Thematic Push the ISO: Handheld In The Dark

cxdoo · 09-17-2014, 05:44 AM

During my recent visit to Wieliczka I was impressed by K5II & Tamron 17-50 performance in low to no-light environment. Yeah, I got a lot of duds too, but I came out (literally

) convinced the gear is capable enough to capture decent photos under rather difficult conditions.

And I'm not talking about lighting only; even though the visit took some 4.5 hours we were on a very tight schedule, as our group of about 15 people had to keep moving to allow for the next group to follow. So no tripods, not much time to elaborate on composition, not much space, concerned guide counting her chickens every 50 meters or so (so we don't get lost) and of course very little light.

Attached are two of the photos I like. However I'd like to see more shots made in similar conditions and maybe hear some tips about how to squeeze more oomph out.

So show me your low light, high ISO, wide open, handheld magic. No tripods allowed.

Last edited by cxdoo; 12-26-2014 at 02:06 AM. Reason: broken links

chimpwithagun · 09-17-2014, 07:36 AM

ISO 8,000
K-3 at night
Samsung 50-200mm
f/4.5, 1/30s

I don't know why they use these creepy red lights in this city, but I think it looks pretty neat.

No de-noising software used. DNG exported to JPG via Lightroom 3.6 (noise reduction set to 0, sharpening bumped +25) Down-sampled to 6mp to fit in in my uploads folder here, since I can't figure out how to link from my onedrive.

Sorry for the logo in the corner there, I tried posting this through Microsoft onedrive first (without success) and it added it automatically.

Heie · 09-20-2014, 03:44 PM

No tripods, you say?

Making the Most of Long Exposure Handhelds - A Handheld Stabilization Guide

-Heie

cxdoo · 09-20-2014, 04:02 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Heie

No tripods, you say?

Making the Most of Long Exposure Handhelds - A Handheld Stabilization Guide

-Heie

Believe it or not, the photos above were taken trying to adhere to your guide. Great stuff.

**Rondec** · 09-20-2014, 04:22 PM - **2 Likes**

This was taken at iso 3200 f5.6 and 1/13 second and pushed a stop in post processing. (taken with the K-01).

wildman · 09-20-2014, 04:40 PM

ISO 12800, Hand held, no NR performed, RAW, otherwise see EXIF for further data.
This final pic looks brighter and better lit than it actually was. The only light was from a high, small, narrow basement window - the magic of PS.

fenderboy50 · 09-22-2014, 06:14 AM

Taken inside an old Dovecot showing all the nesting boxes where pigeons or doves would once have been housed. ISO 6400 with a little PP

https://www.flickr.com/photos/neillwphoto/14554923310/

Taken inside a small derelict building with a really dank, musty atmosphere. ISO 3200 with a little PP

https://www.flickr.com/photos/neillwphoto/14504933296/

cxdoo · 09-22-2014, 06:25 AM

@Rondec

Wow. I can feel the atmosphere dripping. Great great one.

@Wildman
That pic sure looks very well lit. Good job and a reminder to me not to limit ISO to 6400.

@fenderboy50

Love that second image. True horror.

fenderboy50 · 09-28-2014, 10:47 AM

Here are a few more I took recently

The fireplace in a creepy, abandoned bothy

https://www.flickr.com/photos/neillwphoto/15191188458/

An old mirror hanging in the same eerie building

https://www.flickr.com/photos/neillwphoto/15191016769/

Both at ISO 6400 with a little NR in DCU and a small bit of PP in GIMP

fenderboy50 · 10-26-2014, 02:44 PM

I took this photo to test if my lens was front focussing as I have had some problems with it, I wasn't taking the photos for their aesthetics, just to test the lens. However, this one came out quite nice.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/neillwphoto/15449966757/

Taken in very low light. With ISO at 12800 and the aperture at f1.8 I was still only getting a shutter speed of 1/30

**skunktail** · 10-27-2014, 03:08 PM

Taken during this year's Vivid Sydney festival.
K5iis ISO 8,000

**OldPentaxFan** · 10-27-2014, 04:13 PM

From a street festival last year while I was working in Florida. K10D, ISO 1600 and no tripod.

cxdoo · 10-27-2014, 04:39 PM

Originally posted by skunktail

Taken during this year's Vivid Sydney festival.
K5iis ISO 8,000

Great detail for so high ISO.

Here's one in relatively good light where a lot of detail is lost. K5II ISO 10,000

And another owl at ISO 4,000.

---------- Post added 28th Oct 2014 at 01:42 ----------

Originally posted by OldPentaxFan

From a street festival last year while I was working in Florida. K10D, ISO 1600 and no tripod.

If K10D low light performance is similar to K100DS I had, that's very impressive. I don't think I have a single good shot above ISO 400.

cxdoo · 12-26-2014, 02:08 AM

Here's a few from recent dance show @ ISO6400.

StephenHampshire · 12-26-2014, 03:29 AM

Here are a few....

ISO 64004

ISO 6400

ISO 25600

ISO 20000

ISO 10000

ISO 6400

09-17-2014, 05:44 AM	#1
cxdoo Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Limassol, Cyprus Posts: 1,150	Push the ISO: Handheld In The Dark During my recent visit to Wieliczka I was impressed by K5II & Tamron 17-50 performance in low to no-light environment. Yeah, I got a lot of duds too, but I came out (literally ) convinced the gear is capable enough to capture decent photos under rather difficult conditions. And I'm not talking about lighting only; even though the visit took some 4.5 hours we were on a very tight schedule, as our group of about 15 people had to keep moving to allow for the next group to follow. So no tripods, not much time to elaborate on composition, not much space, concerned guide counting her chickens every 50 meters or so (so we don't get lost) and of course very little light. Attached are two of the photos I like. However I'd like to see more shots made in similar conditions and maybe hear some tips about how to squeeze more oomph out. So show me your low light, high ISO, wide open, handheld magic. No tripods allowed. Last edited by cxdoo; 12-26-2014 at 02:06 AM. Reason: broken links

09-20-2014, 04:40 PM	#6
wildman Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Flyover America Posts: 4,469	ISO 12800, Hand held, no NR performed, RAW, otherwise see EXIF for further data. This final pic looks brighter and better lit than it actually was. The only light was from a high, small, narrow basement window - the magic of PS. Last edited by wildman; 10-06-2014 at 04:59 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
how does the flash work with the iso in TAv mode	pentaxk10duser	Pentax K-3 & K-3 II	2	05-07-2014 03:55 AM
Push ISO	azerak	Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras	34	12-18-2013 09:05 AM
Travel The K5 can almost see in the dark.	charliezap	Post Your Photos!	7	11-09-2013 09:00 AM
Nature Humming Birds in the dark with the DA 100mm macro.	charliezap	Post Your Photos!	12	06-29-2013 06:35 PM
Kucinich to Corporate CEOs: Push the Middle Class Off the Cliff? No WAY!	jeffkrol	General Talk	5	12-04-2012 10:48 AM

09-20-2014, 03:44 PM	#3
Heie Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 968	No tripods, you say? Making the Most of Long Exposure Handhelds - A Handheld Stabilization Guide -Heie

09-20-2014, 04:02 PM - 1 Like	#4
cxdoo Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Limassol, Cyprus Posts: 1,150 Original Poster	Originally posted by Heie No tripods, you say? Making the Most of Long Exposure Handhelds - A Handheld Stabilization Guide -Heie Believe it or not, the photos above were taken trying to adhere to your guide. Great stuff.

09-20-2014, 04:22 PM - 2 Likes	#5
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,653	This was taken at iso 3200 f5.6 and 1/13 second and pushed a stop in post processing. (taken with the K-01).

09-22-2014, 06:14 AM	#7
fenderboy50 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 42	Taken inside an old Dovecot showing all the nesting boxes where pigeons or doves would once have been housed. ISO 6400 with a little PP https://www.flickr.com/photos/neillwphoto/14554923310/ Taken inside a small derelict building with a really dank, musty atmosphere. ISO 3200 with a little PP https://www.flickr.com/photos/neillwphoto/14504933296/

09-22-2014, 06:25 AM	#8
cxdoo Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Limassol, Cyprus Posts: 1,150 Original Poster	@Rondec Wow. I can feel the atmosphere dripping. Great great one. @Wildman That pic sure looks very well lit. Good job and a reminder to me not to limit ISO to 6400. @fenderboy50 Love that second image. True horror.

09-28-2014, 10:47 AM	#9
fenderboy50 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 42	Here are a few more I took recently The fireplace in a creepy, abandoned bothy https://www.flickr.com/photos/neillwphoto/15191188458/ An old mirror hanging in the same eerie building https://www.flickr.com/photos/neillwphoto/15191016769/ Both at ISO 6400 with a little NR in DCU and a small bit of PP in GIMP

10-26-2014, 02:44 PM	#10
fenderboy50 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 42	I took this photo to test if my lens was front focussing as I have had some problems with it, I wasn't taking the photos for their aesthetics, just to test the lens. However, this one came out quite nice. https://www.flickr.com/photos/neillwphoto/15449966757/ Taken in very low light. With ISO at 12800 and the aperture at f1.8 I was still only getting a shutter speed of 1/30

10-27-2014, 03:08 PM	#11
skunktail Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Sydney, NSW Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 287	Taken during this year's Vivid Sydney festival. K5iis ISO 8,000

10-27-2014, 04:13 PM	#12
OldPentaxFan Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Independence, MO via North Carolina Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 371	From a street festival last year while I was working in Florida. K10D, ISO 1600 and no tripod.

10-27-2014, 04:39 PM	#13
cxdoo Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Limassol, Cyprus Posts: 1,150 Original Poster	Originally posted by skunktail Taken during this year's Vivid Sydney festival. K5iis ISO 8,000 Great detail for so high ISO. Here's one in relatively good light where a lot of detail is lost. K5II ISO 10,000 And another owl at ISO 4,000. ---------- Post added 28th Oct 2014 at 01:42 ---------- Originally posted by OldPentaxFan From a street festival last year while I was working in Florida. K10D, ISO 1600 and no tripod. If K10D low light performance is similar to K100DS I had, that's very impressive. I don't think I have a single good shot above ISO 400.

12-26-2014, 02:08 AM	#14
cxdoo Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Limassol, Cyprus Posts: 1,150 Original Poster	Here's a few from recent dance show @ ISO6400.

12-26-2014, 03:29 AM	#15
StephenHampshire Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Winchester Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,523	Here are a few.... ISO 64004 ISO 6400 ISO 25600 ISO 20000 ISO 10000 ISO 6400