ISO Test for the D5100

I have been wondering how the D5100 would handle High ISO and just how far you can go up in ISO before it really starts showing up in the photo.

Here is my test.
  • Shot in Program
  • All noise reduction turned off
  • Active D turned off
  • Shot on Tripod with remote
  • No sharpening or post production work at all
  • I loaded these in Nikon Image space so that I could do them full size so you have the option of seeing the entire photo as the camera produced.
  • All Shot in JPEG Fine
  • The file name is the ISO and the "A" shots are a 100% crop
  • Shot with the AF-S DX Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G
ISO D5100 - Don | NIKON IMAGE SPACE - Free Photo Sharing and Storage service

Be sure to wait till the photo loads completely. You will see focus snap in.
 
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Here is the same shots but re-sized to load here.

ISO 100
ISO_100.JPGISO_100a.JPG


ISO 200
ISO_200.JPGISO_200a.JPG


ISO 400
ISO_400.JPGISO_400a.JPG


ISO 800
ISO_800.JPGISO_800a.JPG


ISO 1600
ISO_1600.JPGISO_1600a.JPG


ISO 3200
ISO_3200.JPGISO_3200a.JPG


ISO 6400
ISO_6400.JPGISO_6400a.JPG


ISO 12800
ISO_12800.JPGISO_12800a.JPG


ISO 25600
ISO_25600.JPGISO_25600a.JPG
 
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nikonpup

Senior Member
which lens did u use for the test? to my old eyes the building looks ok at all setting the windows go bad at 3200
 
Very nice Don, thanks for sharing! That is interesting... appreciate your efforts.

Pat in NH

I did the same thing with my D3100 and I found it helped me when shooting. You can read reports all day long and listen to what they say but until you do it yourself you can't really know it. This was real world with no special setup. I gave it no help at all.

When I started looking at all of it I probably would feel pretty confident in shooting at 800 if I had to. In a pinch even up to Hi 2 if I did not need to print it.
 

Rexer John

Senior Member
The close up at ISO100 is one floor higher up :)

I was doing this test myself today.
If you need a fast shutter, it's well worth going to higher ISO when needed instead of risking blurry shots.
Grain is always better than blur on the subject you're focussing on.
 
The close up at ISO100 is one floor higher up :)

I was doing this test myself today.
If you need a fast shutter, it's well worth going to higher ISO when needed instead of risking blurry shots.
Grain is always better than blur on the subject you're focussing on.

You are right. did not even notice that. Have replaced it now. Thanks for the catch.
 
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kapawayna

New member
I'd be happy with the 800 at a push 1600 for small digital. Thanks for the comparisons i was planning on that this weekend. You saved me a job. Now i can take some real photo's
 
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