Pushing ISO on a 7D

[massimo]

Hey guys,

Iv been playing around with my 7D and would like to hear from other 7D users what ISO they are happy to go up to, to get a decent photo with not to much noise?

Thanks guys!

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

Commercially, ISO800 before I need to start doing serious NR in my RAW converter and PS

[Thinus155]

I tend to not go over 800 but I have gotten away with1250 but I will not recommend it though. If you want great iso performance go full frame! 5d mkii's going for great prices now.

[Anonymous]

Commercially I'll take it as high as I need to go to get shot, if thats 3200 then thats what I use.

[BrerFox]

Commercially I'll take it as high as I need to go to get shot, if thats 3200 then thats what I use.

My sentiments entirely. I keep hearing people say "this shot is blurred, but at least I kept within the ISO range." Use the ISO that your
shot requires - in the same way that you should choose your shutter and your aperture.

[Thinus155]

My sentiments entirely. I keep hearing people say "this shot is blurred, but at least I kept within the ISO range." Use the ISO that your
shot requires - in the same way that you should choose your shutter and your aperture.

Well said!!!

[Deon RacePics]

I have tried to keep to <=800

[Russell Hunter]

I tend to find that the best results are below ISO 800 for my 7D.

Depending on the conditions, I have found that an ISO of 800 or greater can produce good results, particularly for black and white. To reduce any noise I use Nik's Dfine software combined with Photoshop.

[jaytee]

I agree with Williams, but it doesn`t really answer the question. If you have to shoot jpeg, then anything above 800 is a problem. I generally shoot RAW, and process in Lightroom. I`m happy to go to 1600, and have gone to 3200 quite often. I wouldn`t go higher - I`d rather take a chance with a slower shutter speed.

[Anonymous]

I agree with Williams, but it doesn`t really answer the question. If you have to shoot jpeg, then anything above 800 is a problem. I generally shoot RAW, and process in Lightroom. I`m happy to go to 1600, and have gone to 3200 quite often. I wouldn`t go higher - I`d rather take a chance with a slower shutter speed.

I thought it did, I said I'm comfortable taking the ISO as high as it needs to go to get the shot. Lets be realistic, if the very first thing someone notices in one of my shots is the noise I probably shouldn't have wasted the shutter actuation in the first place.

[Dave_]

I thought it did, I said I'm comfortable taking the ISO as high as it needs to go to get the shot. Lets be realistic, if the very first thing someone notices in one of my shots is the noise I probably shouldn't have wasted the shutter actuation in the first place.

Ditto, I have gone as high as 6400 to get the shot, which ended up being printed in an expensive photo book.

Did the client notice the noise or the great photo? I think we as photographers can get a bit hung up on the noise issue. Although I admit I hate it

[Andre v]

I am not a fan of noise, i do find my 7d to be a bit on the noisy side and will not really go past 800 on it.

[Leo Theron]

You can remove noise, but to add sharpness to an unsharp image is a little bit difficult…


Use a wide aperture lens, good technique and learn how to expose and process properly - and the limitations of the camera will slowly disappear.

[Morkel Erasmus]

Some interesting responses here.
One thing you'll have to "accept" is that the 7D has a bit of noise from ISO800 up (and if you underexpose at even lower ISO settings you'll see it too).

When I still used the 7D I was happy to push it, as Williams said, as far as it needed to go to get the shot. I have printed shots taken with it between ISO100 and ISO3200 and it holds up well. I agree we get hung up on noise, but it can certainly be managed for web-sized shots and it gets 'sucked up' somewhat by your chosen print medium.

I know many will say that comparing these at web resolution is useless, but still, one of the uses you will have for images taken is for your webpage/FB page/ODP posting...and I found that with good technique (exposed somewhat to the right!) and careful consideration to your workflow this camera can yield good results at high ISO.

Eland - ISO3200 - before sunrise
http://www.outdoorphoto.co.za/galler...o-3200&cat=500

Leopard - ISO6400 - after sunset, illuminated with spotlight
http://www.outdoorphoto.co.za/galler...eopard&cat=500

Enjoy your shooting, Massimo!

[Andre v]

Nice results there Morkel, as mentioned with careful technique and processing good results can be achieved.

[DanieBenade]

ISO 3200 - Needed some work, but good enough to view on the net and happy with it till it till I can get another chance.

http://www.outdoorphoto.co.za/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=307987&title=ground-woodpecker-2fgrondspeg&cat=500

[Phillip.Grobler]

This thread is why I like shooting on M with auto ISO

[Morkel Erasmus]

This thread is why I like shooting on M with auto ISO

I shoot both the D3s and D7000 this way...

[Peter Connan]

And I thought I was the only one doing funny things like that.

[Mike Fraser]

This thread is why I like shooting on M with auto ISO

I shoot both the D3s and D7000 this way...

And I thought I was the only one doing funny things like that.

I have also used this method in the past - which is why I wish Canon would add EC to manual mode. Please correct me if I am wrong but when doing this it is not possible to adjust from the cameras default selected exposure for the scene?

What I have tried is composing using spot metering on an average exposure value in the scene then locking exposure, then recomposing for my desired composition - is there a better way? Obviously disabling Auto ISO and selecting manually - but that defeats the purpose of Auto ISO.