Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda
Username  

  New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site
  New Feature: SMS Notification alert
  New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist
  

FM Forums | Nikon Forum | Join Upload & Sell

1
       2       end
  

Archive 2012 · Low Light D800 or D4?

  
 
mendo
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Low Light D800 or D4?


Looking at upgrading from my D300. Was out trying to get some full moon shots last weekend and could have benefited from better high iso than my D300 provides. Going higher than iso 800 begats too much noise. I would appreciate input from those of you with d800 and D4 cameras on which would be better for night landscapes and low light in general. The D3/3s supposedly had better low light capabilities than the D700 so I am wondering if there is the same difference between the D4 and the D800?


May 13, 2012 at 01:02 PM
mshi
Offline
• • • •
[X]
p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Low Light D800 or D4?


You really don't need to use high ISO for low light stuff. If you can use long exposure at base ISO, I would go D800.


May 13, 2012 at 01:13 PM
mendo
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Low Light D800 or D4?


I need high iso because I am using a 400mm lens on a tripod and there is lens vibration causing lack of sharpness. I want to be able to shoot at 1//500 or higher on my shutter and I cannot do this with base iso when it is after sunset.


May 13, 2012 at 01:20 PM
Avi B
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Low Light D800 or D4?


Get a better tripod setup. It's cheaper.
Or get a D7k.



May 13, 2012 at 01:21 PM
pr4photos
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Low Light D800 or D4?


Mirror lock up?


May 13, 2012 at 01:35 PM
mendo
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Low Light D800 or D4?


I was using mirror lock up. My shutter speed ended up being 1/30.

We are getting off track from my original question.

I was not really looking for tips on technique, I am looking for opinions on which has better high iso files the D4 or the D800?

Thanks for all your input and suggestions.



May 13, 2012 at 01:43 PM
m_appeal
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Low Light D800 or D4?


i was trying ISO 12800 on D800 yesterday... I was quite impressed

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1021&message=41497720



May 13, 2012 at 01:48 PM
utildayael
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Low Light D800 or D4?


D4 is better high iso. D800 is good and if you downsize its great but for straight "take shot and process" shots, D4. You're good to 12k ISO easily. 25k with care. Very very very clean at 6400 which would get you [in scenario you listed] from 1/30 @ 800 up to 1/250th @ 6400 or 1/500th @ 12800.

And as folks miss, 1/30th is pretty slow for trying to pop a 400mm shot even on a good tripod. Very easy to get vibration in there. That said, you shouldn't have to shoot at 1/500 either so you might have a tripod issue. You didn't ask for advice on it so I'm gonna shut up now.



May 13, 2012 at 02:21 PM
mendo
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Low Light D800 or D4?


utildayael

Thanks that is the info i was looking for.

m appeal

thanks for the link



May 13, 2012 at 02:29 PM
utildayael
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Low Light D800 or D4?


mendo wrote:
utildayael

Thanks that is the info i was looking for.


Sure thing. I have both D4 and D800 and shoot it on a 500mm f/4 VRII so pretty much same scenario.



May 13, 2012 at 02:34 PM
Matt OHarver
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Low Light D800 or D4?


I'm not sure why you need high ISO to shoot at the moon. This is ISO 400 Exif is attached.



MJO_1941 by MattOphotog, on Flickr



May 13, 2012 at 03:19 PM
clmusic
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Low Light D800 or D4?


I shot the super moon last week and I did not need high ISO even with long lens. The picture below was at ISO 200.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7093/7191316586_06d09eae9e_b.jpg



May 13, 2012 at 04:12 PM
innovis
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Low Light D800 or D4?


Wouldn't really consider that low-light because the moon emits good luminance. Try going to a concert and iso200 again . And to the OP, D4 my friend. I have both cameras and the D4 for low-light "conditions" anytime, though the D800 holds very well also.


May 13, 2012 at 08:57 PM
AndreasE
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Low Light D800 or D4?


From my personal experience with all 3 bodies (D4, D800, D800E, about 5k images each) and the way I understand where you are coming from.

Take the D800.
Its 3k cheaper than the D4. If you are willing to spend the 6k for the D4, you will get 2 excellent fast lenses (i.e. AFS 35mm/1.4G and AFS 85mm/1.8G) to the D800/D800E, which in combination will produce better images in low light than the D4 with slower lenses.

If money is not an issue, take the D4 with the 3 fast 1.4 lenses and I "promise" you an unrivalled low light experience.

Price/performance wise the D800 is the better deal.

Andy




May 14, 2012 at 03:01 AM
pr4photos
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Low Light D800 or D4?


Really can't understand the slow shutter when photographing the moon. Its bright!


May 14, 2012 at 06:11 AM
Dave_EP
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Low Light D800 or D4?


The moon is so 'not' low light.

Low light is when you are at ISO6400 and f1.4 and struggling for 1/50 shutter speed

Any of the D700, D3, D3s, D4, D800 can do the job.

The real question is what kind of end use do you need? Are you printing large, small, or just for the screen?



May 14, 2012 at 06:22 AM
Thang
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Low Light D800 or D4?


pr4photos wrote:
Really can't understand the slow shutter when photographing the moon. Its bright!


agreed. I don't understand the OP's problem either.



May 14, 2012 at 11:00 AM
BruceF99
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Low Light D800 or D4?


I start with the Sunny f/16 rule when shooting a full moon. So, I don't see the need for high ISO for that. Shooting under moonlight, even a full moon, would be another story, though.


May 14, 2012 at 12:13 PM
mendo
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Low Light D800 or D4?


Sorry for the confusion. I was not shooting the full moon. i was taking landscape shots under the light of the full moon.


May 14, 2012 at 02:46 PM
Avi B
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Low Light D800 or D4?


Oh well. That clears it up then. So why not a good tripod/head?



May 14, 2012 at 03:19 PM
1
       2       end




FM Forums | Nikon Forum | Join Upload & Sell

1
       2       end
    
 

You are not logged in. Login or Register

Username       Or Reset password



This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.