5DIII - Performance at ISO3200 in very low light

We have our annual dance rehearsals and recitals coming up in two weeks.

I am the primary photographer.

There's gel lighting but little good light. So I would call this a very low light venue.

In the past I have used my 5D and 5DII and can't really push the ISO beyond 1600.

How much better will the 5DIII do? Is its capability at 3200 equal to 1600 on the 5DII?

I keep seeing examples of ISO6400 and above on the 5DII but most of those examples are not in low light and thus are meaningless to me.

At least half of my shots will be while the dancers are moving. I use the 70-200 f/2.8 IS II and the Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 VC. I have reserved the 5DIII. WIll it really help?

I need a shutter speed of at least 320 but preferably much faster.

The 5D3 is so good that even though I always have 2 cameras at concerts - a 5D2 and 5D3 with different lenses on each - I always seem to end up swapping lenses. My 5D2 has become an expensive lens holder. I regularly shoot at 6400 up and always in poor lighting.

ISO Monster

I just recently shot a recital with a 5D3, 70-200 f/2.8 combo. I had been using a 5DC at ISO 1600. The 5D3 will amaze you. For most of the show I was shooting 1/500 or above.

Here are two examples:

1/800, f/2.8, ISO 5000

^^
Great pics and I think that pretty much answers his question.

Even if the 5DIII is the master, the 5DII should be largely usable to 6400 Iso...

Titi

titi_67207 wrote in post #14482988
Even if the 5DIII is the master, the 5DII should be largely usable to 6400 Iso...

Titi

I keep hearing stuff like this. All I can say is that that has not been my experience. The noise at even 3200 (and absolutely at 6400) on the 5DII is not acceptable in very low light venues.

Eastport wrote in post #14483006
I keep hearing stuff like this. All I can say is that that has not been my experience. The noise at even 3200 (and absolutely at 6400) on the 5DII is not acceptable in very low light venues.

right, some people get great pics at ISO 3200, some get worse.
maybe it has something to do with exposure
or maybe the camera likes some photographers more than others

In my experience with low-light dance photography i've found that even if you think the foto has a lot of noise it may print very well. Noticed this on my 40D years ago.

I'm about to shoot our Spring Recital rehearsal and recital next week.
I'm planning to start at f2.8 ISO3200 and hope to get around 1/500 or better during rehearsal (Wed.) with the 5D3 and Tamron 24-70 f2.8 VD right up on the stage. I'll adjust as needed.
Sat. for recital i'm throwing the Canon 70-200 f2.8L on there and dropping back into the audience some.

I totally expect ISO up to 6400 to be as good as ISO800 on my old 40D and 5Dc...we'll see.

Eastport wrote in post #14483006
I keep hearing stuff like this. All I can say is that that has not been my experience. The noise at even 3200 (and absolutely at 6400) on the 5DII is not acceptable in very low light venues.

you must be very picky. It will take more work if you decide to print 8x10's or larger. 5D2 + ISO 6400 is easy to clean up. If lightroom is not enough, then topaz denoise.

Granted I never even shoot that high ISO, I do 1600-3200 all the time. I wont even bother cleaning noise if printing less than 8x10's

You have nothing to worry about.

In my opinion 25600 on the 5d3 is as useable as 6400 was on the 5d2, 12800 is as useable as 4000 was, 6400 as 2500, 3200 as 1600, 1600 as 1000, and 800 as 640. That is just my opinion though, some people disagree, but most of those people seem to be working from online reviews, not from having used both cameras.

Here's a 12800. Exif is there if you want to know ow much low light it was shot at

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/mikolitz/700563​5298/

Eastport wrote in post #14483006
I keep hearing stuff like this. All I can say is that that has not been my experience. The noise at even 3200 (and absolutely at 6400) on the 5DII is not acceptable in very low light venues.

I can barely make the ISO 2000 usable in the 5D2. The above dance photos match my own experience with the 5D3.

OK. I guess I will keep the rental plan for the 5DIII in place. Since everyone else is confident at 6400 and even higher I guess I'll get by with 3200 which will be great!

Thanks for all the advice. And the photos you all have supplied look like mine at 1600 on the 5D2 - so that's great.

Eastport wrote in post #14485113
OK. I guess I will keep the rental plan for the 5DIII in place. Since everyone else is confident at 6400 and even higher I guess I'll get by with 3200 which will be great!

Thanks for all the advice. And the photos you all have supplied look like mine at 1600 on the 5D2 - so that's great.

Don't do it. After you use it you don't want to return it.