Comments on: [Video] Canon 5DMkIII, 5DMkII, and Nikon D800 Low-Light Video Test — Take 2

By: marttphoto

marttphoto — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 01:32:00 +0000

Nikon wins! Canon has no dynamic range and definition. iso does better because already comes from the factory with noise reduction inside the camera.
Even with noise reduction, Nikon set out and large dynamic range!

By: Richard Bugg

Richard Bugg — Tue, 22 May 2012 22:59:00 +0000

Very interesting. I’m no expert at all, but he dramatic improvement in the D800 file with NR suggests that Canon has already done the same in camera. The D800 is clearly sharper across the board and seems to exhibit slightly better DR. The 5D3 is better out of camera, but after some NR the D800 file looks better to me.

By: Morgan Moller

Morgan Moller — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:36:00 +0000

What software did they use for the color correction and noise reduction? Any ideas?

By: ColinMcMano

ColinMcMano — Mon, 21 May 2012 07:48:00 +0000

The 5D3 obviously make use of heavy noise reduction. Notice how the footage from the 5D3 gets this very soft look..almost plastic like at high ISO’s.
I see that look all the time when working with noise reduction plugins.

Boohoo at Canon for making close to zero sensor improvements in the 4 years since the 5D2 came out.

By: Adam

Adam — Mon, 21 May 2012 03:23:00 +0000

I’m not as much of an expert at the specifics of how Canon and Nikon apply or don’t apply noise reduction in the files they spit out, but I’d find it extremely hard to believe that Canon’s videos stay that noise free without any sort of reduction in-camera. That said, it should be better than the D800 anyway in terms of noise, just theoretically speaking. But that much better, I’m not convinced…

By: jrhayes5

jrhayes5 — Mon, 21 May 2012 00:05:00 +0000

Does this mean that Canons actually take better video, or spit out video files that have already been noise reduced?

By: awerllow

awerllow — Sun, 20 May 2012 17:13:00 +0000

I’ve seen quite a few of these comparison tests between these two cameras. In my opinion, Canon takes the crown when it comes to low-light, high ISO performance in both stills and video. Nikon is the clear winner (in my opinion) when it comes to dynamic range, high detail (because of the gazillion MP), Nikon trumps Canon hands down…. I’ve been a Canon user since I started getting into photography and this is the only time I briefly considered switching to Nikon. But then I thought naaaah.

By: Pixyst

Pixyst — Sun, 20 May 2012 14:33:00 +0000

The Nikon is being shot at a lower ISO but the gain is still not balanced. To be equal to the Canon’s the ISO would have to be reduced further. I am using the color bar as a reference point and the Nikon frames are still brighter across the board. Also, looking at the left side of the frame . It appears the images are not framed identically so more of the bright candle is captured in the Nikon frame (so it appears). Finally, the Nikon footage benefits significantly more from noise reduction which confirms a well known fact about Canon who apply noise reduction even at default (non-NR) settings.

By: Jens Marklund

Jens Marklund — Sun, 20 May 2012 10:07:00 +0000

D800 – Better sharpness, better dynamic range at the lower ISOs, annoying green tint
5D III – A lot better ISO performance, better tones/colors, less sharp, better dynamic range at high ISOs

By: Tamim Aflah

Tamim Aflah — Sun, 20 May 2012 05:22:00 +0000

thank you Adam that was really helpful.