Acceptable iso on 7D for videography at DVinfo.net

Nick Popa · January 20th, 2011, 05:08 PM

Hey Everyone!
I recently got a 7d and do videography, mainly for weddings. I am somewhat disappointed with it in low light when shooting alongside my NX5u because it seems at least a stop lower, probably two... but that's beside the point....
What would most consider to be the acceptable iso for the 7d when in lowlight situations. I shoot on neutral, 1920x1080, 30p, and use several sigma lenses (30mm 1.4, 50mm 1.8, 70-200 2.8, 24-70 2.8).

I mainly use the Sony hvl-lbpa light with it and still have a hard time on a dark dance floor. I understood from the beginning that the 7d would have it's up's and down's, but need to know to what extent it can be pushed with out getting a grainy awful image. When I say "acceptable" i mean may not be perfect, but doesn't look like crap either. or to those who use the nx5, the same amount of noise that you would see at 6db gain.

Thanks!

Dave Partington · January 20th, 2011, 06:31 PM

We shoot weddings with 7D, 5D2 and HMC 151. No matter what you do, the 7D & 5D2 beats the HMC 151 hands down. I even shot some footage at ISO 6400 on the 5D2 and was 'gob smacked' at the results!

However, ISO1250 is about the limit I use with the 7D. I don't mind pushing the 5D2 to 1600 and 2000, but the 7D gets a little too noisy for my liking past about 1250.

Lance Watts · January 20th, 2011, 08:42 PM

If necessary, I'll go as far as 3200 and, quite frankly, the results are pretty damn good.

Greg Fiske · January 21st, 2011, 10:21 AM

1250 on the 7d, 1600 with noise reduction software. On the 5d, up to 3200.

Nick Popa · January 21st, 2011, 10:28 AM

Thanks for the input, any other suggestions?

Daniel Weber · January 21st, 2011, 02:16 PM

Make sure to stick with your native ISO's, 160, 320, 640, 1250, 2500. These are much cleaner with less noise. I shot a Kendo class in Japan last week at 2500 ISO under horrible mercury vapor lights and it turned out pretty good.

Nathanael Iversen · February 6th, 2011, 01:22 AM

I guess I must be picky. On the 7D, I prefer to use 800 or lower. At 800 the shadows start "crawling". It is easily cleaned up with noise reduction software and looks fantastic afterwards. 400 and below I don't use the NR software. Obviously to get footage, you use what you have to use. Nothing beats adding light, though!

Chris Westerstrom · February 6th, 2011, 05:02 AM

what noise reduction software are you guys using?

Jean-Philippe Archibald · February 6th, 2011, 10:04 AM

I personally use anything I need up to ISO 1600 and never used a noise reduction software. Footage is more than adequate.

Jerry Porter · February 6th, 2011, 10:12 AM

1250 is my cutoff point, after that I change lenses or add light.

Jon Fairhurst · February 6th, 2011, 01:29 PM

Neat Video does a very nice job at a reasonable cost. Vincent Laforet used it on Nocturne.

Jonathan Shaw · February 6th, 2011, 11:23 PM

Agree with previous posts, will only go to 1250 and Neat Video make great noise reduction software although don't go too nuts or it will look weird.

Nick Popa · February 7th, 2011, 08:22 AM

I recently purchased neat video as well.... The render time becomes a lot, LOT longer... but the result is beautiful.

Jon Braeley · February 8th, 2011, 11:12 AM

I recently shot in the evening under available light - which was pretty much no light. Not much moonlight and just a small light from a nearby house but it is useable footage. Focusing is much more of an issue than noise really, especially filming a martial arts teacher as I was. This is raw screenshot.
I used min 2000 ISO and went up to 3200 ISO.

Daniel Weber · February 8th, 2011, 02:33 PM

I notice that no one has talked about sticking with the native ISO's when shooting with the 7D and 5D. These would be 160, 320, 640, 1250 and 2500. The other ISO's introduce noise even when shooting at a lower ISO level. This was documented by Zacuto when they did the Great Camera Shootout last year.

