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The Answer to Low-light Photography
Oct 25, 2018 22:13:35 #
There are occasional questions about shooting football in high school stadiums with poor lighting. I have similar situations with my granddaughter's gymnastics competitions, when the venue is lit with fluorescent lights. I struggled with low-light shooting for a long time, but recently "upgraded" back to my old D3 days and purchased a used D3s. I had a D3 for a long time and used it for portraits and weddings and traded it for a D700, never really appreciating the low-light performance of this family of cameras. I found a used D3s with only 85,000 shutter clicks, in pristine condition and pulled the trigger. I have never been so delighted with the low-light capture of this beast and after looking at comparison charts (D4 and D5, Canon and Sony), it is still king of the Nikon family for low-light capture. It was only surpassed by Sony's A7iii and the A9.
Attached is an image from her most recent competition, with her reaction to her score. I suggest this camera as a potential answer to Nikon shooters looking to improve their captures for football games. You can get one from KEH or B&H (approx $1100-$1400). For my money, it was worth every penny to eliminate the aggravation and endless experimentation to try to reduce noise. This was shot at 1/400 sec, f/3.2, at iso 16,000. Used my 70-200mm lens at 150mm. Processed with Topaz, using AI Clear
Attached is an image from her most recent competition, with her reaction to her score. I suggest this camera as a potential answer to Nikon shooters looking to improve their captures for football games. You can get one from KEH or B&H (approx $1100-$1400). For my money, it was worth every penny to eliminate the aggravation and endless experimentation to try to reduce noise. This was shot at 1/400 sec, f/3.2, at iso 16,000. Used my 70-200mm lens at 150mm. Processed with Topaz, using AI Clear
Oct 25, 2018 22:46:14 #
Hard for me to believe this was shot at ISO 16,000. I am very impressed.
Oct 25, 2018 23:13:30 #
Yes. It is incredible what the camera can capture. Two things helped make this a really great image: a decent exposure with those huge pixels and Topaz AI Clear
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Oct 25, 2018 23:32:00 #
Some will scoff at the measly 12mp sensor. I have 4 3x5’ (yes, foot) prints up at work. One shot with a 12mp D700, the other three done with either a D800 or 810. Both of those have 36 mp sensors. It’s hard to tell which camera shot what. Sometimes less is more!
Oct 26, 2018 05:45:56 #
Oct 26, 2018 06:38:16 #
I have a D3s. The low light and noise performance is outstanding. Solid. Best built camera out there. High 9 FPS frame rate. Likely one of the best cameras Nikon EVER made. Best camera value out there at today’s price point. It was a $6000 camera when introduced about 8 or so years ago and it is still a $6k camera imo.
Oct 26, 2018 06:44:17 #
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Oct 26, 2018 07:25:50 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
tomcat wrote:
There are occasional questions about shooting foot... (show quote)
Sorry to inform you Charlie, the D5 is now the King of low light, followed closely by the D4s. Then comes the Df, D850, D750, D810, and D500 in that order. I am not sure where your information came from, but your camera is not in the top 7 that DxO and others currently rate.
Oct 26, 2018 07:56:50 #
SonyA580 wrote:
Hard for me to believe this was shot at ISO 16,000. I am very impressed.
let's not forget the 70-200 F/2.8 lens is darn good and you had it at 3.2 rather than 2.8.
Oct 26, 2018 08:02:17 #
billnikon wrote:
Sorry to inform you Charlie, the D5 is now the King of low light, followed closely by the D4s. Then comes the Df, D850, D750, D810, and D500 in that order. I am not sure where your information came from, but your camera is not in the top 7 that DxO and others currently rate.
Check low light iso rating, I could not find a DXO rating for the D3s
https://cameradecision.com/compare/Nikon-D5-vs-Nikon-D3S
Oct 26, 2018 08:03:51 #
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Oct 26, 2018 08:21:45 #
I shot almost every week for a couple of years in low light situations. First with a d7100 - even with a faster lens it didn't cut it IMHO. Then the d750, great low light noise and focus ability which has been confirmed over and over again. Anyway, I would agree, that image at 16,000 is great. I've heard such great things about the d3, d3s that the nostalgic side of me wants one. Enjoy the camera
Oct 26, 2018 08:26:34 #
twice_shooter wrote:
It was a $6000 camera when introduced about 8 or so years ago and it is still a $6k camera imo.
Wow! I guess we're lucky to be able to buy cameras at today's prices - especially used.
Oct 26, 2018 08:44:27 #
For a good "jumping off" point review the following video as it addresses exactly what you are asking. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40tes65Ljco&t=174s
tomcat wrote:
There are occasional questions about shooting foot... (show quote)
Oct 26, 2018 09:02:38 #
It's a great shot and exposure. The debate about which cameras are best at high ISO & low light is superflouous!! It's the person behind the lens that creates the image.
She's adorable too!!! Great catch of her expression.
Mark
She's adorable too!!! Great catch of her expression.
Mark
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