I just got my D600 2 days ago and have been experimenting with ISOs trying to figure out exactly what I'm going to be comfortable shooting with. For B&W I think I would be totally comfortable going up to 25,600. The noise is pretty nice to me and looks filmish. I took these shots as medium fine jpegs with the camera set on monochrome (not my usual method of b&w conversion but I wanted to do it all purely in-camera). High ISO NR is turned OFF.
IMO the results are favorable. I feel like at least if I'm specifically shooting for black and white I could shoot at the highest possible ISO without a problem though I wouldn't want to underexpose it.
Shooting for color I have no problem with 6400 if need be. These are 6400:
Michael, I think the D700 is perfectly useable at ISO12800 at a pinch, but I prefer not to go above 3200 unless absolutely necessary. These files are certainly cleaner than what I am capable of with producing with a D700 so it looks like good sensor progress to me.
Brad, thanks for sharing these. I haven't gone that high with mine yet, but you've inspired me to experiment some. However, I have shot at 6400 some and I'm amazed at how clean the files are.
