you will find a section about print quality.