Drawbacks of shooting at a very high ISO with Canon 50D?

jennieviijennievii Registered Users Posts: 39 Big grins
edited June 25, 2009 in Technique
I just got my 50D today and am thrilled with what I can do when setting the camera at 3200 in low light. When I was shopping for a camera, I asked the camera shop guy how it was possible to shoot at such a high ISO without it looking so grainy. He said before the Canon 50D and the Nikon 300D (the other I was considering), it was an issue, but isn't now. :dunno Is this really true? I've only looked at the pictures I've taken on the camera's screen so far and they look great and very crisp, but I'm wondering if I'll see a big difference when I print them or look at them on my computer screen. So, I'm basically wondering if there are still drawbacks to shooting at a high ISO and if it's still important to use as low of an ISO as possible. If not, I'm so excited about how much low light shooting I'll be able to do without a flash!

Comments

  • ToshidoToshido Registered Users Posts: 759 Major grins
    edited June 25, 2009
    High ISO with the 50D can still get very grainy. Watch exposure, under exposed pictures show it more.

    The high ISO is a tool to get the otherwise impossible pictures. Where possible use a lower ISO though. I will post an ISO 12,800 picture in a moment.
    http://www.tag-photos.smugmug.com
  • ToshidoToshido Registered Users Posts: 759 Major grins
    edited June 25, 2009
    573522368_AfWas-X3.jpg

    This was shot at

    ISO 12,800
    F/2.0
    SS 1/30s

    The photo has also been run through noisware to tame the noise.

    So while possible, not what I would recommend. In this case though I was stealing a shot of my kids watching a movie and did not want flash or anything else disturbing them.
    http://www.tag-photos.smugmug.com
  • photostuffphotostuff Registered Users Posts: 105 Major grins
    edited June 25, 2009
    Toshido wrote:

    This was shot at

    ISO 12,800
    F/2.0
    SS 1/30s

    The photo has also been run through noisware to tame the noise.

    So while possible, not what I would recommend. In this case though I was stealing a shot of my kids watching a movie and did not want flash or anything else disturbing them.
    Not bad for 12,800 ISO and 1/30 SS, Noise is still apparent, but its certainly usable!
    -Terry
    http://wildworldphoto.net
    http://photostuff.org
  • ToshidoToshido Registered Users Posts: 759 Major grins
    edited June 25, 2009
    Noisware helped as well :)

    Yes usable but not exactly a first choice.
    http://www.tag-photos.smugmug.com
  • ToshidoToshido Registered Users Posts: 759 Major grins
    edited June 25, 2009
    Or also, with the 50/1.4 I have had decent results as slow as 1/20s. Generally assisted to some degree. This picture I was leaned against the corner, hiding mostly from my kids...
    http://www.tag-photos.smugmug.com
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