Post your ISO 2500 Photos

[ampguy]

you're probably right

you're probably right

if you're referring to my photo. I don't really notice it, and couldn't have taken these photos with any type of film camera, so I'm fine with it.

I've also been told that my b/w museum house set has banding in several of the underexposed photos, but again, even pushed 1600b/w, I would not have been able to get any decent resolution with film options, and again, I don't see the banding, but I'm not doubting it's there if other see it.

I do see over-sharpness, over-contrast, blown highlights, lack of shadow detail, weird crops, and photoshop fx all the time though ... 😀

some of the M8 shots above have noticeable banding.

 

[noimmunity]

No, Ted, that would be Ivan's photos to which i was referring. They look a lot like the results I get.

 

[ampguy]

Thanks Jon

Thanks Jon

Yes I do see it barely in a couple of Ivan's first and last photos, I probably have that too, maybe the M9 does too? It's nice to see the limits though. Still usable and photos IMHO - one could convert to b/w and bring up shadows at the expense of details.

BTW, Ivan's last image reminds me of Edith Shain, the famous woman being kissed in the WW2 photo. She was at my mom's assisted living place last week I believe supporting remembering the women of WW2.

No, Ted, that would be Ivan's photos to which i was referring. They look a lot like the results I get.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Nikkor 8.5cm F2, wide-open, ~1/30th second

35/1.7 Ultron

 

[thinkfloyd]

 

[Alnitak]

Very cute Boston Terrier!

 

[noimmunity]

Yes I do see it barely in a couple of Ivan's first and last photos, I probably have that too, maybe the M9 does too? It's nice to see the limits though. Still usable and photos IMHO - one could convert to b/w and bring up shadows at the expense of details.

BTW, Ivan's last image reminds me of Edith Shain, the famous woman being kissed in the WW2 photo. She was at my mom's assisted living place last week I believe supporting remembering the women of WW2.

Yeah, that's an iconic photo for sure.

But that banding bugs the #@#^ outta me. Here it rears its ugly head in the park...

 

[ampguy]

That's not so bad

That's not so bad

Just bring up the shadows a bit. As long as you're not seeing any of those lines like at the bottom horizontal (not sure what those non-straight lines are on the hoody) at 1250 and below, your M8 is probably as good as they ever got.

Yeah, that's an iconic photo for sure.

But that banding bugs the #@#^ outta me. Here it rears its ugly head in the park...

 

[lemalk]

Here's another shot at 2500 with the M8 reworked in Lightroom 3 Beta 2.
I like that it gives you much more control over the noise than before, but I don't know that I would say the new software turns your M8 into a D3.

This shot wasn't overexposed (which seems to be the M8's achilles heel) but I think the noise cleans up nicely.

What do you guys think?

 

[noimmunity]

That shot was taken at ISO 2500 around 1/11 sec at f/4. The pattern on the hoody is in the fabric, it's not moire.
Just tried playing a little in C15, and I can see how some improvement can be made esp by someone with greater pp skills that I have yet. But the banding that arises in some situations can't really be eliminated, can it?

Yeah, I do think my late model M8 classic is one of the better ones.

 

[popeye]

^^Horton Plaza? Looks good.

BTW, Ivan's last image reminds me of Edith Shain, the famous woman being kissed in the WW2 photo.

It's a statue here in San Diego across from the Midway.

And speaking of banding (I say more like crosshatching), I've noticed it in my 1250 and 2500 iso shots as well. LR3b2 has been a boon for me with regards to sorting out the noise and trash. I can't wait for the release!

 

[noimmunity]

Interesting to hear about people's experience with Lightroom. The shot above looks promising.

(I've always thought Capture One was better for the Leica. (plus I don't want to be locked in to a proprietary software for file management). Samewise, I had always thought that the trick with the M8 was not to underexpose more than anything).

By playing with the curves and adding grain in Silver Efex Pro I was able to 'take out' the banding. Wonder what people think of that? The contrast is a little too high for my taste.

 

[noimmunity]

and for the fun of it

and for the fun of it

Here is a color conversion that is much better than when I first converted this photo a year ago (admittedly that was just after getting an M8 and the beginning of my entry into digital pp). Perhaps the biggest difference, besides the learning curve, would be the addition this year of a computer that is up to speed!
The banding is still there but less obtrusive to my eyes.
So, my tentative conclusion (no surprise) is that PP skills may well be equal to or more important than photographic exposure skills. And I still have a lot to learn, hahaha!

 

[noimmunity]

This is too much fun

This is too much fun

The banding on this shot (in the sky) was irreparable, so I darkened the shadows, which works well for this kind of subject, at least.

and here are a couple of other shots, all at ISO2500.

 

[lemalk]

Jon,
I kinda *like* your Silver Efx attempt. I would bring in some of the highlights on the faces, but I think it gives the picture more "depth."
Sometimes clean but soft is too flat.

I like the picture of the guy in the 76 helmet - something tells me that one would really pop in a silver efx conversion with decent tones.....just sayin'...

 

[lemalk]

^^Horton Plaza? Looks good...

...And speaking of banding (I say more like crosshatching), I've noticed it in my 1250 and 2500 iso shots as well. LR3b2 has been a boon for me with regards to sorting out the noise and trash. I can't wait for the release!

Thanks, yeah Horton Plaza is the place. Are you in SD as well?

Popeye - where can I find your pics? You should add some to this thread - it's always interesting to see the M8 being pushed to its limits!

 

[noimmunity]

Jon,
I kinda *like* your Silver Efx attempt. I would bring in some of the highlights on the faces, but I think it gives the picture more "depth."
Sometimes clean but soft is too flat.

I like the picture of the guy in the 76 helmet - something tells me that one would really pop in a silver efx conversion with decent tones.....just sayin'...

Yeah, I see what you mean about the highlights on the faces...

I played a bit with the 76 helmet photo conversion, finally settling on this version which is toned a bit blue in the silver and yellow on the paper (looks nice on the blown highlights).

 

[popeye]

Thanks, yeah Horton Plaza is the place. Are you in SD as well?

Popeye - where can I find your pics? You should add some to this thread - it's always interesting to see the M8 being pushed to its limits!

Yes sir I am!

Here's a 2500 iso shot of The Styletones' singer, PP in LR3:

M8/15mm Heliar

 

[leicashot]

M8 overexposes?

M8 overexposes?

Here's another shot at 2500 with the M8 reworked in Lightroom 3 Beta 2.
I like that it gives you much more control over the noise than before, but I don't know that I would say the new software turns your M8 into a D3.

This shot wasn't overexposed (which seems to be the M8's achilles heel) but I think the noise cleans up nicely.

What do you guys think?

Camera's don't over expose, people do. You are in control of the camera, not the other way around, right?

 

[jaapv]

And it is the other way around. The camera does not take kindly to underexposure. The more you "over"expose, the less noise. (but watch your highlights!) The shot in question would probably be too noisy for me, but I would need to see it in print. The M8 can do better. You must aim for a full histogram, that way you have maximum image information i.e. minimum noise. Not have the histogram all bunched up against the side.