Friday November 27
 
13:37
 
Nikon D3S vs Canon EOS-1D Mark IV – high ISO compared

Note: Please don’t ask me for images.

1. Nikon’s approach to high ISO has changed with the D3S.

Until now, Nikon has always stopped high ISO before banding – horizontal lines – became apparent. As this publically available image from the D3S shows, banding is clearly evident at ISO 102400 on the D3S.

Of course ISO 102400 is an outrageaously high ISO. My point is simply this: Previously, when Nikon quoted it’s highest ISO – even the extended range “HI” values – you could rely on the images to be 99% banding free. That’s no longer the case.

2. Canon is improving at high ISO, but it can’t catch Nikon

Canon has for a long time allowed higher ISO images to contain banding which meant that its higher ISO images never approached Nikon’s. What’s different with the Mark IV, though, is that banding is far less intrusive.

That said, while banding has improved, noise on the D3S is still very intrusive at high ISO. The D3S, while it might not be able to eliminate the banding, makes a damn good effort at 102400 – as you can see above. The Canon at 102400 is dirty and grainy, even when the images are downsized.

I’m not saying the Canon is a bad camera – it’s not. Anyone taking photos for publication or for a paid assignment will never go as high as ISO 102400. However, the focus of the article is ISO, and Nikon is still ahead despite the banding.

It’s a much closer fight than the last iteration of cameras though – partly because Canon has gotten better, and partly because Nikon has allowed banding to creep in.

In a month you’ll be able to see all this for yourselves of course – the cameras will be publically available then.