VERY low light K-70 pic

planteater · 08-05-2016, 09:59 AM - **5 Likes**

Lots of interest in the low light performance of the K-70 so here's a quick, opportunistic snap from last night with a 100mm WR macro

Handheld 1/6s, F2.8, 1SO 102400!

I can't stress how dark this was. I could see something moving and could tell it was a badger and not a fox but that's all. Focusing was 'random manual' mode - lots of shots with minor adjustments. I didn't want to scare the critter with the focus assist lamp (which seems very bright compared to K30).

The image is as soft and grainy as would be expected but I'm amazed it picked out the colours at all. To the unaided eye this was 'rods only' night vision. The little light there was came from an LED streetlamp some distance away.

Attached Images

Last edited by planteater; 08-05-2016 at 10:08 AM.

**pepperberry farm** · 08-05-2016, 10:08 AM - **2 Likes**

"... if we built a large wooden badger..."

amazing ISO performance!

**BigMackCam** · 08-05-2016, 10:11 AM

For ISO 102,400, that is *remarkably* good. I assume that's straight out of camera? With RAW capture, Lightroom would be able to remove that green and magenta chroma noise in the badger's fur. Random focus issues aside, that would then be an amazing result and perfectly usable for small images!

EDIT: If you get a chance, I'd love to see some lowish-light images with shadow areas, taken around ISO 12,800 - 25,600...

**MSL** · 08-05-2016, 10:26 AM

Truly impressive to focus and capture in such low light. Also interesting to hear about the

Originally posted by planteater

'random manual' mode

focusing, as it wasn't a feature I'd heard of yet.

**BigMackCam** · 08-05-2016, 10:52 AM

Originally posted by MSL

Also interesting to hear about the focusing, as it wasn't a feature I'd heard of yet.

I think that's just manual mode with a the photographer making lens adjustments as they shoot - unless I'm mistaken

planteater · 08-05-2016, 11:03 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by BigMackCam

I think that's just manual mode with a the photographer making lens adjustments as they shoot - unless I'm mistaken

Yep, exactly that. Basically, I couldn't see what I was doing. Too dark to see anything through the OVF and LV was just a mush of static. The distance scale on the lens is not much use at around 4m either.

Weirdly, it's not obvious from the picture where the focus point is. In daylight that lens would give a narrow DOF at F2.8 which would be clearly visible on the Astroturf. This looks more like a high F number that is diffraction limited. I guess things work differently at ultra low light levels.

Yes, this was jpeg straight out of the camera. I'm kicking myself for not pulling a RAW from the buffer :-(

**MSL** · 08-05-2016, 11:07 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by BigMackCam

I think that's just manual mode with a the photographer making lens adjustments as they shoot - unless I'm mistaken

And here I'd thought they'd added some magic pixie dust for those cases where the camera can't seem to focus on anything or when the photographer can't hold still and is trying to shoot a 1:1 macro handheld using natural light (my usual protocol)

**boriscleto** · 08-05-2016, 11:08 AM - **3 Likes**

Originally posted by pepperberry farm

"... if we built a large wooden badger..."

amazing ISO performance!

Runaway!

**BigMackCam** · 08-05-2016, 11:20 AM

Originally posted by planteater

Weirdly, it's not obvious from the picture where the focus point is.

Looks to me like it's just on the leading edge of that patch of turf in front of the badger?

Originally posted by MSL

And here I'd thought they'd added some magic pixie dust for those cases where the camera can't seem to focus on anything or when the photographer can't hold still and is trying to shoot a 1:1 macro handheld using natural light (my usual protocol)

That's one for the K-70II

planteater · 08-05-2016, 11:27 AM

Originally posted by BigMackCam

Looks to me like it's just on the leading edge of that patch of turf in front of the badger?

You're right but I do feel the DOF is somehow deeper than I would expect in bright light.
It does make me think that if I'd nailed the focus and shot RAW this pic could have been pretty decent for web use. Thinking about the owls that sometimes visit........

**BigMackCam** · 08-05-2016, 11:39 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by planteater

You're right but I do feel the DOF is somehow deeper than I would expect in bright light.
It does make me think that if I'd nailed the focus and shot RAW this pic could have been pretty decent for web use. Thinking about the owls that sometimes visit........

Difficult to tell on the DOF, I think. The JPEG engine sharpening can make slightly blurred areas look a little more "in focus" than they really are...

