5d mk3 ISO limits

[GhostDriver]

I've only had my mk3 for about a month now, have set the ISO auto limit at 12800, even in manual mode I never go over that...

It's never been much of a problem, but now I've bought my macro lens, I'm wondering where the noise limit is.

just wondering what you guys set as your personal upper limit? Does this limit factor in for PP sharpening?

[leglessAlex]

It depends on what I want it for, if I just want to take a quick snap to show something to someone or put on facebook, then I'm quite happy going up to 25600. I certainly don't think its noisy enough at that level to ruin a picture even though it is very obviously noisy. If I want to take a 'serious' picture then I wouldn't be too keen on going above 12800. This however is probably also to do with the fact I'm crap at PP, so maybe I could go a bit higher and try to reduce the noise in photoshop or something

[markmullen]

I've used 12800 in events with print on site so JPEG with no extra noise reduction possible, without issue.

[jayemm89]

The noise limit is whatever YOU are willing to live with. I am currently shooting film and only going to ISO 400 stock when I absolutely have to, because my camera's shutter only goes to 1/500 sec so that limits you a fair bit - no such issue with the 5D obviously.

I cannot, personally, conceive of any situation where you would really need ISO 10,000+ out of a 5D3, but I am sure the situations do crop up.

I am personally much fonder of the use a tripod and longer exposures method, but I am sure that wouldn't work if I needed to get candid snaps in a night club without flash and for some reason needed f/5.6...

[nellyleelephant]

12800 is my max with 6400 being a no brainer and 3200 being the old 400!

Mainly for early morning wildlife. Correct exposure is very important, read up on ETTR.

[Gemm]

I've shot concerts at 12800 without any issues (12x8 prints looked absolutely clean). I haven't gone higher as I haven't needed to.

[GhostDriver]

ok thanks for the comments, sounds like Im on the mark @ 12800

[markmullen]

jayemm89 said:

I cannot, personally, conceive of any situation where you would really need ISO 10,000+ out of a 5D3, but I am sure the situations do crop up.

A couple of examples I've had:

1) A charity event at Donkey Sanctuary Leeds, their Christmas Fayre, shot in a very very dark parade ring in December, set up as a grotto, hugely high roof so no potential to bounce flash, having to shoot at f5.6-f8 to get enough DoF for family groups, wanting to balance ambient (of which there was little) with the flash, I was up to 12800. Bear in mind this was print on site, so JPEG only being fired straight to a printing station over wifi, no chance to do raw noise reduction.

2) A wedding in a chapel in York, dull day, tiny windows, even at f2 I was at ISO 12800 just to get to 1/30th - 1/60th, there was four of us shooting the wedding as favours to the couple, I was the only one to get a shot out of the chapel, the other three had a look at how dark it was and put their kit away.