 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| PhotoKB HomeDiscussion Groups Digital Photography Digital PhotoDSLR CamerasZLR CamerasPoint & Shoot CamerasFilm Photography 35 mmLarge FormatMedium formatDarkroomFilm and LabsOther EquipmentPhoto Technique Nature PhotographyPeople PhotographyTechnique GeneralGeneral Photo Topics General TopicsAustralian PhotographyUK PhotographyDirectoryPhoto Clubs |
Photo Forum / Digital Photography / DSLR Cameras / November 2006D50 vs D80 and D200 in low light
I had a D50 once but swapped it in for a D200 for various reasons. I believe the D50 had nicer color and better grain when shooting handheld in low light at 1600 ASA. Anyone else with this opinion? Considering the smaller pixels on the D200, it would not seem surprising. I am looking into getting a cheaper backup for the D200 for these low light situations. Should I go with the D50 or D80? I have no experience with the D80. Any thoughts appreciated. Tien I think you are in the minority on this one. According to DP Reviews tests, the D80 and D200 both have lower luminance noise at 1600 than the D50. http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond80/page18.asp http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond50/page17.asp http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond200/page21.asp The graphs are not to the same scale so you have to look at them carefully. Peace, -chasfs http://chasfs.com > According to DP Reviews tests, the D80 and D200 both have lower > luminance noise at 1600 than the D50. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > -chasfs > http://chasfs.com Sure with JPEG. Nikon woke up to the fuss made about noise, and did more in-camera NR. > I had a D50 once but swapped it in for a D200 for various reasons. I > believe the D50 had nicer color and better grain when shooting handheld [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Tien Tien, Sensor analyses for a D50 and D200 are here: http://www.clarkvision.com/imagedetail/index.html#sensor_analysis The read noise for both cameras is on the order of 7.4 electrons, The the ISO at unity gain, shown at Figure 6 at: http://www.clarkvision.com/imagedetail/does.pixel.size.matter shows the D50 at ISO ~1500 versus the D200 at ISO 800. So with raw files, which gets you to the sensor performance, the D50 outperforms the D200 with its larger pixels. Amateur astronomers have found the D50 to be a good performer for astro photos. Roger > Sensor analyses for a D50 and D200 are here: > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > The the ISO at unity gain, shown at Figure 6 at: > http://www.clarkvision.com/imagedetail/does.pixel.size.matter Any plans to analyze the D80? I'm curious to see the results. >> Sensor analyses for a D50 and D200 are here: >> [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Any plans to analyze the D80? I'm curious to see the results. If someone wants to bring one by, or take the data for me. I have data for a D70, I'll analyze when I get time. It takes an hour or so to take the data, including some setup. If interested, I can add it to a web page for instructions. Then it takes me a couple of days of work analyzing the results, so, having a real job, I can't do too many of these. I'd also like to do the new Pentax and Sony. I'm also looking for a 4 megapixel camera to fill in the hole in Figure 6. I would also like to get a smaller pixel camera than the S70 (2.3 micron pixels) to see what happens at the low end. The camera must have raw output. Roger >>> Sensor analyses for a D50 and D200 are here: >>> [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Roger If you lived locally I would be happy to bring around the Pentax. >> Any plans to analyze the D80? I'm curious to see the results. >> > If someone wants to bring one by, or take the data for me. Sorry, I can't drop by since I'm in Canaduh...bit too long of a drive. > It takes an hour or so to take the data, including some setup. > If interested, I can add it to a web page for instructions. Please post the instructions...I might be able to help. >>> Any plans to analyze the D80? I'm curious to see the results. >>> [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Please post the instructions...I might be able to help. OK. I'll do it tomorrow. I just got home from being on a trip. Roger >>>> Any plans to analyze the D80? I'm curious to see the results. >>>> [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > OK. I'll do it tomorrow. I just got home from being on a trip. > Roger OK, here it is. The first link gives the data processing steps to do these evaluations, the second gives more details on taking the data. Procedures for Evaluating Digital Camera Sensor Noise, Dynamic Range, and Full Well Capacities; Canon 1D Mark II Analysis http://www.clarkvision.com/imagedetail/evaluation-1d2 and a more specific write-up: http://www.clarkvision.com/imagedetail/evaluation-1d2/howtotakedata.html Roger > Procedures for Evaluating Digital Camera > Sensor Noise, Dynamic Range, and Full Well Capacities; [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > http://www.clarkvision.com/imagedetail/evaluation-1d2/howtotakedata.html Thanks I have a look at it tomorrow and see what I can do! SNIP > OK, here it is. The first link gives the data processing steps > to do these evaluations, the second gives more details on taking [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Canon 1D Mark II Analysis > http://www.clarkvision.com/imagedetail/evaluation-1d2 I've done just that for my EOS 1Ds Mark II (actually I'm completing the data for 'intermediate' ISO settings). I use ImagesPlus and it seems to give quite Raw data (non-white balanced, non-demosaiced, Raw). The readings are very much in line with Poison statistics, and derived amplification factors are quite linear. However, I did notice some 'odd' (in the sense of not even) sensel readings. ImagesPlus' data numbers are scaled to 16-bit values, from 12-bit for most DSLRs, yet there are odd 16-bit data numbers that could only(?) be explained by hot/dead (red or blue only) pixel interpolation *after* scaling). > and a more specific write-up: > > http://www.clarkvision.com/imagedetail/evaluation-1d2/howtotakedata.html As for the read noise test shots, a good lens cap and a fully covered viewfinder at shortest exposure time should be adequate, but a dark room might also help to make absolutely sure there is no stray light reaching the sensor. It may also be interesting, although a bit more work in evaluation, to get double shots for 'intermediate' ISOs. They may already reveal consistently deviating (i.e. non-ADC but after quantification) amplifications at e.g. ISO 125 or 160 versus ISO 100 and 200, as in: <http://www.xs4all.nl/~bvdwolf/temp/ReadNoise_1Ds2.png> . It also indicates that e.g. for relatively low exposure level shadows, an ISO 400 setting may perform better than ISO 160 ...  