How much ISO is too high ISO

[ctitanic]

I primarily shoot wildlife, and over the years, I’ve changed my shooting approach multiple times. Initially, I shot in manual mode, but I eventually transitioned to Aperture Priority or Shutter Priority. In both modes, I decided to leave ISO on Auto. This configuration allows me to focus on other aspects of photography, such as composition and white balance.

At first, I set the maximum ISO to 1600. Over time, I gradually increased it to 3200 and eventually to 6400. These changes didn’t happen overnight—it took years of experience, experimentation, and adjustments. During this period, I also switched between different camera makers and models, testing and refining the maximum ISO settings on each one. Today my R6 is configured with a Maximum ISO of 10200.

In my opinion, the ideal maximum ISO depends heavily on your camera and, to some extent, on your lens quality. A high-quality lens with superior optics produces sharper and more detailed images, which can help mask the noise that becomes apparent at higher ISO settings.

Modern cameras handle high ISO much better than the ones I owned a decade ago. That said, as photographers, we sometimes need to make tough decisions. Do you take the shot, knowing you’ll have to use a high ISO and sacrifice some sharpness, or do you let the moment pass? Ultimately, the choice depends on what’s more important to you: capturing the moment or achieving technical perfection.

Here are few pictures that I took today and where I had to choose between taken the shot or forget about it. These pictures are soft but to me they are good for Social Media. Can you guess the ISO?

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Would you have taken these pictures knowing what was the ISO at the moment?

 

[TwoWheeler]

I seldom pay too much attention to ISO. (Sometimes to my detriment ). Freezing (or not) freezing motion and/or DOF take precedence, ISO is gonna be what it's gonna be. Since I shoot almost exclusively outdoors, I don't have too much control over the light. (Shouting at the sky doesn't help).

If the choice is "Not take the shot" or "Take the shot and see if Topaz can save it without making it too plastic looking", I take the shot. If it looks like poop, that's what the "move to catalog trash" button is for.

 

[Only RF]

20000 is the highest I've ever pushed for a bird shot which is this one. Not my comfort zone. 12800 is usually my max and 6400 is pretty comfy.

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[Only RF]

Just to add I'll always sacrifice noise to get an in focus shot. Sure there's modern anti shake tech I still prefer the subject to be sharp at the start. I do a pretty heavy pre-cull before editing and not too many OOF shots get in. It has to be pretty special.

I learned what the meaning of a fast lens and not not be afraid of high ISO in 2009. A person at worked asked me to shoot his son's football game. Night game and I only had a Canon 300L F4 IS and pushed my 7D to the ISO max of 12800. Even wide open it was hard to hit 1/500. I just used PS to edit the files.

 

[Only RF]

I primarily shoot wildlife, and over the years, I’ve changed my shooting approach multiple times. Initially, I shot in manual mode, but I eventually transitioned to Aperture Priority or Shutter Priority. In both modes, I decided to leave ISO on Auto. This configuration allows me to focus on other aspects of photography, such as composition and white balance.

At first, I set the maximum ISO to 1600. Over time, I gradually increased it to 3200 and eventually to 6400. These changes didn’t happen overnight—it took years of experience, experimentation, and adjustments. During this period, I also switched between different camera makers and models, testing and refining the maximum ISO settings on each one. Today my R6 is configured with a Maximum ISO of 10200.

In my opinion, the ideal maximum ISO depends heavily on your camera and, to some extent, on your lens quality. A high-quality lens with superior optics produces sharper and more detailed images, which can help mask the noise that becomes apparent at higher ISO settings.

Modern cameras handle high ISO much better than the ones I owned a decade ago. That said, as photographers, we sometimes need to make tough decisions. Do you take the shot, knowing you’ll have to use a high ISO and sacrifice some sharpness, or do you let the moment pass? Ultimately, the choice depends on what’s more important to you: capturing the moment or achieving technical perfection.