I think your K-70 could be an asset for wildlife photography in medium to poor light. I'm impressed

anu l · 08-06-2016, 02:23 AM

Originally posted by planteater

Lots of interest in the low light performance of the K-70 so here's a quick, opportunistic snap from last night with a 100mm WR macro

Handheld 1/6s, F2.8, 1SO 102400!

I can't stress how dark this was. I could see something moving and could tell it was a badger and not a fox but that's all. Focusing was 'random manual' mode - lots of shots with minor adjustments. I didn't want to scare the critter with the focus assist lamp (which seems very bright compared to K30).

The image is as soft and grainy as would be expected but I'm amazed it picked out the colours at all. To the unaided eye this was 'rods only' night vision. The little light there was came from an LED streetlamp some distance away.

wow, this is really impressive.... will make ISO 12800, & 25600 that much usable.

Also how is the Live view AF?? lot of people are concerned about it is performance.

You can take the A6300 or 80D or 70D as a reference camera.

**cartesio** · 08-06-2016, 09:48 AM

MANY thanks for that picture!

I think the focus point is on the grass just in front of the badger. The little plant with a yellow flower between the grass and the badger seems a little out of focus.

I am impressed and hungry of other low light pictures.

---------- Post added 06-08-16 at 19:08 ----------

Maybe if you wish you could post a couple of pictures of the same subject in the same light conditions, the first one at 100 ISO and the second one at 25600 or whatever ISO.

planteater · 08-06-2016, 11:51 AM

Originally posted by cartesio

Maybe if you wish you could post a couple of pictures of the same subject in the same light conditions, the first one at 100 ISO and the second one at 25600 or whatever ISO.

I'll try and post some less extreme examples of the K-70 in low light conditions.

If my calculations are correct it would take a 10 minute exposure give the equivalent exposure at ISO 100!

**cartesio** · 08-06-2016, 02:13 PM

Well, I did not think at getting the same amount of light at different ISOs, that would lead to a VERY long exposure.

I was thinking at taking the same picture with the same exposure time at different ISOs, say 1/100 at ISO 100, then 1/100 at ISO 25600.

08-05-2016, 09:59 AM - 5 Likes	#1
planteater Forum Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Hastings UK Posts: 58	VERY low light K-70 pic Lots of interest in the low light performance of the K-70 so here's a quick, opportunistic snap from last night with a 100mm WR macro Handheld 1/6s, F2.8, 1SO 102400! I can't stress how dark this was. I could see something moving and could tell it was a badger and not a fox but that's all. Focusing was 'random manual' mode - lots of shots with minor adjustments. I didn't want to scare the critter with the focus assist lamp (which seems very bright compared to K30). The image is as soft and grainy as would be expected but I'm amazed it picked out the colours at all. To the unaided eye this was 'rods only' night vision. The little light there was came from an LED streetlamp some distance away. Attached Images Last edited by planteater; 08-05-2016 at 10:08 AM.

08-06-2016, 09:48 AM	#13
cartesio Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2016 Photos: Gallery Posts: 899	wow MANY thanks for that picture! I think the focus point is on the grass just in front of the badger. The little plant with a yellow flower between the grass and the badger seems a little out of focus. I am impressed and hungry of other low light pictures. ---------- Post added 06-08-16 at 19:08 ---------- Maybe if you wish you could post a couple of pictures of the same subject in the same light conditions, the first one at 100 ISO and the second one at 25600 or whatever ISO.

08-06-2016, 11:51 AM	#14
planteater Forum Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Hastings UK Posts: 58 Original Poster	Originally posted by cartesio Maybe if you wish you could post a couple of pictures of the same subject in the same light conditions, the first one at 100 ISO and the second one at 25600 or whatever ISO. I'll try and post some less extreme examples of the K-70 in low light conditions. If my calculations are correct it would take a 10 minute exposure give the equivalent exposure at ISO 100! Last edited by planteater; 08-06-2016 at 11:56 AM.

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08-05-2016, 10:08 AM - 2 Likes	#2
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,645	"... if we built a large wooden badger..." amazing ISO performance!

08-05-2016, 10:11 AM	#3
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,658	For ISO 102,400, that is remarkably good. I assume that's straight out of camera? With RAW capture, Lightroom would be able to remove that green and magenta chroma noise in the badger's fur. Random focus issues aside, that would then be an amazing result and perfectly usable for small images! EDIT: If you get a chance, I'd love to see some lowish-light images with shadow areas, taken around ISO 12,800 - 25,600...

