5D Mk II High ISO test

I was doing a tethering test with my 5D MkII and Lightroom 3 on a MacBook Air and decided to do some high ISO test shots as well.

Here are the results.

RAW DNG capture via tether, applied Camera Neutral, Strong Tone Curve, Zero Black Compensation preset while capturing to Lightroom.
Then applied a -50, -25, +10, +25 adjustment to the tone curve to steepen it even more.
No noise reduction was applied.

I have my camera set to 5000K and did no White Balance adjustment.

First is a collage of 5 images ranging from 1600 to 25600 ISO.
Then a larger image at 25600 ISO.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

LR3 does a really nice job with high ISO files, but to infer that it makes ISO25600 usable on the 5D2 (if that is what you're doing) is a bit of a stretch imo. If you actually try to use ISO25600 in very low light, the hit to dynamic range and the lack of usable shadow detail/banding in the shadows...well, it just isn't pretty.

Here are B&W conversions of the 1600 and 25600 ISO images.
They have the same B&W preset applied. Its one that emulates Ilford HP5+. I then applied LR3 grain at 20, 25, 50 and steepened the tone curve to -50, -6, +5, +50.

The 1600 image is very good. The 25600 image is also quite good, especially considering that the camera missed focus a bit. Since I was using tethered link for shutter actuation on myself, I had to move my head around a bit for the auto focus to find contrast. On the 25600 image it focused back toward my temple. Looking there the detail is quite good considering the ISO.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

Thanks 4 the info. This is exactly what I've been wondering about before I part with the substantial sum for this camera. Am.

On the ISO 25600, you can see banding. In a scene like that maybe that's not a problem, but in a darker scene, it would be unusable.

That said, the 5DMKII can certainly handle high ISO very well. We've known that for a few years now...

Here are another two examples; one at 6400 and the other at H2 (25600).
They were both processed the same way in Lightroom;
5DMK2 custom camera profile, Zero Black compensation.

Applied the Ilford HP5+ preset, then PhotoKit Sharpener Preset (45/.5/80/0).
Then steepened tone curve to -50/-6/5/25.
Then Grain to 50/25/50.

As someone that loved to shoot pushed Tri-X and Ilford in a Hassy these ISOs and emulated B&W treatments are a treat.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

That's a nice looking B&W preset, at least is works well in the 1600 image.

I did this little test mainly because I had never really pushed the ISO in my 5D MkII.
What was most interesting to me was the difference between the 6400 ISO setting and the H1/H2 settings.
I'll have to give it a try in a dark situation.
Here I was more interested to see how it impacted detail.

Looking at the files in lightroom it appears that a 6400 file is good for just about any size print.

dmward wrote in post #10450191
I'll have to give it a try in a dark situation.

I'm guessing you'll probably get dramatically different results in darker situations.

What I have found is that shooting your usual subjects, under the usual conditions is the best test. The, "I need to find something to shoot for my test", rarely translates into real world shooting.

this test sure is interesting. OP, why do you keep pushing the 1600 and 25600 images? 1600 is cake these days, especially with FF (but my 40D could do OK up to 1600). 25600 is well past where I'd use my D700 (with "only" 12mp and FF). Why not show us 6400 (the last before you hit the extended ISOs) and 12800 (the first extended)? Showing us the LAST POSSIBLE ISO just mean it MUST be bad.....

FYI I see banding in the 25600 shots even in the B&W w/o even looking for them. Yeah yeah, I know, that's a given, but it's worth mentioning in case the OP is trying to say it's usable. Maybe if you're shooting zebra's or you have him put on an argyle sweater?

Thanks for the test/review. I'm thinking about getting 5DII myself, as my 7D will not reproduce the same result even at ISO6400. Now, talking about 25400, it is still usable if not blown out on a large print. I'd use it on a 6x4 anytime. Simply amazing!

I have to second LR3 or Camera Raw that comes with CS5 when it comes to interpret noise better than before. A perfectly exposed image with high ISO is not too bad nowadays. Below an image that is only converted to jpg, no exposure or other settings changed than the regular features in LR3 (no added noise reduction.)

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE