[2].jpg "SAM_2419(L)")
(Camera: Samsung NX100)
Recently I came across a blogger who called himself a gear-whore. What a word! But it, I would say, vividly depicts how the photographers' head is always filled with thoughts of new cameras. These photographers -- I mean, we can be one of them -- can glue themselves to the monitor for the Internet news and reviews as much as their depreciating stamina after a day's work or study can carry them forward. Of all the concerns, the matter of ISO speed in terms of useable image is the most common.
After trying out a dozen of new enthusiast compact cameras -- fitted with a 1/1.7" or APS-C or MFT sensor -- over the past twelve months, our impression is that we have only pushed the cameras to ISO 800 top on 80% of the shooting occasions. For one thing, anything above that ISO800 threshold is generally on a downward curve of image quality. The image quality, so to speak, plateaus at ISO 800.
Back to the shot "Speed" today, it was taken at ISO1600. At a reduced size, it looks great. But a comparison with the one taken at ISO800 at 100% shows that the latter wins hand down -- sorry you can only trust my word; evidence later when the review posts are published. On the technical side, what were needed for this shot were a shooting location with a dim background (otherwise the slow shutter speed will render it too bright), patience (a 15-minute wait for this right shot), a smile to the police officer who checks you out, a slower shutter speed and panning along the subject at a comparable speed. If you wish to add light trails to the final image, surely you will need a slower shutter speed and popping up the flash on second curtain slow-sync.
As a side note, the GH2 is up for grab in Hong Kong now. Check out our notice board at right for the pricing info. As for the performance of GH2 at ISO1600 against the 60D, check it out here. A detailed review is here. He coined the word gear-whore, didn't he? Hmmm....
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