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 $8,515	High ISO 51,200 ISO Large screen 3.2" Large viewfinder 0.76x Learn more about the Canon EOS 1D X
	Nikon D4 from $6,000	Large screen 3.2" Large sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm Full HD 1080p @ 30fps Learn more about the Nikon D4
	Pentax K-5 from $1,008	Low noise at high ISO 1,162 ISO Great image quality 82.0 Wide dynamic range 14.1 EV Learn more about the Pentax K-5
	Nikon D7000 from $1,097	Low noise at high ISO 1,167 ISO Great image quality 80.0 Many focus points 39 Learn more about the Nikon D7000

See more of the top DSLRs with high boost ISO values

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