Here are few pictures that I took today and where I had to choose between taken the shot or forget about it. These pictures are soft but to me they are good for Social Media. Can you guess the ISO?

View attachment 34206View attachment 34207View attachment 34208View attachment 34209

Would you have taken these pictures knowing what was the ISO at the moment?

Yes

 

[ctitanic]

Well, the shots I posted are ISO 25600.

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This one is at 12800.

In all of them I used a combination of DXO PureRaw and Topaz Denoise.

 

[Only RF]

Sorry I thought you were referring to my shots so I deleted the post. I didn't see the squirrel when opened your last post. Your shots look very good at 25,600 and 12,000. If I had to I would shoot that higher ISO. Serval years ago I took a night of a house once with my R at 40,000 and I was happy with it.

 

[Only RF]

Sorry I thought you were referring to my shots so I deleted the post. I didn't see the squirrel when opened your last post. Your shots look very good at 25,600 and 12,000. If I had to I would shoot that higher ISO. Serval years ago I took a night of a house once with my R at 40,000 and I was happy with it.

Also sorry for all the corrections. That last post should be it.

 

[Only RF]

The previous shot was using Adobe Denoise AI and I ran it through Topaz Sharpen AI. This one just using LrC only.

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The original

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[Only RF]

The original was pretty noisy. It has that black peppery look to it which my R6II (or other FF) that doesn't show. It's why I call the R7 light hungry and my R6II just has cleaner overall look, even if the R7 has as decent exposure. I never take R7 out in heavy overcast skies.

 

[Only RF]

Well, the shots I posted are ISO 25600.

View attachment 34236

This one is at 12800.

In all of them I used a combination of DXO PureRaw and Topaz Denoise.

I really like this shot. Nice work on it.

 

[ctitanic]

I really like this shot. Nice work on it.

Thanks! Your picture (I love sparrows) is really good too!

 

[Only RF]

Thanks! Your picture (I love sparrows) is really good too!

I had to follow that one for a while. Used a high SS because I was hoping for some action but not that day.

 

[ctitanic]

I had to follow that one for a while. Used a high SS because I was hoping for some action but not that day.

The greatest is the challenge the greatest is the satisfaction!

 

[JCBigler]

Highest I've pushed my R6 was about 20,000. Some photos from when I was with Blue Man Group back in 2022. I did have to use some pretty heavy noise reduction in Light Room though. I think I would lean towards getting a good shot and having some noise than missing a good shot. The denoise in post production software these days can do some pretty amazing things. And even when printed at 8x10 or 11x17, most of that noise isn't going to be apparent in the actual print.

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[Only RF]

Highest I've pushed my R6 was about 20,000. Some photos from when I was with Blue Man Group back in 2022. I did have to use some pretty heavy noise reduction in Light Room though. I think I would lean towards getting a good shot and having some noise than missing a good shot. The denoise in post production software these days can do some pretty amazing things. And even when printed at 8x10 or 11x17, most of that noise isn't going to be apparent in the actual print.

View attachment 34251View attachment 34254View attachment 34255

Looks good. As for heavy noise reduction I'm assuming you used Adobe Denoise AI?

 

[JCBigler]

Looks good. As for heavy noise reduction I'm assuming you used Adobe Denoise AI?

No, just the regular Denoise in Light Room Classic. I tend to not use anything that say AI on it.

 

[Only RF]

No, just the regular Denoise in Light Room Classic. I tend to not use anything that say AI on it.

That's pretty good for manual NR. Good work.

 

[Only RF]

No, just the regular Denoise in Light Room Classic. I tend to not use anything that say AI on it.

Currently in LrC Adobe Denoise AI creates a separate DNG. You have to pre select the amount. In ACR v17 it de-noises and remains a RAW file. After it processes and while in ACR you can increase/decrease the amount to taste. LrC will get that one day.

You should try it some day just to see. You are paying for it.