Daniel Weber

January 20th, 2011, 05:08 PM	#1
Nick Popa Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Flemington, NJ Posts: 120	Acceptable iso on 7D for videography Hey Everyone! I recently got a 7d and do videography, mainly for weddings. I am somewhat disappointed with it in low light when shooting alongside my NX5u because it seems at least a stop lower, probably two... but that's beside the point.... What would most consider to be the acceptable iso for the 7d when in lowlight situations. I shoot on neutral, 1920x1080, 30p, and use several sigma lenses (30mm 1.4, 50mm 1.8, 70-200 2.8, 24-70 2.8). I mainly use the Sony hvl-lbpa light with it and still have a hard time on a dark dance floor. I understood from the beginning that the 7d would have it's up's and down's, but need to know to what extent it can be pushed with out getting a grainy awful image. When I say "acceptable" i mean may not be perfect, but doesn't look like crap either. or to those who use the nx5, the same amount of noise that you would see at 6db gain. Thanks!

January 20th, 2011, 06:31 PM	#2
Dave Partington Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: York, England Posts: 1,323	We shoot weddings with 7D, 5D2 and HMC 151. No matter what you do, the 7D & 5D2 beats the HMC 151 hands down. I even shot some footage at ISO 6400 on the 5D2 and was 'gob smacked' at the results! However, ISO1250 is about the limit I use with the 7D. I don't mind pushing the 5D2 to 1600 and 2000, but the 7D gets a little too noisy for my liking past about 1250. __________________ Qualified UAV Pilot with CAA PFAW Aerial Photo / Aerial Video \| Corporate Video Production

February 6th, 2011, 01:22 AM	#7
Nathanael Iversen Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Santa Rosa, CA Posts: 34	ISO 800 for me I guess I must be picky. On the 7D, I prefer to use 800 or lower. At 800 the shadows start "crawling". It is easily cleaned up with noise reduction software and looks fantastic afterwards. 400 and below I don't use the NR software. Obviously to get footage, you use what you have to use. Nothing beats adding light, though!

February 6th, 2011, 10:04 AM	#9
Jean-Philippe Archibald Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Saguenay, Québec, Canada Posts: 1,051	I personally use anything I need up to ISO 1600 and never used a noise reduction software. Footage is more than adequate. __________________ Jean-Philippe Archibald http://www.jparchibald.com - http://www.vimeo.com/jparchib

February 6th, 2011, 01:29 PM	#11
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	Neat Video does a very nice job at a reasonable cost. Vincent Laforet used it on Nocturne. __________________ Jon Fairhurst

January 20th, 2011, 08:42 PM	#3
Lance Watts Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 69	If necessary, I'll go as far as 3200 and, quite frankly, the results are pretty damn good.

January 21st, 2011, 10:21 AM	#4
Greg Fiske Major Player Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Santa Ana, CA Posts: 499	1250 on the 7d, 1600 with noise reduction software. On the 5d, up to 3200.

January 21st, 2011, 10:28 AM	#5
Nick Popa Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Flemington, NJ Posts: 120	Thanks for the input, any other suggestions?

January 21st, 2011, 02:16 PM	#6
Daniel Weber Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 696	Make sure to stick with your native ISO's, 160, 320, 640, 1250, 2500. These are much cleaner with less noise. I shot a Kendo class in Japan last week at 2500 ISO under horrible mercury vapor lights and it turned out pretty good.

February 6th, 2011, 05:02 AM	#8
Chris Westerstrom Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Gothenburg, Sweden Posts: 259	what noise reduction software are you guys using?

February 6th, 2011, 10:12 AM	#10
Jerry Porter Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Satellite Beach, Fl Posts: 784	1250 is my cutoff point, after that I change lenses or add light.

February 6th, 2011, 11:23 PM	#12
Jonathan Shaw Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 552	Agree with previous posts, will only go to 1250 and Neat Video make great noise reduction software although don't go too nuts or it will look weird. __________________ www.ginclearfilm.com www.facebook.com/ginclearfilm

February 7th, 2011, 08:22 AM	#13
Nick Popa Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Flemington, NJ Posts: 120	I recently purchased neat video as well.... The render time becomes a lot, LOT longer... but the result is beautiful.

February 8th, 2011, 11:12 AM	#14
Jon Braeley Major Player Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 528	I recently shot in the evening under available light - which was pretty much no light. Not much moonlight and just a small light from a nearby house but it is useable footage. Focusing is much more of an issue than noise really, especially filming a martial arts teacher as I was. This is raw screenshot. I used min 2000 ISO and went up to 3200 ISO. Attached Thumbnails

February 8th, 2011, 02:33 PM	#15
Daniel Weber Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 696	I notice that no one has talked about sticking with the native ISO's when shooting with the 7D and 5D. These would be 160, 320, 640, 1250 and 2500. The other ISO's introduce noise even when shooting at a lower ISO level. This was documented by Zacuto when they did the Great Camera Shootout last year. Daniel Weber