SignatureBart > I had a D50 once but swapped it in for a D200 for various reasons. I > believe the D50 had nicer color and better grain when shooting handheld [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Tien If you're planning on using the camera to take pictures of actual subjects instead of measurebating, perhaps this review might help you decide on the D80: http://nikongear.com/v3_Nikon_D80.htm Signaturewww.nikongear.com Share, learn, win. >>I had a D50 once but swapped it in for a D200 for various reasons. I >>believe the D50 had nicer color and better grain when shooting handheld [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > http://nikongear.com/v3_Nikon_D80.htm Well, that is about the most useless review I have ever seen. > >>I had a D50 once but swapped it in for a D200 for various reasons. I > >>believe the D50 had nicer color and better grain when shooting handheld [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > > Well, that is about the most useless review I have ever seen. Lemmee guess: you like measurebating instead of photography? Signaturewww.nikongear.com Share, learn, win. >>>>I had a D50 once but swapped it in for a D200 for various reasons. I >>>>believe the D50 had nicer color and better grain when shooting handheld [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Lemmee guess: you like measurebating instead of photography? I understand my equipment in order to push the limits of the technology. If that means measuring some properties, so be it. Photos at: http://www.clarkvision.com Where are your photos? Roger > >>>http://nikongear.com/v3_Nikon_D80.htm > >> [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Where are your photos? Oh come on, are you telling me you were on my website and you didn't see any of my pictures there? Look in the Albums for a few. I'm afraid they aren't the sort of thing you'd like. They're mostly of human subjects. Signaturewww.nikongear.com Share, learn, win. >>>>>http://nikongear.com/v3_Nikon_D80.htm >>>> [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > I'm afraid they aren't the sort of thing you'd like. They're mostly of > human subjects. Your web site, which appears to be biased to selling nikon gear, has an "NEF Albums" button that shows a few images from several people. You have not identified yourself, so it is not clear which, if any are yours. And since you seem to use a camera AND a computer, you should be happy that people you call "measurebators" exist, for without them none of your toys would exist. Troll Roger >> Oh come on, are you telling me you were on my website and you didn't >> see any of my pictures there? Look in the Albums for a few. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > people. You have not identified yourself, so it is not clear > which, if any are yours. here: http://nikongear.com/alb/index.php?cat=10007 >>>>> I had a D50 once but swapped it in for a D200 for various reasons. I >>>>> believe the D50 had nicer color and better grain when shooting handheld [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Roger I do note that the title photo on your page is c1993.... long before digital. Point made perhaps? SignatureJim <jen....not....home..remvdots...@....yahoo >>>>>> I had a D50 once but swapped it in for a D200 for various reasons. I >>>>>> believe the D50 had nicer color and better grain when shooting [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > I do note that the title photo on your page is c1993.... long before > digital. Point made perhaps? Perhaps....that I've been taking prize winning photos for a long time ;-) Roger >>>situations. Should I go with the D50 or D80? I have no experience >>>with the D80. Any thoughts appreciated. The D80 would be a better choice for a backup as it has many of the features of the D200 and it's a much nicer camera with the same viewfinder as the D200 and same 10mp. As a backup, it would be very similar to the D200. Then again, if the backup is for personal use, and the user can deal with the feature set of the D50, then the D50 is a much more cost-conscious solution. Is the D80 a good camera? Yup, it's a great camera and I think it's the best 10mp model available. It's so good, I bought the company! [actually I bought the D80] :-) >> If you're planning on using the camera to take pictures of actual >> subjects instead of measurebating, perhaps this review might help >> you decide on the D80: http://nikongear.com/v3_Nikon_D80.htm >> > Well, that is about the most useless review I have ever seen. I have to agree. The "review" wasn't very detailed nor did it expound on the many virtues of the camera. There was little mention of image quality, lense performance was not with the 18-135 kit lense, and his sample images are too small to evaluate at all - even a cheap 3mp camera looks great at those sizes. Perhaps calling it a "brief encounter" or a preview would be a better description. And his "Problem Areas" is off the mark since the camera comes with Picture Project and supports the D80 RAW files. True it doesn't come with Capture NX, but then neither do the other consumer models. The other nitpicks are silly, such as his dislike of SD cards, and his complaint about not metering with AI lenses. What did he expect for the price, everything? > The D80 would be a better choice for a backup as it has many of the > features of the D200 and it's a much nicer camera with the same > viewfinder as the D200 and same 10mp. As a backup, it would be very > similar to the D200. Thanks. Tien |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2009 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.