High ISO on a 1D mkII

[chris321]

I've been toying with the idea of getting a 1D mkII, my 5D suits almost all of what I do, but on the odd occasion the AF has struggled a little when trying to shoot really fast moving stuff in less-than-wonderful light conditions.

In these conditions, I find myself shooting at iso 3200 on the 5D, because it really doesn't struggle with that at all, I know the 1DII is older technology, but I can't quite make my mind up over it's performance at 1600 (the highest I'd really use it at, 3200 looks pretty ropey and I usually stop my lenses down a little anyway, so can just use them wide open and use lower iso).

So anyway, I've been looking through samples, and some have shown quite a bit of noise, and others have been really clean. I can't work out if the clean ones have had heavy noise reduction, or the noisy ones have just been processed badly, had the exposure tweaked etc etc.

So, anyone have any examples taken at iso 1600 and could say what processing was done on them, so I can finally make my mind up?!

Cheers

 

[dinners]

Bit of dilemma - Noisy shot or missed shot.....

I find the AF on the 1DII nails fast moving subjects that the 5DII and 40D often miss. In good light it's a win win situation but if you really need to push the ISO in poor light - noise does become a bit of an issue.

We've folk staying with us at the moment but if you're still needing some examples after the weekend - I'll dig some out for you.

 

[footman]

I find the AF on the 1DII nails fast moving subjects that the 5DII and 40D often miss.

Complete agreement about the 40D. I was forced to use my 40D yesterday instead of my 1D MkII N when doing birds in flight.

I kept cursing the fact and I know I'd have far more keepers if the 1D had been in my hands.

 

[footman]

Here is an absolute shocker I took in South Africa recently, I'm embarrassed to post it here.

However, it's the only ISO1600 shot I've got and it does show any noise in the sky.
Exported from from LR3 no PP with sharpen for screen unchecked.

 

[markmullen]

If you have a look on my flickr the shots of York Minster at Illuminating York were mostly taken at 1600 ISO and are straight out of the camera at large JPEG, not raw and with no PP at all.

 

[The23rdman]

Chris, I have the 1DsII and I wouldn't use it above 1600 for paying client shots so I doubt the 1D II will be any good either.

 

[lost]

I would'nt go there i sold my 1 D Mk2 recently because i needed the higher iso. I was only really happy at iso 640 and at a push 800 i now run a pair of 7D's alongside my 5D mk 2 and 1D's mk3 your only other option is the 1D mk3
But that's a gamble over if you get a good one or not
Regards
Richard

Taken at iso 2000 and feeder cropped out
Canon 7D no noise reduction used

 

[chris321]

You guys aren't making my decisions easier! This is the problem I'm having, some people say it's fine, and the samples on here seem better than I was expecting (thanks so much for pointing me at the york minster ones!), and others say it's not up to scratch.

I've just run some light noise reduction on the York minster ones, and it actually cleans up really well (hope you don't mind Mark!), ideally I'd like a 7D or 1DIII, but funds really don't allow at the moment!

This thread has helped hugely, thanks so much guys, I think I might just go for it (until I can afford a 1DIII ), hopefully it won't be completely the wrong choice, but I suppose there's only one way of finding out....

 

[footman]

I'm actually considering selling my 1D and getting a 7D!!

 

[RRtom]

I too am feeling the pull of the 7d, but i don't think i will ever sell my 1D

 

[markmullen]

?(thanks so much for pointing me at the york minster ones!)

No problem, glad they helped.

I've just run some light noise reduction on the York minster ones, and it actually cleans up really well (hope you don't mind Mark!),

Of course I don't mind.

If you were anywhere nearby you'd have been welcome to come and have a play with my 1D2 and see what you think.

The other thing with the 1D2 is that it feels to have been hewn from granite, I was out in the rain in Whitby today, water running off the camera and it never missed a beat, similarly last week at Rally GB I got a windy soaking and no problems at all.

 

[trencheel303]

I'm actually considering selling my 1D and getting a 7D!!

The 7D is a really good camera on paper. I have to say though, I held one and didn't like it at all. It looks ugly and felt wrong in my hands. Various parts of it, the flash for instance, looked to me like it didn't even "fit" right.

I would contemplate a move to a 7D just for its incredible ISO performance, but I'd miss full frame too much, and I don't fancy the 5D's AF system.

...Nikon D700?!

 

[BacktotheFuji]

Interestingly Dxomark have scored the 1d mk2 high ISO performance higher than that of the 7d, which makes sense I guess given the larger sensor.

 

[Richard.T]

Well, just to add another sample, here's a 100% crop at ISO 1600, Apologies for the unsharp image, It was one of the only recent pictures I had without using a flash and just natural light.
100%

Original:

Totally untouched by the way.

 

[chris321]

I'm actually considering selling my 1D and getting a 7D!!

I too am feeling the pull of the 7d, but i don't think i will ever sell my 1D

That's just confusing to someone trying to decide between them really

The other thing with the 1D2 is that it feels to have been hewn from granite, I was out in the rain in Whitby today, water running off the camera and it never missed a beat, similarly last week at Rally GB I got a windy soaking and no problems at all.

This is the other thing I'm liking about the idea of a 1-series! I know it would need a weather-sealed lens, but winter's coming, and I like my 5D too much to take it out into the pouring rain, mud, and everything else!

I would contemplate a move to a 7D just for its incredible ISO performance, but I'd miss full frame too much, and I don't fancy the 5D's AF system.

It's honestly not as bad as most people make out! I've done rugby, lacrosse, football, hockey, indoor volleyball (that was hard!) and a few other sports with it, it's do-able, but requires a lot of effort! I never felt completely at ease, and did miss a few shots, but managed to get enough in the end.

...Nikon D700?!

Wash your mouth out

Interestingly Dxomark have scored the 1d mk2 high ISO performance higher than that of the 7d, which makes sense I guess given the larger sensor.

It's a strange one to compare I guess, larger (and lower resolution sensor) vs newer technology but more cramped sensor!

Well, just to add another sample, here's a 100% crop at ISO 1600, Apologies for the unsharp image, It was one of the only recent pictures I had without using a flash and just natural light.

Totally untouched by the way.

Cheers for that! More food for thought can only be a good thing

 

[The23rdman]

Do consider the 1dsII over the 1dII.

 

[chris321]

Do consider the 1dsII over the 1dII.

I'll definitely look into it! But like all these things, I think it'll probably come down to the state of my bank balance :bang:

Cheers for the advice guys!

 

[lost]

The 7D out performs the 1d mk 2 at higher iso i ran the 2 together for a few months the only thing i miss about the 1d is it's build. Saying that me and the 7d and the 300mm got caught in a heavy rain storm without wet weather gear and we all survived i was in a t shirt and jeans at the time taking the dog for a walk the storm came out of nowhere so the weather proofing is decent
Regards
Richard

Here's one at iso 6400 it's not a work of art it was just done when i was testing how good high iso's were from the 7D