High ISO - You don't need the latest Camera

Paul talks about the cameras with pleasing monochromatic noise structure.

[davidmullinphotography]

As a father of two daughters, your insight into your daughter's portrait hit me in the feels. I do miss those days when they still needed me more. Glad I found a fellow Monochrom shooter channel. I started my Leica journey with an M6 classic but eventually moved to digital. I like the variety that each camera gives me and don't worry too much about noise or lack thereof as long as the picture works.

[afcortes]

I just wanted to watch a nerdy video about monochrome, high ISO, granny looking images… and you punched me in the gut! 😮 I have a two year old daughter… Beautiful image and insight! The captured moment is what it counts; the camera is sooo secondary. Thank you for the great content!

[simonarmstrong]

👍I think "grain" and other (so called) flaws (lens flare, CA etc.), will increasingly be the things that help us maintain some humanity in photography. I guess AI will imitate them too, but as Ansel Adams famously said, "There's nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept.". Nice work!

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.
- Leonard Cohen

[NineVoltDigitalCinema]

I’ve really come to love the look of the M10 processed into monochrome at between 16, 000-20, 000 ISO. It gets pretty crunchy, but the noise looks quite beautiful to my eye.

[derrenleepoole]

Shoot what makes you happy. Leica M9 shooter here. I bought it because I wanted a camera and not a computer. Most cameras, for me anyway, are loaded with tech that I simply don't use or don't even need. So getting the M9 was a way to really get back to basics. The image quality is superb and I find the look and render the M9 produces, evokes that feeling of nostalgia. So in that regard I guess that's why they say certain cameras have a filmic feel or look - they evoke nostalgia. I happily shoot the M9 at gig settings and get very useable results at 1600iso. More so, it's that very tactile experience the M9 offers and the reward of nailing a shot when a lot of aids are stripped away, that is the most appealing factor. Great video this week. Keep up the good work.

[justamanwithanopinion]

I've just sold my Q2M and bought an M6 with 35mm and 50mm lenses, one of which dates back decades. I needed to hear this (even if the specific focus was on digital noise). The Q2M, as you well know, produces amazing pictures even in low light. But photographs do not have to be perfect to have an impact. I expect the standard of my photography to drop now, especially as I learn to get to grips with the M6, and film, but I can see myself taking images I will treasure for the rest of my life.

[theSantiagoDog]

I totally agree. I am seeking out digital cameras that produce a good high ISO noise for just this aesthetic quality. It's actually difficult because most everyone considers "good in low-light" to mean as clean an image as possible. I have a Leica Q on the way, coincidentally. The best camera I owned for this type of high ISO noise was the Leica SL2-S with Summicron-M 50mm, but had to sell the combo to pay bills. The photo of your daughter feels timeless. Great work.

[davepayne]

Hi Paul. Your videos are getting better and better...and this one is GREAT! Looking forward to our 1-on-1 Session #2 today...got lots to discuss Sensei📷🖤🖤👍‼️

[Bigfarmer]

Hi Paul. First of all that photo of your daughter is absolutely fantastic! (but you knew that already). I love how she and her surroundings fill up the frame. I love the interaction she has with you. She looks a very bright and beautiful young lady.
I think, if anything, grain adds mystique to a photo and especially with storytelling mankind loves a bit of mystique.
I shoot regularly with the Olympus Evolt E-300 that has, if I am not mistaken, the same sensor that was used by Leica. The output is not 100% like Leica but the photos have that same natural feel and that is why I love shooting with that camera. So, I totally agree with you that an older camera is more than enough to produce beautiful and interesting photos. Thanks for sharing!

[markdixon]

I can’t agree more re early Leica digital files - I had the M9 monochrom and the files were great (even if the camera itself was a bit clunky and made whizzy noises) but long before then I bought the Digilux 1 which was like a Kellogg’s Variety Pack of cornflakes with a lens attached. 4MP and advice to not shoot above base ISO of 100! I loved it and got some images that still stand up today. Now I shoot on everything - 35mm and 120 film, Polaroid, XPro1 converted to IR, GFX100s, Leica Q2 monochrom and others. I am happy with them all - it’s horses for courses. Thanks for the video btw 👏👏

[torb-no]

One of the reasons I like Fuji cameras so much is that I like the noise structure. I think their unique X-trans sensor leads to grain that to my eyes, while not looking like film, looks a lot more organic than other sensors.

So I like noise in my images, but I try to have it be ‘real’ ISO noise.

Thanks for making this great video though!

[geoffmphotography]

It MAY be (I'll stand corrected) that we like a touch of grain because it softens the rather 'cold' sharp look of digital. Good video and a fine picture of your daughter.

[ChristineWilsonPhotography]

Having daughters of a similar age I get you emotional connection with that image of your daughter. Regardless of the equipment you have a good shot is a good shot, composition and story in a image is th e most Important 😊

[tonyadamis]

Nicely done, as always, Paul. A couple of thoughts — we’d all be advised to look at the photo, not the pixel; and if you want a filmic look, try a Fuji XT10. Those earlier sensors definitely had the look.

[edc]

I have a Nikon D200 CCD camera and even though ir is only 10 megapixels, I get beautiful photographs. I also have a D700 for the same reason. At ISO 3200, the noise is very creamy.

[andytheghosthunter]

Great video. If you want the film look but want to shoot digital then crank up your iso. I used to always have the latest but now use an original Sony A7 with a manual focus film lens. I shoot jpg and black and white creative style with +1 contrast and that does me perfect. Sometimes I turn the rear screen off and it is as close to shooting film as I can get but in a digital world. Micro 4/3 cameras are also good as they do have a film look of their own anyway so are great for film style photography 😊

[walkingmeditation]

All the best I hope your back is better !

[DarrylHebbes]

The sensor on the Fujifilm X-pro 1, has incredible high ISO quality, photos are so film like it’s amazing.

[dda.visuals]

Amazing video again Paul. Emotional moment with your daughter.
To me a camera is the extension of your creative mind. The tool that suit with your workflow. I love my Q2 M andequally all my Fujis. (I have 6 bodies). I had other brands too. They took fantastic picture yes but they just didn't match with me and my workflow. And that's fine.
Regarding noise, it's totally true. And to me it goes well with people used to see sharpness and to be in focus. Emotions goes first IMHO. Like the beautiful picture of your daughter. It's the moment that counts, everything else is pointless. I prefer a soft image that tells me the story than a super sharp image without any soul.
As an audio engineer for the past 20 years, I can truly see similarities in audio and photo regarding so many points including the aboves.
sounding in tune (auto-tune) or tight to a click for the sake of fitting into standards without soul vs keeping the groove and soul.
Thank you Paul

[mikecocoprint]

Yup ..that’s another fab video ..cheers Paul ..