To Dream the Impossible Dream

[Zuiko]

When I purchased my first DSLR, an Olympus E-500, five years ago any thoughts of getting low noise, low light images above ISO 800 on a Four Thirds camera were just an impossible dream. Today, with the E-M5, that dream is reality!



It's my cat, Thimble, taken hand-held at 1/30th of a second, f5.6, 150mm (300mm equivalent), ISO 12800 - with a Parkinson's tremor!

A triumph, I think, for technology, both in terms of sensor performance in low light and the new 5 axis IBIS!

Note: NO noise reduction or filtering applied, but + 0.7 exposure compensation set in camera.

[Seonnaidh]

Re: To Dream the Impossible Dream

Lovely image John,

Just shows how technology advances. And at such a speed.

[Guest]

Re: To Dream the Impossible Dream

Well done John, I'm sure only part of the credit is really due to the camera.

But why 0.7 +ev?, I'd almost dare wonder if it's a bit overexposed - though of course the extra exposure does help a bit with noise.

Nick

[StephenL]

Re: To Dream the Impossible Dream

Nice image. I see you too are an exponent of ETTR!

[Zuiko]

Re: To Dream the Impossible Dream

Well done John, I'm sure only part of the credit is really due to the camera.

But why 0.7 +ev?, I'd almost dare wonder if it's a bit overexposed - though of course the extra exposure does help a bit with noise.

Nick

The histogram shows a near perfect exposure. Any hint of under-exposure at this ISO setting will have noise jumping all over the image if you try to lift it.

[JonSchick]

Re: To Dream the Impossible Dream

Wow - I've never dared to go that far up the ISO scale but maybe I should give it a try!

[PeterBirder]

Re: To Dream the Impossible Dream

Wow - I've never dared to go that far up the ISO scale but maybe I should give it a try!

Yes give it a try!

See this earlier post of mine as well.http://e-group.uk.net/forum/showthread.php?t=23026
Following a tip from another member I've now started using Auto ISO on the EM-5 something I thought I'd never do.

Regards.

[Guest]

Re: To Dream the Impossible Dream

The histogram shows a near perfect exposure. Any hint of under-exposure at this ISO setting will have noise jumping all over the image if you try to lift it.

Sorry John.

I did suggest that +0.7 ev, was good for getting rid of noise in the darker areas (more signal = less noise). But I do think the end result would stand a slight darkening - but of course you were demonstrating what the camera could do (+mayhaps envy makes me a bit more critical).

Nick

[Guest]

Re: To Dream the Impossible Dream

Exposure looks ok to me John and Nick, highlights certainly would not want to be any lighter.

Great shot too btw.

[Zuiko]

Re: To Dream the Impossible Dream

Yes, it certainly wouldn't want to be any lighter and there is scope to darken it a bit to suit personal taste. ETTR always involves a certain amount of brinkmanship!

Nick, you may be slightly envious of the camera but you've got a 9-18mm which I haven't. There's a price to pay for everything!

[gregles]

Re: To Dream the Impossible Dream

Those figures are almost insane for those of us using traditional oly 4/3rds dslrs Just shows the progress oly have been forced to make

Greg

[StephenL]

Re: To Dream the Impossible Dream

I happily use iso10,000 where it's safe to do so.

[tomphotofx]

Re: To Dream the Impossible Dream

Wow! Lovely clean image, I've not been above 6400 yet but this has inspired me to be more bold in high ISO.

All the best.

Tom