D2X vs D300 noise comparison

[lsisaxon]

Here is a series of images comparing D2X and D300. The crops are taken near the centre. The images are shot using 50/1.4 at f/2.0. At ISO100, shutter speed is 1/4" and increases to maintain correct exposure as the ISO goes up. Lighting is from Philips tricolour fluorescent which is supposed to be corrected for 6500K (I don't know how accurate is that).

First up, here is the setup of the scene resized to 800px width. I have used ISO200 to compare the WB. EXIF are intact in case anyone wants to see.

D2X High ISO NR is at Normal. D300 High ISO NR is at Low. I find that for Normal setting, the details tend to be smeared.

D2X Cloudy


D300 Cloudy


D2X AWB


D300 AWB


AWB seems to be the same for both while D2X Cloudy gives a warmer image. Fpcusing seems to be slightly off for D300. I will need to check that. Let's get on with the noise performance first.

[lsisaxon]

ISO 100 performance
D2X


D300



ISO200 performance
D2X


D300

[lsisaxon]

ISO400 performance
D2X


D300



ISO800 performance
D2X


D300

[lsisaxon]

ISO1600 performance
D2X


D300



ISO3200 performance
D2X


D300


D300 ISO 6400 performance

[Errz]

Originally Posted by lsisaxon AWB seems to be the same for both while D2X Cloudy gives a warmer image. Fpcusing seems to be slightly off for D300. I will need to check that. Let's get on with the noise performance first.

seems like front focus ..look at the mouse

[lsisaxon]

From the ISO1600 comparison, it seems that the high ISO NR setting for D2X may be a bit too aggressive. Also, the focusing was a bit off with the D300. Maybe next time I'll do a more thorough test but from the looks of it, I don't see any advantage of D300 over D2X for ISO below 800.

[lsisaxon]

Originally Posted by Errz seems like front focus ..look at the mouse

Yeah.. it was some front focus but I can't seem to be able to correct that with the AF Finetune. I might have dialled a wrong value in there.

[zaxh81]

can't really tell since the focusing is so off.

[Jed]

I agree, would help really if the focus was the same, you can even tell in the non-100% crops.

Forget fine tuning autofocus maybe... just... manual focus? :P

Thanks for the effort though, appreciate the work.

If you did re-do it, with the focus sorted, could you include an area of shadow (as opposed to all midtones and highlights) in the area of the 100% crops?

[TMC]

looks like D2x is still usable at 3200 for 4R shots

[Jed]

Originally Posted by TMC looks like D2x is still usable at 3200 for 4R shots

I think most DSLRs are capable of 3200 for 4R shots; ok maybe not the D1 without banding issues, but anything else.

[lsisaxon]

Originally Posted by Jed I think most DSLRs are capable of 3200 for 4R shots; ok maybe not the D1 without banding issues, but anything else.

I don't think D70s is up to it either.

[TMC]

D2H will mati at ISO1000 already.

[Jed]

Eh, seriously, you think you can't get an ISO 1000 image from a D2h to print acceptably at 4R? o.O

[longkangman]

Thanks for the effort and another reason I keep my D2x. keke.

[lsisaxon]

Originally Posted by longkangman Thanks for the effort and another reason I keep my D2x. keke.

Watch this space.. I'll do a fairer test with High ISO NR off then at different High ISO NR settings at ISO1600.

I'll probably dial in kelvin for WB also.

[Cheesecake]

can do a test with the NR off?


jus high ISO will do. from ISO800 n up.

[gooseberry]

Originally Posted by lsisaxon AWB seems to be the same for both while D2X Cloudy gives a warmer image. Fpcusing seems to be slightly off for D300. I will need to check that. Let's get on with the noise performance first.

Actually the AWB D2X shot looks like the Cloudy D300 shot (slightly warm). The AWB D300 shot is more neutral.

Noise will appear more pronounced in out of focus areas. But you can clearly see that the D300 has less noise from ISO 800 and up (looking at the dark tones on the voltmeter (is it ?); colour saturation is also well maintained at the higher ISOs on the D300. The ISO 400 shots from the D300 are too oof to make a conclusion.

[knpan]

hi there, The d2x looks to be a bit better from low Iso till 400.

But at Iso 800 and above, the d300 noise control seems to be better!

I think my eyes are having problem

[alwayschampion]

I could not see the pictures.