Learn aboutMax light sensitivity - ISO (Boost)

Light Sensitivity boost is the ability for some cameras to boost past their normal max ISO level, often the file size is lowered as a consequence of this. Lowering the file size allows the camera to use the full sensor in order to capture enough light for fewer pixels helping reduce the noise per pixel. The boost levels can be extremely high but they do come with a subsequent increase in noise. Boost modes are still useful especially when you can't use a flash and you have no other choice.

Example of Super High ISO Boost

The following is an example of light sensitivity boosting on a Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, one photo shows the resultant image resized down from 16MP to a web size print and the other shows a full crop (cropped portion is the black square. As you can see even after resizing down to a very small photo the noise cannot be hidden. Whether this is still usable depends on the use - but for some work, especially when converted to BW where the noise is less offensive, this is acceptable. The 100% crop clearly shows that most of the sensors resolution is being shedded in exchange for sensitive 10 stops over 100 ISO - allowing exposures of 1/1000 the length - very impressive!

Resized - Canon EOS 1D Mk IV 102400 ISO Example

Photo via SlvrScoobie taken with a Canon EOS 1d Mk IV at 102,400 ISO.

100% Crop - Canon EOS 1D Mk IV 102,400 ISO Example

100% crop of photo via SlvrScoobie taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mk IV at 102400 ISO detailing noise levels.

High ISO Digital Cameras

The following SLRs provide the highest ISO sensitivity boost.

	Canon EOS 1D X from $6,799	Low noise at high ISO 2,786 ISO High ISO 51,200 ISO Rapid fire 14 fps Learn more about the Canon EOS 1D X
	Nikon D4 from $5,997	Low noise at high ISO 2,965 ISO Great image quality 89.0 Great battery life 2600 shots Learn more about the Nikon D4
	Canon EOS-1D EOS-1D C from $15,754	High resolution movies 4096 x 2160 @ 24fps High ISO 51,200 ISO Rapid fire 14 fps Learn more about the Canon EOS-1D C
	Canon EOS 5D Mark III from $3,250	Low noise at high ISO 2,293 ISO Many cross-type focus points 41 Large screen 3.2" Learn more about the Canon EOS 5D Mark III

See more of the top DSLRs with high boost ISO values

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