photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Ed Knepley | all galleries >> Galleries >> Experiments > D70 - D300 Noise Comparison
previous | next
05-DEC-2007

D70 - D300 Noise Comparison

CLICK NEXT TO SEE CROPS OF THESE IMAGES AT 400 & 800 (click on *original* for the size option on both images to get the largest possible view; the size option is below these comments)
Did some ISO noise comparisons between the D70 an D300. Shot the D70 at 200, 400, 800, 1600 and D300 at the same plus 100, 3200 and 6400. This image shows the comparison at 800 and 1600. The crops in the next image are for 400 & 800.
All images were made in RAW and no post processing other than batch conversion to JPEG was done. There was no in-camera noise reduction.
I used the same lens (105 Nikkor macro) and the same exposure settings throughout. Only the ISO was varied. The framing of the shot between the two bodies is different since I don't have a proper bracket to mount the D300 to my tripod's ball head and I got tired of fussing with it.
The D300 was shot using its active D-lighting and the *Standard* picture control setting since I haven't had it long enough to fine tune the settings to my liking. This is to say that in terms of in camera stuff like sharpening, contrast, saturation, etc. there's a bit of apples/oranges. This accounts for some of the difference in brightness, contrast and overall tonality between the images from the two bodies. Hopefully, none of this had any significant impact on the noise performance/appearance.
Note the D300's smoother gradation in tones from the shadow to brighter areas in the background cloth. The D300 was shot at 14 bits lossless compression and the D70 is 12 bits. To my eye, the D300 is maybe 2 stops better than the D70 in terms of noise performance.
These images and the test were done solely for my own information - not *paid for* professional work. They were good enough to tell (show) me what I wanted to know. I decided to post them in response to several requests. Buyer beware. ;-)

Nikon D300
1/6s f/5.6 at 105.0mm iso1600 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
comment | share