Recently put up a post using a new to me, quite old camera and lens.
The post served as confirmation of another recent post where I talk about enjoying older gear. Went on a night time food run for the Mrs. and I brought it along. A simple low light formula I worked out. Set the ISO sky high (3200), take the pic, and then hit it with the Lightroom AI Denoise stick. When the mood strikes I will go a step further and hit the B&W button. I like other pics I took while out, but this one below I like most.
I closed by mentioning that I see why this camera initially slowed my film consumption. This prompted me to use the same formula for a night trip to chorus rehearsal and back. Here are the images below followed by some additional thoughts on how the camera performed.
Managed a few pics before the sun dropped.
And on to the night pics.
Closing thoughts.
Aesthetics/Rendering
I want to step back for a moment and appreciate what I have stumbled across here. When I first used AI Denoise in Lightroom I had not thought of older cameras like this one. When I bought the EOS 5D I put no thought to Lightroom AI Denoise and certainly had not planned to use it above ISO 800. Then one night I merged 5D high ISO (3200) with AI Denoise and realized I had stumbled across something I liked.
High ISO plus AI Denoise produces an aesthetic I like. Not the usual harsh overly obvious look of post editing artificiality, but a rather pleasing, to my eye anyway, rendering that I rather like even if I cannot put a finger on or words to the why. It feels like when I have stumbled upon a new film stock that I really like. But here no film, chemicals, drying, agitation, waiting, or scanning are needed. It is fun and easily repeatable. I like the look so much that I occasionally find myself using it for 5D images where Denoise is not really needed.
AF/AE Performance
As should come as no surprise to anyone that has used a DSLR these things perform well at the main tasks. AF and AE. Having gone down some vintage digital odd duck rabbit holes (an odd pairing of animal based phrases I will admit) with some point and shoot cameras in pursuit of a distinct look or feel one thing was lost when compared to DSLRs. AF performance. I will defend my little odd balls to the end (Example A and B) but even I must admit that AF is not their strong suit. If any focusing challenges arise, then MF is the way. Not here, though. Even with near non-existent light, this solid brick bat of a DSLR grabbed whatever sliver of light was available and made the best of it. And swiftly, too. I have modern mirrorless cameras that would not have done much better, if at all. Sure, the 5D will not zoom in on an eye or a face, but if you want something in the scene in focus, it has you covered. The same can be said of the AE. Rock solid.
Add this with the unique lease on life AI Denoise gives on the resulting image and this is quite a winning combination. These high ISO images would not been useful as they were, but now they do not simply look fine. They have taken on their own look that I really like. This with a full frame camera and lens that cost a little less than $300. Nice.
May not be up everyone’s alley but this is nothing but a good time as far as I am concerned.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 