menu
Read. Learn. Return.

D3s, ISO 4000, no noise reduction? no problem!

I’m amazed. I loved my D3, I really did, but the D3s just raises the bar so much higher. ISO 4000 with no noise reduction and no real noise is phenomenal. It doesn’t matter how much you read about the D3s high ISO, once you experience it for yourself it just seems to defy belief! This image was in my recent first D3s wildlife video, and briefly appeared in the post for the video. However, on reflection, I was so impressed with the quality that I wanted to give it it’s own little place on the blog. This is about a 50% crop from the original, so quite heavy (which usually emphasises noise) and was taken just after the sun had set behind a cloudy horizon. But the quality is still insanely good!

Image details
Camera: Nikon D3s
Lens: 600mm AFS II
Settings: 1/60, f5, ISO 4000, no noise reduction

Nikon D3s ISO 4000

Carrion Crow, taken after sunset with the D3s

Shooting in such a low diffused light has allowed the details in the blacks to really come through. Try getting this type of exposure in sunshine with all that bright grass around and something would have to give!

100% crop please
Sure, here you go. This is from the original NEF straight from the camera. Apologies if you were expecting more sharpness from the 600mm, but it’s the best I could do at 1/60s 🙂

100% crop, D3s, ISO 4000, no noise reduction

100% crop, D3s, ISO 4000, no noise reduction

The sun had just set behind a cloudy horizon and I was making my way back to the car when I saw this Carrion Crow digging in the ground amongst the tall grass. To my eyes, the colour had gone from the surroundings and everything was looking dull, as it does after the final suns rays have gone for the day. I figured I’d take a quick video clip of the crow, followed by a photo and I was stunned at just how good the image that appeared on the back of the LCD was! I did apply a small saturation and contrast boost, as I do with most images, but regardless, the quality from this camera in low light is simply mind blowing!

I’ll stop ranting on now especially as I said at the start, it doesn’t matter how much you read about this camera, it still won’t sink in until you shoot with it. But needless to say, I’m very excited by the prospects of shooting longer in the evening that are offered by this camera – especially living in the UK where the days are drawing in now and sunlight hours are reducing by the day!

Recent Posts

Read More...

 

About the author

Richard Peters is a Surrey based professional wildlife photographer, Nikon Ambassador, and one of the few British photographers to receive the accolade of European Wildlife Photographer of the Year. He is known for a style that often favours dramatic use of light, runs wildlife photography workshops and, from camera clubs to big industry events, holds talks about his work.

If you'd like to know about Richard's latest blogs, workshops and more, all designed to help you improve your photography, join the newsletter today.

Recent Posts

Read More...