Real life ISO on D500?

[C2020]

I am the proud owner of a D500 and the performance so far is astounding. As with any new camera, there are a lot of nuances that need to be learned in order to get the most satisfying performance. For those owners of the D500, how high do you set the auto ISO? I find the noise control to be very good overall and I know the camera can shoot up to 25600 iso but do any or you have a number you find acceptable on the high end of the auto iso? Eventually I will figure out the level I find acceptable but a little information from current users might be helpful.

 

[Allan]

YMMV is the big answer here. I have gone to 3000 on mine but only when I have to.

 

[Randy]

1600

 

[Butlerkid]

1600

 

[Beagledog]

I agree with Randy and Karen, 1,600 is as high as I go with the D500. Those itsie Bitsie pixels don't allow low noise at high iso

Cheers,
alexis and Georgie Beagle

"if you don't have enough light use a bigger lens... that's why I love the 300PF f4. ( I can't lift the 300 f2.8)" - Georgie Beagle

 

[Tim Robinson]

I think it's dependent on what you're shooting really (the whole topic is subjective imo)....I have regularly gone to 3200 for performance shots w/o issue and acceptable noise levels...one example:

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

_5000197 by Tim Robinson, on Flickr

I've done a couple theatrical performances @6400 - for web images and smaller prints, I haven't had any complaints....

 

[Tim Robinson]

That being said - for anything else, I can see where 1600 would be the upper end, especially for wildlife, BIF, etc...

 

[rick_reno]

Mine is at 2500.

 

[frdjohns]

1600. However, noise is a very subjective thing - you may have more (or less) tolerance for it than others.

 

[Randy]

TBH, 1600 for what I shoot is still not good on The D500. The problem is not so much with the D500, because it's easily the best DX body ever made, it's that other bodies like the D850 and D5 blow away the D500. For fine feather detail I prefer 200-400 ISO range and in Florida that's not rare so the D500 is my Florida camera.

 

[Randy]

I think it's dependent on what you're shooting really (the whole topic is subjective imo)....I have regularly gone to 3200 for performance shots w/o issue and acceptable noise levels...one example:

View attachment 1596597 _5000197 by Tim Robinson, on Flickr

I've done a couple theatrical performances @6400 - for web images and smaller prints, I haven't had any complaints....

that looks great but the black bg is where you would normally see a lot of junk and frankly the size posted here is not big enough to make a decision

 

[Mitchell]

I'd rather have noise than a blurry photo. You can't fix blurry.

 

[pictureted]

I'd rather have noise than a blurry photo. You can't fix blurry.

Depending on content, you can convert to B&W and have very high ISOs still acceptable. One of my favorite photographers - HCB - could make wonderful and evocative images with a D500 at ISO 12K. Macro or feather details in full color - I still go base ISO or close, and am rarely satisfied above 400 on my D500 or 800 on D810.

 

[C2020]

Wow, thanks for the quick responses. It sounds like 1600 iso is the most mentioned ceiling with some up top 3200--Tim that 3200 iso image looks great on my monitor. I am looking forward to trying this range out. Thank you everyone.

 

[Tim Robinson]

that looks great but the black bg is where you would normally see a lot of junk and frankly the size posted here is not big enough to make a decision

Yah - blown up full size it isn't too terrible either - at least from what my eyes can tell on this screen (macbook pro retina)...but again, for this type of shooting, it's not a dealbreaker to have a little noise floating about...some bands actually prefer the rough look....

 

[trenchmonkey]

Me? 12800
I shoot the hell out of my grandkids, usually in less than ideal light.
Having a sharp candid is a piece of cake with the D500/D7200. For
wildlife I prefer keepin' it under ISO3200. Proper exposure is key!

Here's a D500/500 f4 shot of the Super Blue Blood Moon.
ISO16000 handheld f4 1/60th VR engaged
SOOC, 3 stars visible (@9, 1, and 3 o'clock)

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[DW Brewer]

Depends on the quality of the ambient light. In Florida, I went as high as 3200. Here in Illinois, our light is not as good (smog from coal-fired power plants is a given at 4500-5000 feet in altitude, so even a bright sunny day is not the same as Florida). Ergo, I try to cap ISO at 1600 - 2000 in Illinois (on a sunny day).

 

[gryphon1911]

12,800 for me .Not afraid of it! Lol

 

[bpdougd]

Me? 12800
I shoot the hell out of my grandkids, usually in less than ideal light.
Having a sharp candid is a piece of cake with the D500/D7200. For
wildlife I prefer keepin' it under ISO3200. Proper exposure is key!

Here's a D500/500 f4 shot of the Super Blue Blood Moon.
ISO16000 handheld f4 1/60th VR engaged
SOOC, 3 stars visible (@9, 1, and 3 o'clock)

View attachment 1596623

+1000. Nailing the exposure does more to tame noise (and make it more "fixable" in post) that anything else.

 

[cdnpilot]

I make a lot of money off mine and no issues up to 5000. People love them. But then I don't pixel peep and figure if clients pay me that is good enough for me.