Nikon D5 - first impressions

[Andy]

Sorry for the many pics of my little dog. As long as I either play with him or feed him, he is very accomodative to play "the ad-hoc model".

Just to compare things a bit better and to visualize ISO 3200 vs. ISO 51200 (4 EV)
Manual exposure 1/125s, f1.6, AFS 58mm/1.4G

1) First pic is shot with ISO 51200
2) Second pic is shot with ISO 3200

[Andy]

1) A streetlight, about 20 meters away. He was chewing the woodstick. 1/250s, f1.8, ISO 51200a
2) This side of the trunk is on the shadow side. In the background streetlights. To the unaided human eye, the trunk appears black. Turning around, a bulb, far away spends some yellowish light. I was impressed. AFS 58mm/1.4G, 1/50s, f1.8, ISO 51200

[Hermann]

Very impressive examples. Looks like the low light capabilities of the D5 are really very good indeed, even at very high ISO.

Thanks!

Hermann

[Airy]

Indeed. I am not sure about the noise, since the pics are downsized, but for sure the first pic at least looks "natural": quite impressive!

What about a Df II with the same sensor (or a Df refurbishment)... although the problem may become the impossibility to focus, OVF + MF being somewhat limited a combination?

[Andy]

Airy,
here is a 100% crop of the ooc JPEG. The RAW might be a bit better (tbc)
rgds, Andy

[Airy]

Danke Andy.

[Andy]

Gerne :-)

As part of the weekend activities, I've captured the test shots for Bill Claff (http://photonstophotos.net/) and sent him the RAW files for further analysis.
Please find his first summary here: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3981547

rgds, Andy

[stenrasmussen]

Gerne :-)

As part of the weekend activities, I've captured the test shots for Bill Claff (http://photonstophotos.net/) and sent him the RAW files for further analysis.
Please find his first summary here: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3981547

rgds, Andy

Bill's analysis is first class reading. Personally I am thrilled to see that my non-scientific approach was just about correct 
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/57123902

[Erik Lund]

Some funny steps in the ISO performance 

[Erik Lund]

Nicely guessed Sten! 

[Frank Fremerey]

My verdict (given the data are valid):

1) The D5 performs worse than the D600 below ISO 3200 and better above ISO 3200:
2) The step up in ISO 3200 and above from the D3 to the D600 is as big as the step up from the D600 to the D5

[Andy]

Some funny steps in the ISO performance 

Yep. Need to be checked where it comes from (error in test procedure, sensor related or the final departure of uncooked RAWs and some fancy SW were applied in camera before the RAW was stored. tbd)
imho, we should think about introducing a new metric with the emergence of faster on-board CPUs and their ability of "shaping" noise before stored in a "RAW" file . i.e. The visual appearance of noise of a D4/D5 is different than for instance a D3.

FYI: Bill sent me some new test procedures complementing the PDR curve. As I already returned this D5 sample, I will follow up with the data when my own copy arrives.

rgds, Andy

[Akira]

The test result of photonstophotos.net is quite surprising.   

The dxomark.com crashes all too often, so I cannot check the site...

[Marc]

Hi Andy

Many thanks for this wonderful review.

My D5 is available from the 24th, but as I'm away, I'll have to wait until the 31st, 

I'm wondering how you found the AF speed/acquisition in very low light given the -4EV,  and whether you had time to test the Auto AF fine tune?

Cheers
Marc

[Andy]

I've uploaded the NEF files for 3 comparison scenarios (ISO 100 until ISO max).
Please "enjoy" yourself in case you are interested in these kind of comparisons. Steps are in full EV steps, starting with ISO 100

1) Train station (D5, D4, D800E): https://onedrive.live.com/?id=C59FEF9F04ED4A3A%211616&cid=C59FEF9F04ED4A3A
2) Museum at night (D5, D4): https://onedrive.live.com/?id=C59FEF9F04ED4A3A%211664&cid=C59FEF9F04ED4A3A
3) Colorchecker with daylight lamp (D5, D4): https://onedrive.live.com/?id=C59FEF9F04ED4A3A%211697&cid=C59FEF9F04ED4A3A

rgds, Andy