Nikon D800 in low light

Cathedral Interior #5. Barcelona, 2013

I bought this camera for the dynamic range and the resolution, but I find I am also loving this camera in low light. Matched with the 24-70 f/2.8 lens, this is a combination I find works well when I am indoors, can’t use a tripod, or whenever the lighting is a bit iffy. I have no problem pushing the ISO up to 3200 if necessary (as in the above image)…or just to the 400 to 800 range if I want faster shutter speeds during my hand-held daytime photo explorations.

Up to 800 ISO I don’t really notice the noise much if I expose properly, and at 3200 ISO a little noise reduction in Adobe Camera Raw does the trick pretty well. Yes, you won’t get the full dynamic range of the camera at high ISOs, and you aren’t completely maximizing the D800’s clean, noise-free, image-making potential, but I’d rather get things sharp when that is what is called for.

This ability to push the ISO up is really handy when you least think about it–say, when it is daytime and you are walking the city streets or mountain trails with your camera literally in hand. Normally, they say that 1/focal length is a good formula for a shutter speed that will keep things reasonably sharp, assuming a stationary subject. That is, at least 1/70 of a second when at 70mm; 1/24 of a second at 24mm (round to the next fastest shutter speed on your dial). With the D800 I like to double that, and also take two or three shots, just to be sure I get one good image. That is where the higher ISO really helps–during the day you can easily get those shutter speeds if you have 800 ISO set. Of course, a lens with Vibration Reduction (VR) will make things even easier.

It is not just the Nikon D800 that can do this by the way. Most of the better digital cameras of this latest generation have good low light capability–even the crop sensor and mirrorless types.

Here are another couple of higher ISO images from the Barcelona Cathedral:

Cathedral Interior #6. Barcelona, 2013 (Metadata: f/4.5, 1/250, 27mm, ISO 3200)

Cathedral Interior #7. Barcelona, 2013 (Metadata: f/8 for more depth of field, 1/15 but supported against the wall, 24mm, ISO 3200)