First Day out with the Nikon D5 (1 Viewer)

[Neil]

I was lucky enough to find a D5 in Hong Kong yesterday out of the first batch released here.
Took it out to the bush pond in low light this afternoon. I had wanted the D5 as we were often shooting thrushes and flycatchers at iso 6400 and higher until after dark in the rain. It's reputed to be able to handle low light with ease.
The pair of Hwamei came into the pond after 6.00 pm. I noticed that the iso was down to 18,000. The first image is a conversion from Raw with no other adjustments and the second image has had some small adjustments in Photoshop and run through Noiseware. There wasn't that much noise to get rid of though.
I'll take it out to the wetlands tomorrow in the rain to see how it handles fast action.
Neil

Nikon D5 and Nikon 200-500/5.6 afs vr lens

Lamma Island,
Hong Kong.
17th April 2016

 

[pmenear]

Thanks for posting this.
Could you clarify please,what was the iso?
The noise level looks good for 6400 but amazing for 18000.

 

[Hermann]

That's absolutely amazing, Neil. This kind of quality at 18,000 ISO is far beyond anything I've ever seen so far. Even the straight conversion from RAW looks fantastic.

If that camera weren't just too big and heavy for my purposes, I'd have to get one.

BTW, what software did you use for the conversion?

Hermann

 

[Hermann]

Thanks for posting this.
Could you clarify please,what was the iso?
The noise level looks good for 6400 but amazing for 18000.

If you download the jpg to your computer (rightclick and "Save as"), you can easily check the EXIF data. Taken at 18,000 ISO.

Hermann

 

[Neil]

Yes, iso 18,000. I couldn't believe it either. I have one at iso 20,000 too which is similar.
The first image was just a conversion from Raw to jpeg in Adobe DNG and resized for posting. The second slightly adjusted in CS6 ( Contrast, Unsharp Mask) then Noiseware .
The D500 is expected to provide similar low light performance .
Neil.

 

[fugl]

. . .The D500 is expected to provide similar low light performance .

Astonishing quality at that ISO. If the D500 can indeed equal it, my D7100 will soon be history. . ..

 

[Neil]

Here are a few from yesterday not at extreme iso with the D5. These are at a more normal 3200,4,000,5,000 and 6400.
Neil.

 

[Neil]

Headed out to the wetlands today with the D5, despite the thunderstorm warnings. Managed to get to the hide before the rain but with thunder all around me. Then had torrential rain for an hour so I had to sit 3 metres back from the windows. I was still shooting video with the GX8 and stills with the D5 though.
The Great Egret (iso 32,000) and Barn Swallow (iso 16,000) were taken in the rain.
I had the Nikon TC E14111 ( 1.4x) on the 200-500/5.6 most of the time to really test out the AF. Did a good job. I only shot at 8fps as I didn't have enough CF cards to handle the speed.
Neil

Nikon D5 and Niko 200-500/5.6 afs vr
Mai Po Nature Reserve,
Hong Kong.
18th April 2016

 

[capdegat]

Have to say that i'm jealous of the pics - great. I don't actually want a brick to carry around ( my d810 is heavy enough ) but I can see the advantages here in UK with the wonderful weather we get .

 

[Neil]

I'm still pushing the D5 as light levels are still low here and I'm looking for migrating flycatchers and thrushes into the early evening.
This male Magpie Robin was taken around 6.00 pm again in the bush pond in the woods at iso 45,600. This image is unadjusted except to convert from raw to jpeg and resize. Should clean up ok in Noiseware.
Neil.

Nikon D5 and Nikon 200-500/5.6 afs vr lens

 

[Neil]

I think I hit the limit of acceptable iso tonight - 28,800. Here is the original and the adjusted for noise versions.
Neil

Nikon D5 and Nikon 300/4 afs vr PF and Nikon 1.4x 111

 

[pmenear]

I think that falls short of acceptable. The 18000 was great but the 28800 is only good for record shots IMO.

 

[Neil]

I think that falls short of acceptable. The 18000 was great but the 28800 is only good for record shots IMO.

I agree. I was a bit surprised at how much it had deteriorated from 18,000. I can't see that 102,000 will be useful.
Neil.

 

[Neil]

I've been shooting some video clips with the D5. I'm loving the 4k. This photo is a still from the video clip and is one of the best images of this Rufous-tailed Robin that I've taken.
The video clip can be seen here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BknH55UrHck&feature=youtu.be
The Auto Focus in video mode is still not very good in low light so I have to use the manual focus over-ride most of the time.
Neil.
Nikon D5 and Nikon 200-500/5.6 afs vr lens

 

[mcfar]

Beautiful photos, Thanks!

 

[Neil]

I was out in the wetlands on Monday, mainly digiscoping, but I had the D5 with the 300/4 afs vr PF lens and Nikon 1.4x v111 tele. I was impressed with the AF speed , even with the tele and because of the iso flexibility I was able to shoot at f8 most of the time with high shutter speeds.
I set the Continuous frame to hi for the first time. I was able to get 15 frames of the Striated Heron flyby in focus.
Neil.

 

[Torchepot]

Very impressive stuff Neil, I can't stop looking at that beautiful Striated Heron shot :t:

 

[Neil]

I'm still waiting for some sunny,clear weather this Spring but at least it wasn't raining yesterday.
I was watching some Red-necked Stints at about 120 metres yesterday that wouldn't come close, even when disturbed but a passing Black Kite. I took some photos not thinking I would get get much at that distance. I was very happy when I processed them at home. The AF did a fantastic job of locking on and staying on.
Here are a couple.
Neil.
Nikon D5 and Nikon 200-500/5.6 afs vr lens.

 

[Neil]

I wish the D5 wasn't quite so heavy then I could take it with me everywhere. It hasn't let me down yet and pairs well with the 200-500/5.6 and 300/4PF. I won't be able to use it with the 500/4 afs for a couple of months till I go down to Sydney in June.
Here are a few more from around Hong Kong. All taken with the 200-500/5.6. The Hwamei was at iso 12,800.
Neil.

 

[RMWD]

I've been shooting some video clips with the D5. I'm loving the 4k. This photo is a still from the video clip and is one of the best images of this Rufous-tailed Robin that I've taken.
The video clip can be seen here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BknH55UrHck&feature=youtu.be
The Auto Focus in video mode is still not very good in low light so I have to use the manual focus over-ride most of the time.
Neil.
Nikon D5 and Nikon 200-500/5.6 afs vr lens

Great set of images Neil. You must be very pleased with your D5.
Particularly interested in your 4K video image.
What do you use to pull a still image from the 4 K video?

Thanks,
Rich