Do photos at ISO 3,276,800 look as horrible as they sound?

By Hillary K. Grigonis May 26, 2016

ISO 3,276,800 in the Nikon D5 is GARBAGE but that was expected: See for yourself

Perusing the stats for Nikon’s latest flagship camera, the D5, you may be struck by one number: ISO 3,276,800. That’s right, the camera has an ISO of well over three million.

When you change your ISO setting, you’re adjusting your camera’s sensitivity to light. Standard settings range from 24 to 3,200 (or higher), and these numbers have a direct relationship with the device’s sensitivity, so a lower setting makes it less sensitive and a high setting makes it more so. Finding the right balance between ISO, shutter speed, and aperture is key to getting the perfect shot. And an ISO into the millions offers more potential for photographers. Lots more. Lots and lots.

Recommended Videos

The number and capability in itself is amazing, but I hesitate to push my smaller D7200 over ISO 3,200, leaving me with one big question: What does ISO 3,276,800 even look like?

With the camera now officially shipping, we have the answer from Jared Polin of FroKnowsPhoto:

25849120120_e0cb11a90d_k — Image by Jared Polin

Image by Jared Polin

Not so great, unless you are trying to create a pointillism painting with your camera.

While that top ISO probably won’t be worth much, the camera does show quite a bit of promise for pushing well past the ISO 3,200 that was the maximum on most digital cameras just a few years ago.

ISO 25600 — ISO 25,600 Image by Jared Polin

25517210234_02f3d0e94d_k — Photo by Jared Polin

Photo by Jared Polin

While the definition of a “usable” image is flexible, the images are surprisingly detailed even at those extreme ISOs. Add in some decent noise reduction software and the D5 could have some pretty interesting capability in low light.

Interestingly enough, the D5 actually scored lower than the older D4S on the DxOMark test for low light ISO. The camera had better color sensitivity at ISO 100, similar performance at ISO 800 but lagged about a stop behind the D4 from ISO 800 to 12,800.

While professionals won’t be using the D5 at ISO 3,276,800 anytime soon, the improvement in noise reduction at ISOs closer to the tens of thousands holds some promise for low light shooting. And with the improvement from just a few years ago, perhaps someday an ISO in the millions won’t look like a bunch of dots trying to recreate an object.

Topics

Hillary K. Grigonis

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Hillary never planned on becoming a photographer—and then she was handed a camera at her first writing job and she's been…

Mobile

The best camera phones in 2024: our top 9 photography picks

A person holding the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

In the past decade or so, cameras on smartphones have evolved so much that they can pretty much replace a standalone digital camera for most people. The results you can get on some of the best smartphones these days are just so impressive, and being able to be with you at all times means you'll never miss a moment.

But what if you want the best possible camera phone money can buy? A camera that won't let you down no matter what you're taking a picture of? You've come to the right place. Here are the very best camera phones you can buy in 2024.

Space

An ace photographer is about to leave the ISS. Here are his best shots

The moon and Earth as seen from the ISS.

NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick is preparing to return to Earth after spending seven months living and working aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

After arriving at the orbital outpost, Dominick -- who is on his first mission to space -- quickly earned a reputation for being an ace photographer. He's been using the facility’s plethora of high-end cameras and lenses to capture amazing shots from his unique vantage point some 250 miles above Earth. Sharing his content on social media, the American astronaut has always been happy to reveal how he captured the imagery and offer extra insight for folks interested to know more.

Photography

Filter-free and fun, the Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera is on sale Right Now for Prime Day

fujifilm instax mini 11 camera prime big deal days

It's 2024, and you’re considering a point-and-shoot camera. Zero judgment here. I miss the good ol’ days of flipping through actual photo albums instead of doom-scrolling on Instagram. You can get back to those days by snagging a (in the ice white color), and it’s the perfect time because it’s on sale. Get it for 24% off during Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days, but hurry while inventory is going strong.
There’s something magical about having a physical photo right in your hand seconds after snapping the shot, and it adds a fun, retro vibe to moments you want to capture and keep. Plus, having an actual picture to hold and display can be so much more satisfying than just another digital file on your phone. I picked one up two years ago for my eight-year-old daughter, and it’s been an instant hit in our household. And now, at its $59 sale price, I'm definitely going to be stocking up on a few to gift ahead of the holiday season.

How the Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 works
The delightful throwback comes with a FUJINON 60mm lens and an automatic exposure feature that adjusts the shutter speed for the best shot, even in low light. While the picture quality won’t be as crisp as what your smartphone can capture, it’ll still produce a quality image worthy of slapping on a refrigerator.
If selfies are your thing, this camera has a dedicated Selfie Mode (with a mirror). We set up a DIY photo booth for my daughter's birthday party with sticker frames so each kid could go home with a photo souvenir, and it was a total hit.
You can opt to make it a set with a range of accessories to buy separately, like a carrying case, a handy strap, those sticker borders I mentioned, and photo albums to hold the memories.