08-05-2016, 10:26 AM	#4
MSL Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Greater Toronto Area Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,749	Truly impressive to focus and capture in such low light. Also interesting to hear about the Originally posted by planteater 'random manual' mode focusing, as it wasn't a feature I'd heard of yet.

08-05-2016, 10:52 AM	#5
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,658	Originally posted by MSL Also interesting to hear about the focusing, as it wasn't a feature I'd heard of yet. I think that's just manual mode with a the photographer making lens adjustments as they shoot - unless I'm mistaken

08-05-2016, 11:03 AM - 1 Like	#6
planteater Forum Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Hastings UK Posts: 58 Original Poster	Originally posted by BigMackCam I think that's just manual mode with a the photographer making lens adjustments as they shoot - unless I'm mistaken Yep, exactly that. Basically, I couldn't see what I was doing. Too dark to see anything through the OVF and LV was just a mush of static. The distance scale on the lens is not much use at around 4m either. Weirdly, it's not obvious from the picture where the focus point is. In daylight that lens would give a narrow DOF at F2.8 which would be clearly visible on the Astroturf. This looks more like a high F number that is diffraction limited. I guess things work differently at ultra low light levels. Yes, this was jpeg straight out of the camera. I'm kicking myself for not pulling a RAW from the buffer :-(

08-05-2016, 11:07 AM - 1 Like	#7
MSL Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Greater Toronto Area Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,749	Originally posted by BigMackCam I think that's just manual mode with a the photographer making lens adjustments as they shoot - unless I'm mistaken And here I'd thought they'd added some magic pixie dust for those cases where the camera can't seem to focus on anything or when the photographer can't hold still and is trying to shoot a 1:1 macro handheld using natural light (my usual protocol)

08-05-2016, 11:08 AM - 3 Likes	#8
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by pepperberry farm "... if we built a large wooden badger..." amazing ISO performance! Runaway!

08-05-2016, 11:20 AM	#9
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,658	Originally posted by planteater Weirdly, it's not obvious from the picture where the focus point is. Looks to me like it's just on the leading edge of that patch of turf in front of the badger? Originally posted by MSL And here I'd thought they'd added some magic pixie dust for those cases where the camera can't seem to focus on anything or when the photographer can't hold still and is trying to shoot a 1:1 macro handheld using natural light (my usual protocol) That's one for the K-70II

08-05-2016, 11:27 AM	#10
planteater Forum Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Hastings UK Posts: 58 Original Poster	Originally posted by BigMackCam Looks to me like it's just on the leading edge of that patch of turf in front of the badger? You're right but I do feel the DOF is somehow deeper than I would expect in bright light. It does make me think that if I'd nailed the focus and shot RAW this pic could have been pretty decent for web use. Thinking about the owls that sometimes visit........

08-05-2016, 11:39 AM - 1 Like	#11
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,658	Originally posted by planteater You're right but I do feel the DOF is somehow deeper than I would expect in bright light. It does make me think that if I'd nailed the focus and shot RAW this pic could have been pretty decent for web use. Thinking about the owls that sometimes visit........ Difficult to tell on the DOF, I think. The JPEG engine sharpening can make slightly blurred areas look a little more "in focus" than they really are... I think your K-70 could be an asset for wildlife photography in medium to poor light. I'm impressed

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08-06-2016, 02:23 AM	#12
anu l Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 216	Originally posted by planteater Lots of interest in the low light performance of the K-70 so here's a quick, opportunistic snap from last night with a 100mm WR macro Handheld 1/6s, F2.8, 1SO 102400! I can't stress how dark this was. I could see something moving and could tell it was a badger and not a fox but that's all. Focusing was 'random manual' mode - lots of shots with minor adjustments. I didn't want to scare the critter with the focus assist lamp (which seems very bright compared to K30). The image is as soft and grainy as would be expected but I'm amazed it picked out the colours at all. To the unaided eye this was 'rods only' night vision. The little light there was came from an LED streetlamp some distance away. wow, this is really impressive.... will make ISO 12800, & 25600 that much usable. Also how is the Live view AF?? lot of people are concerned about it is performance. You can take the A6300 or 80D or 70D as a reference camera.

08-06-2016, 02:13 PM	#15
cartesio Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2016 Photos: Gallery Posts: 899	Well, I did not think at getting the same amount of light at different ISOs, that would lead to a VERY long exposure. I was thinking at taking the same picture with the same exposure time at different ISOs, say 1/100 at ISO 100, then 1/100 at ISO 25600.