New sony A700 >>> ISO 6400

Why cant the 40D have ISO 6400? Or even ISO 3200???

I might buy one and a fast prime if the noise is low.

if I am not mistaken, is the ISO 6400 not a software emulation much like how Pentax performs ISO 3200? Seems to me that even if it's not a software bit it would still be loaded with noise at such an absurdly high ISO.

Both the 30D and the 40D have ISO 3200, in custom function, turn ISO expansion on.
When you adjust the ISO "H" will denote 3200.

I'm only concerned with high ISO performance, as you can "push" digital images just like film... But the real question is how does that Sony hold up IRL? It's a similar processor as the Nikon's using right? The D300 could have good high ISO performance, and from the few test shots out there, the D3 is awesome up to 6400....

I do know about the "H" on my 30D.

If I am not mistaken, the sony really does have ISO 6400.. not emulated. I could be wrong, but thats what I have read.

Pretty huge ISO. My problem with buying back into Sony (sold off all my Minolta/Sony stuff earlier this year) is that as a system there isn't much there. Lens selection is very limited, while availability is there the pricing is outrageous when you look at Canon and Nikon offerings. A Sony 70-200/2.8 G lens costs $2300 and 1.4/2.0 TC's are $570 each. I think there prices reflect that they've been waiting to release there semi-pro and pro offerings prior to ramping up lens production and reducing prices (a lot of their higher end G lenses are made by hand at a pace of 1 lens per day from what I was told). The A100 was a Minolta/Konica/Sony collaboration. The A700 is a pure Sony design and they admitted that they are still learning about dslr's. I wish them luck and hope they do well but looking at it realistically I am skeptical of there first generation dslr's. Sony has those very very deep pockets to back there dlsr development. I guess it all depends on how wisely they've spent that money.

I think digitally, it's all really about just turning up the gain feature to get more sensitivity from the lowest. So the ISO stops may just all be digital programming and not like in film, so or... I could be wrong on this though.

But anyway, cameralab.com has a preview of the noise level at ISO's and I don't even think 3200 is usable on the Sony, let alone the 6400.
Take a look.
http://www.cameralabs.​com …pha_DSLR_A700/n​oise.shtml

Its not surprising but visiting a Sony/Minolta forum there was a strong bias towards Sony and the A700. This is expected really. They view the A700 as the "soon to be crowned king" with the Nikon D300 as a close second and the 40D as not even in the same ballpark. Its a little entertaining to me only because I used to shoot Sony/Minolta/Konica. And granted the A700 does look good spec wise. It looks very similar to the old Konica Minolta 7D only upgraded to compete with todays market trends (minus live view).. They even introduced a couple new lenses. I'd be interested in seeing some head to head reviews.

1600 doesn't look so hot in those test shots.

amazing even more this stayed in the Lens Section this long ...

I wish they would have taken some real shots for that test aside from just black and blue squares. That said, my XTi looks to have about the same quality as the new Sony (a bit better than the D80, and worlds better than the A100) right through to 1600. 3200 looks okay on the Sony (just a tad below the 5D, even with the Nikons), but that 6400 looks pretty much unusable. It is about the same as the point and shoot cameras that claim ISOs of 800 and 1600: sure, it is there, but would you use it. I would only go to that point if there was no other alternative and it was a shot I couldn't afford to miss at any quality (Loch Ness Monster, UFO, Sasquatch...)

microman23 wrote in post #3924446
Why cant the 40D have ISO 6400? Or even ISO 3200???

I might buy one and a fast prime if the noise is low.

As pointed out already, 40D has ISO 3200.

In fact, by under exposing (set EV=-6), you can get ISO 25600 (or more) from 40D. Save the photo in RAW and brighten up in post processing.

go raw and boost the exposure up.