1DX vs 5D3

[bdunbar79]

So you're using auto ISO -- that's what I wasn't clear on since that means everything wasn't set to manual.  As I said earlier, it already been demonstrated that the 5D3 produces a brighter image with the exact same settings at the 1DX.  If you set everything to manual (including ISO) with the exact same settings, the resulting image will be brighter on the 5D3 than the 1DX.

The real-world application of this is that with a fixed shutter and aperture, you can shoot a properly exposed image with a 1DX and the same properly exposed image on the 5D3 will have a lower ISO.  So when it comes to comparing high ISO image quality, it's not a valid comparison to look at the same ISO side by side.  In real-world shooting you would need to compare a 6400 1DX image with a 5000 5D3 image.  This I believe is exactly what you showed in your testing.  Given that balance, the 1DX may not have any edge in high ISO over the 1DX.  I've heard someone propose Canon did this on purpose to give the 1DX an apparent edge in high ISO.

Ok Chris, I understand you now.  Got it.  I agree, probably no real ISO advantage.

[bdunbar79]

I think then we can eliminate high ISO comparisons.  They don't seem to be relevant.  I think we should look at underexposure/overexposure and shadow detail recovery.  Also low ISO color rendition.

[nightbreath]

... Also low ISO color rendition.

I looked closer to the samples you posted and saw slight difference in color tones. I'm not sure if it was affected by ISO difference or camera sensor color rendition, so I wouldn't comment here. Just look at the 5D Mark III image that has some slight purple / green color tints comparing to the 1D X image.

[bdunbar79]

I am and have been convinced that you are on to something here.  Let me get back with you this afternoon with some test shots of real things.  I am going to do a portrait shot with 135 f/2L lens this evening. The perfect test shot will be in tungsten lighting.  Stay tuned.  Do you want the RAW or TIF files?  Let me know, I have your email addy.

[bdunbar79]

Did some on purpose bad lighting shots this evening.  In this case, I took each camera with the same settings, only I shot in auto ISO for all shots.  I did each lighting scenario with CWA metering and spot metering.  If a highlight was blown out, I could NOT get the 1DX to focus properly.  One shot I must have done 10 times and it's still blurry, whereas the 5D3 just locked on and I shot.  Here's the first four:

[bdunbar79]

Next:

[bdunbar79]

The next series was with another person, with the sun directly to the left of the scene, blasting in.

[bdunbar79]

Next two:

[bdunbar79]

I then traveled inside, much to everyone's chagrin.  Please note I shot the White Balance WRONG.  I left it in Cloudy just to see if there were any strange colors that could not be fixed in post processing.  Again, we did 1DX vs. 5D3 with both CWA and spot metering for each scene.

[bdunbar79]

Next two:

[bdunbar79]

Finally, TERRIBLE LIGHTING shot on purpose, with very little light, with person sitting in recliner.  Same 4 photo/situation sequence.

[bdunbar79]

Last two for tonight:

[canon816]

Its tough to draw any conclusions looking at these comparisons as they are low res images.  To me it almost looks like the 5DIII does a better job rendering detail in shadowed areas.

What conclusions do you draw from these comparisons?  Both while using the cameras in the field, and then looking at them on your monitor under high res?

Thanks for doing this...

[bdunbar79]

I was merely looking at exposures.  I can't comment on detail.  You'll have to look at RAW images for that.  I cannot post big enough files on here to do anything further meaningful.  I'm going to post process them right now and post one from each set, around 3MB.

[bdunbar79]

Here are two photos identically shot and identically post processed:

High res versions: