5Dvs1D2 in low light

[DavidP]

Well, I finally had to do a bit of a test with the 5D vs 1D-2 in pretty low light (I think I've only shot in about 1 stop lower light than this).

ISO 1600, f/1.8, 1/25 with the 200/1.8

I chose that lens for its low-light capabilities, excellent sharpness, and also its ability to "stay in place" on a tripod while I changed out camera bodies.

As I said, this is pretty darned low light. Should be about EV = 2.3 if my calculations are correct.

I took the shots using mirror lock-up, in RAW. Focus distance was about 4m (2.5m is the minimum for this lens).

I converted in ACR, using the exact same parameters.

These are 100% crops. I did do a bit of post-processing in Photoshop, but I did exactly the same thing to each image.

The images are a lot more diferrent than I was expecting. I don't think it's a focus issue, and the differences were there before any post-processing was done in Photoshop. The post-processing did emphasize these differences a bit more, though.

I'm not really sure what to make of this. Is it an issue with how ACR converts the two different cameras? Perhaps. I supose experimenting with RSP might answer that question better.

The 1D-II image looks better, IMO. Though I think I could post-process a bit more and get the 5D image closer.

http://www.neonlightsimaging.com/images/bunny_1d2.jpg

http://www.neonlightsimaging.com/images/bunny_5d.jpg

[DavidP]

Part of the difference seems to be a difference in WB between shots. The lighting was from those compact fluorescents, which can change WB. I should've clicked-white on the pupil of the eye.

Doing that seems to lessen the differences. Let me post these results (using Raw Shooter Premium this time, and using a different WB for each shot). All processing done in RSP this time.

Here are the two new images:

http://www.neonlightsimaging.com/ima...ny_1d2_rsp.jpg

http://www.neonlightsimaging.com/ima...nny_5d_rsp.jpg

[DavidP]

You know, since the exposure was 1/25 of a second, you'd THINK that the WB between shots shouldn't be any different (given 60Hz as the frequency of the lights). Weird.

[jliechty]

Interesting... both cameras look great to me, but then again I use a system which some say is "inferior" in low-light performance.

[Steve Mitchell]

It looks as though the 5D has a tad bit more in camera noise reduction.