In reply to Post #1632
Thanks keebs yes sigmas OS is quite good, normally though below 1/250 is very chancy, guess i got lucky.
My D5000 just gets to grainy above 800iso so i just took a few quick shots, didn't expect them to be any good

In reply to Post #1633
Topaz Denoise Dave - get the hang of that and it will open a whole new world of very usable high ISO's

In reply to Post #1634
Just started using Topaz, thanks for the tip. I can see it would be useful in a number of applications. Using the trial version (30days) at present, any idea of the uk cost and is there a uk supplier that you know of, thanks in advance.

In reply to Post #1635
I bought it (download) straight from their site. Did the same as you - 30 day trial and then bought a license code.
The price is in Dollars but it doesn't matter. It looks like $79.99 at the moment which is only about £50.
Worth every penny.

In reply to Post #1636
Thanks Paul,trying some test shots this morning

In reply to Post #1637
Two tutorials here - essential viewing to get the best from it. Fiddling with the presets is a reasonable start but no substitute for doing it this way...

Detailed Overview 1&2
Click Here

ISO1600,f16 using natural daylight. Topaz cleaned up the noise very well for a first attempt. Worth a longer look.
width=500>

I've just bought a day long studio tuition from Groupon. £39 and it covers 1/2 a day shooting things such as popping balloons and advertising photography, then 1/2 a day shooting a model

In reply to Post #1640
Sounds like a fun day for just £39

Common Buzzard but with extraordinarily white plumage

Click for full version

In reply to Post #1642
Very unusual keebs, Nice shot

NOT WORTH THE PAPER IT'S SITTING ON width=500>
ISO 100 at f16 with 430 f/gun at 1/16 power fitted with diffuser which fired at the start of a longish timed exposure

Something I'm learning more and more is that if you get the exposure right, high ISO noise is not much of an issue. It seems that the biggest problem is the sensor heating up to try to record information that isn't bright enough. It is better to go to a much higher ISO and over-expose a little. The resulting ISO noise in brighter areas can be dealt with much easier than desperately underexposed dark areas.

This was taken this morning hand-held at 600mm (400 + 1.5TC) and ISO 3200! Pretty much worse case scenario for my gear and yet it looks fine to me after a bit of Topaz & PSE.



Interesting and useful to some maybe? I'm certainly not afraid of 4 figure ISO's any more.

In reply to Post #1645
I think you are on the right track

Topaz are offering a 30% discount for the weekend. Around £43 at present, got to be worth it