Going full-frame:ISO in the stratosphere: I am having fun with my new Canon 6D. I was out at the wetlands the other night at sunset. It was getting pretty dark, but there was a...

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

I am having fun with my new Canon 6D. I was out at the wetlands the other night at sunset. It was getting pretty dark, but there was a beautiful black-crowned night heron, waiting to be photographed. I had the 100-400 lens on, and was in the car and hand-holding the camera in the growing dusk. An impossible photo, but what the heck - it's digital, and costs nothing to try, right?

Automatic ISO - 10,000! Not a sharp photo for enlarging, but pretty amazing....

(Download)

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

sb wrote:

I am having fun with my new Canon 6D. I was out at the wetlands the other night at sunset. It was getting pretty dark, but there was a beautiful black-crowned night heron, waiting to be photographed. I had the 100-400 lens on, and was in the car and hand-holding the camera in the growing dusk. An impossible photo, but what the heck - it's digital, and costs nothing to try, right?

Automatic ISO - 10,000! Not a sharp photo for enlarging, but pretty amazing....

ISO 10,000. If we had heard that on Star Trek in the 60s, we would have thought it was ridiculous. Of course, it would have been ASA back then, anyway. High ISO can mean the difference between getting a shot and not getting it.

bettis1 Loc: Texas

Impressive!

Bob

pelha Loc: middlle of nowhere NY

what processing software did you use? (i'm assuming you shot raw.) the lack of obvious grain is amazing!

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

pelha wrote:

what processing software did you use? (i'm assuming you shot raw.) the lack of obvious grain is amazing!

As I've been saying for the past few months {ever since Pentax released their $650 K-70 with high-ISO capabilities}, I believe this is where photography is going. Soon when someone asks how to take pictures of daughter / son / grand daughter / grand son playing indoor sports, instead of sending them away disappointed because they aren't willing to buy a $$$$ constant f/2.8 telephoto zoom lens for this use that they'll never have another need for, they'll be out getting the $$$ upgraded camera that they would have been getting anyway.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

pelha wrote:

what processing software did you use? (i'm assuming you shot raw.) the lack of obvious grain is amazing!

Actually, I have not played with the RAW version of the image yet! This is out of the camera, a little bit brightened with PS Elements and slightly cropped. I also didn't use all of the low-light capabilities of the camera, which includes taking three photos and merging them to reduce the low-light noise.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

sb wrote:

Actually, I have not played with the RAW version of the image yet! This is out of the camera, a little bit brightened with PS Elements and slightly cropped. I also didn't use all of the low-light capabilities of the camera, which includes taking three photos and merging them to reduce the low-light noise.

Is that a form of in-camera HDR, or does it use the same settings for all three?

J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio

sb wrote:

I am having fun with my new Canon 6D. I was out at the wetlands the other night at sunset. It was getting pretty dark, but there was a beautiful black-crowned night heron, waiting to be photographed. I had the 100-400 lens on, and was in the car and hand-holding the camera in the growing dusk. An impossible photo, but what the heck - it's digital, and costs nothing to try, right?

Automatic ISO - 10,000! Not a sharp photo for enlarging, but pretty amazing....

Nice capture Steve.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

rehess wrote:

Is that a form of in-camera HDR, or does it use the same settings for all three?

It actually uses the same settings and merges the three photos to reduce noise. The 70D also has that, but I never played around with it. I went out again last night to try this with the 6D, but the lightning started, so I went home!

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

J-SPEIGHT wrote:

Nice capture Steve.

Thanks!

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

Doc I am glad you are find a way to keep of the streets. Nothing like a new toy! It seems you like it and have captured some great takes.

J. R.

Swamp-Cork Loc: Lanexa, Virginia

sb wrote:

Actually, I have not played with the RAW version of the image yet! This is out of the camera, a little bit brightened with PS Elements and slightly cropped. I also didn't use all of the low-light capabilities of the camera, which includes taking three photos and merging them to reduce the low-light noise.

What you stated in the above is really amazing Steve! Before I read this, I was about to ask you about your post processing procedures!

Chuckwal Loc: Boynton Beach Florida

steve
as well have the 6D love the low light feature i mainly use a tripod and expose up to 30 sec instead of high iso
too much noise posted a sunset with 15 sec timer came out beautiful check 9/14 tonite sunset
glad you are enjoying the 6D
chuckwal

ggttc Loc: TN

The high ISO capability of todays cameras is amazing...being an old film guy my hands start to sweat if the ISO is over 800.

My wife shot a few bird shots at 12,500 ISO and I thought she was insane...but after a little PP and Topaz Denoise they turned out great.

BudsOwl Loc: Upstate NY and New England

sb wrote:

It actually uses the same settings and merges the three photos to reduce noise. The 70D also has that, but I never played around with it. I went out again last night to try this with the 6D, but the lightning started, so I went home!

Maybe you should have tried to get some lightning shots.
I also have a 6D and am quite impressed by its low light capability with high ISO.
Would have been nice to see what you could have done with RAW.
Bud