1D X ISO Shots

[bdunbar79]

I took several ISO shots with the 1D X indoors, in fluorescent light.  I did 6400, 10000, 12800, 25600, and 51200.  I then cropped the mug I was shooting at ISO 51200 and did no NR, and then 80% NR in Camera RAW.  I then show the whole scene at 80% NR in Camera RAW.

I will post the 5D3 and 1D4 images next.

[bdunbar79]

Next is a large ISO 25600

[bdunbar79]

ISO 51200 with crops and NR applied:

[bdunbar79]

Same shots with the 5D Mark III:  You decide.

[bdunbar79]

Next is 12800 and then the mug crops at 25600:

[bdunbar79]

Finally the whole scene at 80% NR:

[bdunbar79]

5D Mark III ISO 25600 no NR

[bdunbar79]

So if you do draw any conclusions, I would suppose you'd say the 1D X is slightly better than the 5D Mark III?  I don't even think we need to do the ISO comparison test with the 1D Mark IV; we already know the answer.

[bdunbar79]

Can you see any difference up close?

[ChrisAnderson]

I had a feeling, after looking at RAW samples from the 1DX @ ISO 10,000, that my Mark III was every bit as good at higher ISOs.   This sort of validates my thoughts.  Granted, every shooting scenario is different and i've noticed far worse noise at these same ISO levels depending on the lighting and subject matter, but thanks for doing this controlled test!

[TrumpetPower!]

I'd say that the differences are negligible in the real world, and that noise performance shouldn't be a consideration when picking between these two cameras.

There's lots to set the one apart from the other, but noise isn't one of those factors.

Cheers,

b&

[neuroanatomist]

There's lots to set the one apart from the other, but noise isn't one of those factors.

Unless you mean the audible variety of noise - compared to the silent mode of the 5DIII, the 1D X shutter sound (even in the nominally silent mode) is loud!   

[Kernuak]

I would say there is marginally less noise in the 1D X, but nothing to really use as a reason for going with the 1D X and only visible side by side. However, to me, the colour reproduction is better in the 1D X, as the MkIII has a slight yellow tinge. Again though, that would be easy to correct and could be done with a preset to save time. Most probably wouldn't benefit from the 1D X, but those that need the features (e.g. weather sealing, speed etc.) would happily pay the extra. AF accuracy may be similar, but the reported increased AF/tracking speed of the 1D X could be the difference in getting the shot, which alone would be worth the extra to pros that have to rely on it to get the shot.

[TrumpetPower!]

I would say there is marginally less noise in the 1D X, but nothing to really use as a reason for going with the 1D X and only visible side by side. However, to me, the colour reproduction is better in the 1D X, as the MkIII has a slight yellow tinge. Again though, that would be easy to correct and could be done with a preset to save time. Most probably wouldn't benefit from the 1D X, but those that need the features (e.g. weather sealing, speed etc.) would happily pay the extra. AF accuracy may be similar, but the reported increased AF/tracking speed of the 1D X could be the difference in getting the shot, which alone would be worth the extra to pros that have to rely on it to get the shot.

Basically, the 1DX is a speed demon. 12 FPS and unsurpassed autofocus performance.

There are quite a number of other differences between the 1DX and the 5DIII, but none of them are any more significant to real-world shooting than the noise difference we see here.

Unless the 6 FPS of the 5DIII isn't fast enough for what you're doing, there's no reason to spend thousands more on the 1DX. But there are those for whom 6 FPS is painfully, unusably slow, and their biggest problem right now is wiping the drool off the back of their sniny new 1DXs.

I'm just wondering when we'll see the 1DXXX with its 24 FPS framerate and buffer limited only by card space...imagine what the cinematographers will do with that!

Cheers,

b&

[Drizzt321]

I'm just wondering when we'll see the 1DXXX with its 24 FPS framerate and buffer limited only by card space...imagine what the cinematographers will do with that!

Take that 4K cameras!