Originally posted by Apet-Sure I was also concerned about this when shooting birds at my feeder. Another more experienced PF member told me not to worry about it, it doesn't bother them. Sure enough, with songbirds at least, they didn't flinch at all with a fairly powerful flash. Acted like they didn't even notice it. Owls might be different because of their low-light vision. Could you set up a remotely triggered flash near a regular perch or flight path? Your 'shutter speed' will be the duration of the flash, which can be very short indeed.
At those latitudes you're used to being in the dark for a few months out of the year, right?
Not quite full dark, right now in the summer we run around 16 - 17 hours of daylight come winter it will be about 6 -7 hours of daylight
---------- Post added 08-22-20 at 09:37 PM ----------
Originally posted by GUB Hang on a minute -- I entered 1/640 f5.6 Iso8000 into a EV calculator and it came out at 8 EV. That is "night street scenes" scenario. Are you sure your lens isn't jammed 3 or 4 stops closed?
I have AutoISO set to max out at 8000, otherwise it is too much noise for wildlife I find as there is usually going to be some cropping as wild animals do not normally let you get super close
---------- Post added 08-22-20 at 09:42 PM ----------
Originally posted by texandrews Please share some noisy images with us with full exif data. You have made me curious. If you don't want to share a whole image(I sympathize, which is why I have only posted one in 6 years...), give us a crop. Best would be a raw file somewhere where we could closely examine the file.
You're going to have trouble finding many cameras with better noise characteristics than the K1mkII or original K1. I use mine alongside my 645Z, which has even better characteristics.
Remember that you can shoot your camera underexposed and bring it up in post. The K1mkII's accelerator kicks in at iso 640, I think. That said, I have never seen anything objectionable with shots up to 3200, and 6400 really isn't bad and cleans up nicely. But with Auto ISO remember to set the high limit.
Also remember that your BIF in twilight conditions is a torture test. In your situation, I'd be exploring something like a Topaz de-noise product, but also getting better with LR or PS---and if you already are a whiz at those, then possibly you are just expecting too much.
I am going with I am expecting too much then
, as I use LR, PS and Topaz all. I do think it really is the distance of the subject, just going back through and comparing to my K3 photos. I probably was about 50ft closer in similar light conditions. For posting online etc they would be fine I am looking more for print and enlargement, so have been zooming in and think I am more critical because I want to print.
Thanks
---------- Post added 08-22-20 at 09:45 PM ----------
Originally posted by pschlute You sound like you know your way round post processing.
Would it be also worthwhile posting a link to a full size jpeg or better still to a raw file so we can have a go at noise reduction ? For a full size jpeg you will need to link to a hosting site like Flickr and for a raw file you will need to email or link to dropbox or something similar. The forum will downsize any large images so you need to link.
I use the K-1 (mark one) and find it to be extremely low on noise, although I appreciate I am not generally shooting in such challenging conditions as you. Where I do use NR I do it selectively in Photoshop using masks or selective tools so I dont apply NR to critical areas of the subject if it is not needed.
Thanks, in re-examining recent photos to ones I took on my K3 that were better in lower light, I think it is just my distance to the subject and that fact that I am looking a lot more critically because I am looking at printing enlargements I think I am just going to try to print one and see how it looks in print.
Thanks for your willingness to assist thought much appreciated!
---------- Post added 08-22-20 at 09:48 PM ----------
Originally posted by pschlute You sound like you know your way round post processing.
Would it be also worthwhile posting a link to a full size jpeg or better still to a raw file so we can have a go at noise reduction ? For a full size jpeg you will need to link to a hosting site like Flickr and for a raw file you will need to email or link to dropbox or something similar. The forum will downsize any large images so you need to link.
I use the K-1 (mark one) and find it to be extremely low on noise, although I appreciate I am not generally shooting in such challenging conditions as you. Where I do use NR I do it selectively in Photoshop using masks or selective tools so I dont apply NR to critical areas of the subject if it is not needed.
I mask as well when doing noise reduction I think in going back to my photos I took with my K3 it is distance to subject at that time of day. I only recently got my K1 where I had the K3 for years, so hoping to get a BIF soon again to try. The red tail hawks are not being very cooperative on letting me get close this week, so I am hoping to see an owl again soon as they tend to me less bothered about someone getting closer to them. But thanks for your willingness to assist