Yesterday I talked a bit about today’s high ISO sensors. Here is another set of examples from my workshop last month at Vermejo Park Ranch in New Mexico.
We timed the workshop during the fall elk rut, and it gave us some great photo opportunities. The elk do tend to be out early and late, however, and that means that the light can be really dim at times.
Here is one example, shot at a a whopping 12,800 ISO and a shutter speed of 1/160 second. As I mentioned yesterday, in the old days of Velvia at ISO 50, my shutter speed in this situation would have been 8 stops slower (1.6 seconds long). I would never have even tried for this shot, but now, crank up the ISO and give it a try!
Bull elk (Cervus elaphus) during fall rut, Vermejo Park Ranch, New Mexico, USA. Canon 1DX II. ISO 12,800. 540mm. f/5.6 @ 1/160 seconds. EV +1 2/3.
Here is the zoomed in detail. Pretty darn good for that ISO, I think. This is just a straight Lightroom version, by the way. No additional noise reduction in Topaz or Nik, etc.
How about this elk photographed in near darkness at ISO 16,000.
Bull elk (Cervus elaphus) during fall rut, Vermejo Park Ranch, New Mexico, USA. Canon 1DX II. ISO 16,000. 420mm. f/5.6 @ 1/40 seconds. EV +1.
Perfectly acceptable and publishable, I would think. I have not tried to print one of these large yet, but I would not hesitate to try, either, if someone wanted to buy one (hint, hint).
Needless to say, I am blown away by by new Canon 1DX II, and its low light capabilities. You don’t always have to spend a fortune to get similar results, though. Much cheaper cameras today are able to shoot at higher and higher ISOs with fantastic results. You just have to give it a try!
