Push RAW or shoot high iso?

[usccharles]

i could have sworn i asked this yesterday but now its gone...

you think its better to shoot something at high ISO say 1250, 2500

or

shoot low ISO, underexpose, and 'push' the exposure during RAW process?

i'm still testing whenever i get the chance, but in terms of grain i think both methods are about the same. shooting lower ISO still creates lots of grain when 'pushed' too much.

but i feel like maybe the latter method helps with eliminating color noise. M8 files have alot of color noise above ISO600 and i've noticed pushing my files instead of shooting high ISOs definately has a reduction in color noise.

i haven't shot anything really colorful to see how pushing affects color. i've mostly been just testing dark shadows.

anybody have more experience with this and have any tidbits?

thank you~ 🙂

 

[nikon_junkie]

Having done sports and weddings in the worst lighting conditions, I would vote for getting it right in the camera first. Actually overexposing by a half stop.

Shoot the appropriate ISO and... in RAW.

Then apply Noise Ninja or your favorite Noise software.

All the PS BS wont trump that... only aid IMHO.

But I'm shooting with a 5D.

 

[HAnkg]

With the M8 I normaly have my EV set to underexpose 2/3 of a stop. For maximum low light I'd go with ISO 640 and EV set to underexpose a stop or 2. This I find gives better quality then turning up the gain on the sensor by going to higher ISO's. This applies to RAW only of course.

I know the conventional wisdom is expose to the right and that was my method with the 1Ds but with the M8 I find a little underexposure gives better results. The flexibilty of opening detail in the shadows without getting artifacts is amazing with the Leica. Like slide film you want to hold the highlights.