ISO setting for indoor photography with Nikon D200

[fanny_mae]

I've been looking through my wedding photographs that were taken by a professional photographer and I was noticing how grainy/noisy the indoor photos looked.

From the meta data with the images, the camera used was a Nikon D200 and the ISO was set to 1250. I don't know much about Nikon (I use Canon) so I'm not sure if ISO 1250 is a setting that can (recommended) be used without there being too much noise. I have read that with the Canon 5DMkII, it's possible to shoot at ISO 1600 and have no noise (the article I read said that ISO 1600 was the new ISO 400 in the 5DMkII ... I digress ...).

Another thing I was thinking about was maybe the photographer was looking for the grainy effect with the indoor photo. But even so, these images are very soft. Could it be the case that this is the effect he was going for? But that doesn't explain why he shot all indoor photos at ISO 1250.

The church wasn't that dark either and ISO1250 was used even if the flash was on.

Could this a sign of a poor photographer. Was it a mistake on his part? Or could that be the effect he was looking for?

Opinions greatly appreciated.

[melekalikimaka]

Originally Posted by fanny_mae

Could this a sign of a poor photographer. Was it a mistake on his part?

id go with one of these

[Fajitas!]

I use the original 5D for weddings, and happily stick to 800-1600 all day. The 5D is much better than the D200 as regards noise, afaik, but I don't think it was a mistake on his part. He was using the high iso for a reason, as churches can be very dark at the best of times. Tbh, I'd prefer a grainy photo than one blurred due to camera shake

[fanny_mae]

Originally Posted by Fajitas!

I don't think it was a mistake on his part. He was using the high iso for a reason, as churches can be very dark at the best of times. Tbh, I'd prefer a grainy photo than one blurred due to camera shake

I agree - a grainy photo is much better than a blurry one. But even when using the flash ... that's got to be a mistake, right?

I've shot in the same church as he did on a darker day with a 40D and managed to use ISO800 without sacrificing the shutter speed.

[melekalikimaka]

Originally Posted by Fajitas!

I use the original 5D for weddings, and happily stick to 800-1600 all day. The 5D is much better than the D200 as regards noise, afaik, but I don't think it was a mistake on his part. He was using the high iso for a reason, as churches can be very dark at the best of times. Tbh, I'd prefer a grainy photo than one blurred due to camera shake

even using flash?

noise is pretty cack over 800 on the d200

[Fajitas!]

I'd even use high iso's with flash to get a faster recharge rate - As I said though, my camera'll handle high ISO's quite well!

[mikeanywhere]

Originally Posted by Fajitas!

I'd even use high iso's with flash to get a faster recharge rate - As I said though, my camera'll handle high ISO's quite well!

As the man says.

The 5D has a superb high ISO/low noise feature and not every camera on the market has the same capability. You cant compare like for like ie D200 vs 5D Mk II. It is known that the D200 once it gets above 800 will start to get quite grainy.

Again to reiterate, the location may have warranted using that kind of ISO especially if it was a pretty dark place to try and shoot. Was that high ISO used for the outside shots afterwards??

[fanny_mae]

Originally Posted by mikeanywhere

The 5D has a superb high ISO/low noise feature and not every camera on the market has the same capability. You cant compare like for like ie D200 vs 5D Mk II. It is known that the D200 once it gets above 800 will start to get quite grainy.

I now understand the 5D and 5DMkII have much better noise reduction at higher ISOs than the Nikon D200 (it was a hunch I had anyway). Thanks for clearing that up everyone.

Originally Posted by mikeanywhere

Again to reiterate, the location may have warranted using that kind of ISO especially if it was a pretty dark place to try and shoot.

I understand that the location can warrant higher ISO. But not for all shots and especially not for shots with a flash. He also had a mono-pod so that would have helped to reduce shake.

Originally Posted by mikeanywhere

Was that high ISO used for the outside shots afterwards??

ISO500 was used outside afterwards (it was a bright summers day).

[mikeanywhere]

If they are soft, another option could be that he has forgotten to sharpen the images before sending out the JPG's.

Just out of interest, have you actually spoken to him and asked why this was the case?? Might save you a lot of time and guess work

[fanny_mae]

Originally Posted by mikeanywhere

Just out of interest, have you actually spoken to him and asked why this was the case?? Might save you a lot of time and guess work

No, I haven't asked him - that would be too obvious It's been a while since I got the photos back and I don're really have any contact with him.

[mikeanywhere]

Originally Posted by fanny_mae

No, I haven't asked him - that would be too obvious

LOL I suppose!!

[Isar]

I just got the 50D, and i'm suprised how well the ISO is workling. Even when i view the images full size with ISO at 3200 theres not much noise, at least the little noise doesn't bother me. So i'd say it was a mistake on the photographers side.

[pete4130]

Had a D200, anything over 800 is pushing it. I shot a wedding and had to use 1600 and it wasn't nice. Grain and once it goes past ISO 800 on a D200 the colour looks drab too.

[andreas gross]

wich lense do you adivice me to take a 18-70 or a 70-300.. i just need some good and diferent lense to take regular photos.Which one of those do you think is better???

thanks!
Andreas...

[32finn]

Originally Posted by fanny_mae

I now understand the 5D and 5DMkII have much better noise reduction at higher ISOs than the Nikon D200 (it was a hunch I had anyway). Thanks for clearing that up everyone.


I understand that the location can warrant higher ISO. But not for all shots and especially not for shots with a flash. He also had a mono-pod so that would have helped to reduce shake.


ISO500 was used outside afterwards (it was a bright summers day).

iso 500 outside!!!!!!!! thats madness imo, using such high iso's he had to be looking for a grainy effect, either that or he didnt really know what he was doing, again just imho.