Best low-light full-frame wildlife camera.
Sep 20, 2014 07:49:20 #
Here's my problem. I'm on a tight budget and have a Nikon D300. I walked into my local camera store and they had a brand new Tamron 150-600 which I promptly bought. At the Cape Fear River I got a great shot of an Ospery, hand held,which blew me away. At Jordan Lake I took over 300 shots of birds, but the light was low and I had to crank up the ISO and shoot at too low a shutter speed for birds. Most of my photos were blurred or had too much noise. What FF camera can I use in the golden hours with low ISO and fast shutter speeds for hand-held shots from a boat?
Sep 20, 2014 08:17:49 #
DavidPine
Loc: Fredericksburg, TX
It's difficult to advise you when you have a tight budget. I suggest you try renting when you know you are going to go somewhere like you mentioned in your post. I have had success with the D800 and D810. The best I have personally experienced is the D4S but I'm not ready to spring for one. Good luck.
Serious neophyte wrote:
Here's my problem. I'm on a tight budget and have... (show quote)
Sep 20, 2014 08:24:27 #
brianmen
Loc: Sydney Australia
I use a Canon 5d mk iii and despite many the reviews saying it's excellent at high ISO that hasn't been my experience. I am competent at BIF and really fussy about noise. It's a constant challenge with the low light conundrum. I mainly use a 2.8 400mm canon L lens and try to shoot at around 2000th second. I will follow your replies with interest
Sep 20, 2014 08:35:52 #
Serious neophyte wrote:
Here's my problem. I'm on a tight budget and have... (show quote)
Your best option may be the Nikon D810, it has equaled the Df for low light and has resolution that is un-matched in a DSLR.
Sep 20, 2014 08:39:34 #
brianmen wrote:
I use a Canon 5d mk iii and despite many the reviews saying it's excellent at high ISO that hasn't been my experience. I am competent at BIF and really fussy about noise. It's a constant challenge with the low light conundrum. I mainly use a 2.8 400mm canon L lens and try to shoot at around 2000th second. I will follow your replies with interest
Try checking your 5d3 on DXOMark.com and see how it stacks up against other cameras out there, you will quickly see why it disappoints you in the noise arena at low light:
http://www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Ratings/Sports
Sep 20, 2014 18:02:46 #
Serious neophyte wrote:
Here's my problem. I'm on a tight budget and have... (show quote)
The least expensive full frame Nikon is the D610.
Sep 20, 2014 18:32:48 #
Sep 20, 2014 18:39:38 #
That D300 should be plenty of machine to do the job. Work on your technique. I have the D300s and a D600. I favor the D300s. Those long lenses get a little hard to control even when you are in dynamic Focus. Try a shorter lens with a larger aperture. Learn to pan those moving critters like you would if you were shooting race cars. Get closer to those birds. Layout a little food (they like that). Use a Flash. SB600 or higher in manual mode works good even with the extreme focal length (the speed of light is really fast). They been shooting critters long before all our high tech cameras did most of the work for us. I always thought buying a new golf club would really improve my game....It never really did. Good luck.. happy shooting :)
NOTE: the attachment is with my D600, lens at 300mm ISO is 800. I used my SB700 on TTL I am about 30 ft. away from the humming bird Early Morning.
NOTE: the attachment is with my D600, lens at 300mm ISO is 800. I used my SB700 on TTL I am about 30 ft. away from the humming bird Early Morning.
Sep 20, 2014 18:45:48 #
Serious neophyte wrote:
Yes, but how good is it in low light at fast shutter speeds?
http://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon-D610-vs-Nikon-D800
Sep 20, 2014 18:46:44 #
frankie c wrote:
That D300 should be plenty of machine to do the jo... (show quote)
http://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon-D610-vs-Nikon_D300S
Sep 20, 2014 18:48:57 #
Serious neophyte wrote:
Here's my problem. I'm on a tight budget and have... (show quote)
It is impossible to hand hold a 600mm lens in a boat at any speed or ISO. You need some kind of support- a monopod for instance.
Sep 20, 2014 19:09:41 #
Serious neophyte wrote:
Yes, but how good is it in low light at fast shutter speeds?
I have no problems shooting a ISO 3200.. I have used it for auto races under the lights and concerts. when not really close to the stage. You can shoot higher with a D600 or 800 but don't know why I would do that. Mostly stay at ISO 800 and will work out ok at f3.5.. as long as low light does not mean no light.
Sep 20, 2014 19:33:35 #
lighthouse
Loc: No Fixed Abode
Serious neophyte wrote:
Here's my problem. I'm on a tight budget and have... (show quote)
There is your problem right away.
The problem is in your title and your second sentence.
Best low light full-frame wildlife camera and then I'm on a tight budget.
Either you want the best, or you don't.
It is the light that determines your low ISO and your shutter speed, not the camera. Either you can use those settings or you can't.
A camera that is good in low light isn't good in low light because it will let you use a low ISO.
It is good in low light because it will have less noise at higher ISOs.
If you want to use lower ISOs the only way to do this is get faster lenses or longer shutter speeds.
Teach yourself to understand the exposure triangle a little better.
Photography is all about trade-offs, and you have come up against a classic case.
Your real answer is to buy a Nikon D4s or Nikon Df and an 800mm F/5.6 - but that costs more than some brand new cars.
So you don't actually want the best.
What you want is one that you can afford, that is a very good low light performer.
You are in luck, the Nikon D610 fits that bill perfectly.
Honorable mention: At an overall score of 94 points, the 24MP Nikon D610 is also in the upper echelons of DSLR image quality and a good value. With a signal-noise ratio that starts at 45.4dB at ISO 100, the D610 delivers very high quality images (above 30dB) at ISO 3200. Dynamic range starts at over 14 stops at ISO 100 and remains above 10 stops through ISO 3200. And all this in a camera that is selling at Adorama for just under $1,699, within reach of pro shooters and many serious amateurs.
http://www.adorama.com/alc/0012810/article/15-Low-Light-High-ISO-All-Stars
Sep 20, 2014 19:38:49 #
amehta
Loc: Boston
Serious neophyte wrote:
Here's my problem. I'm on a tight budget and have... (show quote)
I think you are a prime candidate for the new Nikon D750, if the sensor matches the D610. The AF system in the D750 should be significantly better than the D610 for your type of shooting.
Sep 20, 2014 19:44:39 #
Thanks for your reply. I've gotten some great wildlife shots that make photography a worthy pursuit, and many bad ones that show how much more I need to improve my technique and knowledge.
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