High ISO Nuthatch

[Mark Corpe]

As we approach the shortest day here in the UK, light levels are typically poor. This reminds me why I bought a 1Dx. I took this at 1000mm (Canon 500mm f/4 IS II + 2x TCIII). To get the entire bird in focus at close range I used f/9 and a shutter speed of 1/800 sec ensured no motion blur. Due to the poor light I needed ISO 20,000. I can't think of another camera which would have handled this better. Amazing to think that only a couple of years ago I'd have been put off taking bird shots on a day like this, knowing that either they'd have come out too noisy to use or I'd have to have compromised on aperture or shutter speed to get the ISO down to a lower level.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5522/11308412555_1157853932_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/2slo7/11308412555/) Nuthatch (http://www.flickr.com/photos/2slo7/11308412555/) by 2slo7 (catching up slowly) (http://www.flickr.com/people/2slo7/), on Flickr

[gail bisson]

Pretty amazing at ISO 20,000!:Whoa!: I have yet to put my 1DX to that high ISO.
I like the bird and the BG. Nice colors as well.
I can't decide if this has too much contrast or is it sharpening?
Gail

[Mark Corpe]

Thanks Gail. It is on the high side for what I consider acceptable sharpening. Even with the 1Dx, I still tend to shoot on the principle of ETTR by at least a 1/3 of a stop to allow for exposure (and noise) reduction in LR. Further NR was required here and some loss of detail is inevitable at ISO 20,000. Output sharpening is my last task and the lower level I tried first didn't look as good I thought.

[Miguel Palaviccini]

20,000?! Wow, that is something! Would love to see the noise levels in the original if you don't mind.

Detail with that high of ISO is great, but I think just a tad too much sharpening?

[arash_hazeghi]

great quality given the ISO, I might tone down the brightest whites a bit, the OOF FG object is a bit distracting