Camera test 65
Photography News | Issue 64 | photographynews.co.uk
Performance: ISO
The camera’s native ISO range is 100-25,600, with expansion available, taking this to 50 to 51,200. I took a set of shots within the native ISO range in twilight with the base ISO 100 exposure being 1.6secs at f/5.6 using the 50mm f/1.4 standard lens. The test shots were processed in Silkypix Developer Studio Pro8 with default noise reduction. Such are expectations now that I’d be disappointed if a new camera didn’t deliver an impressive ISO performance. The S1R certainly doesn’t disappoint, especially given its sky-high resolution, where noise is potentially more of an issue. The images at lower ISO speeds are amazing – really clean with staggering detail. Full-resolution files measure 27.8x18.6in at 300ppi and, if you wanted to, you could shoot at ISO 800 and see minimal difference between this and slower speeds at 100%. To be honest (obviously depending on your personal expectations and what you want from the files) but the resolution of detail and low noise at ISO 800
ISO 100
ISO 800
ISO 1600
ISO 3200
ISO 6400
ISO 12,800
are so good you could use that as your base ISO. Noise does increase, but marginally, up to ISO 3200, and there’s no reason at all why you shouldn’t use this setting if lighting conditions dictate – and a little noise reduction in processing will mean critical-quality shots. It is true that when venturing beyond ISO 3200 detail suffers and there’s greater evidence of colour
noise but if push came to shove and I needed too, I’d have no problem setting ISO 6400 knowing that the results would still be impressive. Higher resolution sensors are meant to be less good when it comes to digital noise performance, so in that context it’s impossible not be impressed with the S1R’s 47.3-megapixel sensor. Also, with that in mind, the 24.2-megapixel S1 is going to be even more awesome.
Images Worcester Cathedral at twilight was the subject for our ISO test. The images here are processed Raws using Silkypix Developer Studio Pro8 with default noise reduction
ISO 25,600
The layout works well and means you can control core features by touch with the camera up to the eye
aperture – and this camera is a seriously weighty package. All round handling, though, is good. Most commonly used features are quickly accessible via dedicated controls that are well positioned. So, for example, next to the shutter button are the white-balance, ISO andexposure compensationbuttons. The layout works well and means you can control core features by touch with the camera up to the eye. I found the WB button the easiest to use, but for me it’s the least used. In fact, I can’t recall ever adjusting white-balance with the camera up to
the eye. Its function can be altered, but it’s all white-balance related. I like the on/off switch to be on the right side, because it makes bringing the camera up to the eye and switching it on a seamless, single-handed process. The S1R does have a right-side on/off switch so, in theory, it should suit me, yet Panasonic has somehow contrived to make the process less comfortable than it should be, but that’s my view. One negative aspect – as perceived by many DSLR users – is that electronic viewfinders are not as good as optical ones. I get that,
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