6d Highest Usable Iso?

[bradfordswood]

I am currently on a 60d and unhappy with the ISO performance. Even at ISO 100 there is noise, but anything above ISO 800 is particularly unacceptable to me. Some of that noise can be cleaned up in Lightroom, but I'd like a camera with a less noisy sensor.

I was hoping the 70d would be a nice step up, but that doesn't really seem to be the case. So now I am considering a refurbished 6d.

For those 6d owners out there, what is the highest usable ISO setting for you?

Thanks for your comments in advance.

 

[atvinyard]

6D is two stops better or so. So if 800 is your cut-off now, 3200 would probably be your cut-off on the 6D. Anyone else agree?

 

[ajfotofilmagem]

Shooting JPEG seems 6D has a 2 point advantage ISO. Shooting RAW seems to 1,5point.

 

[sunnyVan]

<img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5477/9618747632_af92aa4bdb_o.jpg" width="3872" height="2581" alt="IMG_3517"></a>

At 12800, I think the noise level in this picture is acceptable to me. But it's clearly subjective.

 

[ajfotofilmagem]

<img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5477/9618747632_af92aa4bdb_o.jpg" width="3872" height="2581" alt="IMG_3517"></a>

At 12800, I think the noise level in this picture is acceptable to me. But it's clearly subjective.

Yes, to print on A4 size paper looks very good. Congratulations for shooting and image processing. I would say that if the exposure is perfect the result is quite acceptable in ISO 12800. But if you need to brighten the image in post-processing, I think ISO 3200 is still very good. On paper sizes close to 1 meter long, I keep up to ISO 1600.

 

[wsheldon]

6D is two stops better or so. So if 800 is your cut-off now, 3200 would probably be your cut-off on the 6D. Anyone else agree?

That's my experience coming from a 50D, where I was never happy with >800 ISO, and that's at the pixel level so comparing 15 MPix to 20 MPix (even more in favor of the 6D IQ). I set the auto-iso cut-off to 3200 and find those images very usable, and typically don't even apply NR to 800 ISO shots unless I underexpose and have to adjust shadow levels. For JPEG even 6400 is quite good, but with raw you do have to work a bit to do as well as the onboard processor. Pretty amazing, actually.

 

[CTJohn]

6D is two stops better or so. So if 800 is your cut-off now, 3200 would probably be your cut-off on the 6D. Anyone else agree?

That's my experience coming from a 50D, where I was never happy with >800 ISO, and that's at the pixel level so comparing 15 MPix to 20 MPix (even more in favor of the 6D IQ). I set the auto-iso cut-off to 3200 and find those images very usable, and typically don't even apply NR to 800 ISO shots unless I underexpose and have to adjust shadow levels. For JPEG even 6400 is quite good, but with raw you do have to work a bit to do as well as the onboard processor. Pretty amazing, actually.

I agree. I have a 7D which I limit at ISO 800 in auto ISO...I limit my 6D at 6400 and I think the noise level is better at that level than at 800 on the 7D. A very pleasant surprise.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

I have no hesitation using my 6D up to ISO 25,600, If you have a properly exposed photo, noise is perfectly acceptable at high ISO.

This macro is ISO 20,000 without noise reduction.


Macro @ ISO 20K by Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott, on Flickr

ISO 12,800


Bull Moose Portrait by Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott, on Flickr

ISO 25,600


Grandma's Piano by Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott, on Flickr

ISO 25,600


ISO 25600 - No Noise Reduction by Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott, on Flickr

In my experience, my 6D's laugh at ISO 6400. It is cleaner than the 60D/7D at ISO 1600.

 

[thgmuffin]

ISO 5000

Fatlace Fridays by THGBrian, on Flickr
At ISO 5000 there's barely any noise, I really push up to around 12800 ISO before noise even bothers me one bit!

It's absolutely amazing how there is no (or very little) color noise. Even at that point, the noise is very subtle and really complements the picture. I feel like noise reduction degrades the "feel" the 6D's noise.

 

[bradfordswood]

Thanks for all the replies. It's stunning what this camera can do at high ISO.

 

[amoore00357]

Thanks for all the replies. It's stunning what this camera can do at high ISO.

Yes it is!!
I upgraded from the 60D and you wont regret it.
You will also like the feel of it better, like the dials and buttons are a lot softer and don't make noise like they do on the 60D. I guess its just called being a "professional camera."

 

[captainkanji]

I don't even think about using NR in LR until I've hit between 3200 & 6400. While most of my low light shots are at 12800 or lower, I have a couple at 20000 plus. They turned pretty good with some NR and are decent for web use. "Average" users probably wouldn't know the difference, but you guys of course would notice the lack of sharpness or noise. I guess subject matter and proper exposure really make a difference, but my favorite "best" pics in low light are in the 6400 area. My 4000 ISO pics from the 7D I took last year look like ISO 20000 on the 6D.

 

[PureShot]

Here 6D at 2000 iso, for me, the 6D is a revelation in studio, now i can make very nice picture in low light ambient.
Pure Shot Studio
www.pureshotstudio.com

 

[Meatball_Sub]

To me, looking at these samples, the noise on the 6D looks more like film grain than the noise on most other cameras I've seen (and certainly ones that I've owned). I think it looks quite nice, actually.

 

[drob]

Don't know if there is noise @ ISO 100 on the 60D. But I'd have to agree that the 6D ISO performance is outstanding compared to the 60D. I recently rented one for 2 weeks and didn't want to send it back. I was hoping the 70D would draw somewhat closer to the 6D in higher ISO images but it seems like that's not the case. I'm torn on upgrading to the 6D or hanging on until the 7DMkII. I'm starting to wonder if Canon limits high ISO abilities in the crop sensors to more or less direct people toward FF sensors.

 

[Haydn1971]

My auto ISO is limited to 3200 - beyond that, at full resolution, noise starts creeping in - however, I've had some good photos well beyond 3200, it really depends on your tolerance and the application. I use Instagram a lot, so don't mind noise in my "life-snaps" that I upload

 

[sandymandy]

I think its just physical reasons. Bigger sensors just have less noise cuz the pixels arent so densly together and they just catch more light. Im sure there are other reasons too but i dont think Canon wants to push people to FF. APS-C should earn them more cash than FF.

 

[pedro]

No intentions to spoil the thread. Here's a frame taken last weekend at absolutely low light (almost pitch dark, some weak ambiental light and a spot from a grass storage silo in the bg) by the 5D3, handheld. Exposure 1/5 sec.
First frame, no NR, second frame: Luminance 5, Chrominance 18. ISO 16.000. I guess the slightly lower MP count of the 6D really adds to the samples we see here. Congrats, folks. Anyway, I am really happy with my 5D3 although I am looking forward to where Canon will set its high ISO IQ (25k and above) standard about six years from now. 5DV, 6DIII.
Regards, Peter


5D3 ISO 16.000 color sample. by Peter Hauri, on Flickr

 

[tomscott]

I limit my 5DMKIII (basically the same performance) to 6400 but its fine at 12,800

12,800


BMW F30 3 Series interior, centre console climate control by TomScottPhoto, on Flickr

 

[mdmphoto]

I have no hesitation using my 6D up to ISO 25,600, If you have a properly exposed photo, noise is perfectly acceptable at high ISO.

These shots are just fantastic, Justin! While I am still adjusting to the far greater latitude my 6D affords me over my 7D, I've mostly been puttering about at 3200 or so - and apparently I've been forgoing a great many shots unnecessarily. Thanks for the enlightenment!