D90 vs. 5D Low Light

[roxics]

I would assume the 5D is better in low light then the D90 just because it has a full frame sensor on it. But I'm kind of curious how much better it is in low light. Looking to pick up a D90 and curious to know how well it performs under street lights at night and in other low light situations I have seen the 5D footage tackle without issue.

[Matthew Bennett]

The 5d seems significantly better (ie low noise) in low light...

[Joseph Stunzi]

Getting a quantitative answer is going to be difficult because the 5D hasn't been released yet. However, overall I think the 5D2 is a better investment with the full frame, the larger photo capabilities, and the professional grade aspect of it. I guess it's all a matter of opinion but for the first generation of these guys... I'd say go Canon!

[roxics]

I can't afford to go with the 5D2. Just wanted to know how much lower down the chain the D90 was going to be.

[Matthew Bennett]

I can't afford to go with the 5D2. Just wanted to know how much lower down the chain the D90 was going to be.

Hold a bake sale...

I think though, that when you see the nice pristine, set-bitrate encoding of the 5d, plus the low light, plus the general sharp look of it, all over the web, etc, and then you go back to your d90, and see the codec bottoming out like the apocalypse was coming, and the stair stepping, and the weak banded, overall softy look it has, you will start to get bummed and want more.

But of course, if you're only content with doing web videos at a maximum size of 640x360 pixels, then the d90 has you covered... unless of course you're shooting anything moving, then you'll be bummed again...

[PerL]

I can't afford to go with the 5D2. Just wanted to know how much lower down the chain the D90 was going to be.

Nobody knows yet. but my guess is about a stop.

[Karsvall]

yeah, but the footage from the 5D looks like video. And it´s not just the framrate.

[roxics]

But of course, if you're only content with doing web videos at a maximum size of 640x360 pixels, then the d90 has you covered... unless of course you're shooting anything moving, then you'll be bummed again...

Maybe you are right and maybe you are being too hard on the camera, I don't know until I have one in my hands. But the footage I've seen from it so far looks great. But then I've got a steady hand and a fluid head tripod.

Jesus Christ could show up at my door right now with a 5D2 and tell me how great the camera is but I still wouldn't have the cash for him. Too many other things to pay for.

I'm looking at the D90 right now for hobby photography, perhaps pro photography if I can get the work and short films of my own at DVD resolution. I haven't had a DSLR since early summer when I sold my Canon 300D. Compared to that camera I'm sure I'll be impressed with any newer model.

I would expect the 5D2 at almost three times the D90's price to be superior, was just curious how much superior.

I remember not all that long ago before the DVX100 came out when you couldn't find a 24p SD camera for under $4000. Now we've got the D90 that shoots 24p HD with 35mm DOF in low light for $1000. I'm so geeked! It might have its limitations but filmmakers have always had limitations and still found ways to shoot great stories.

Thanks for all your info guys.

[roxics]

Ok on second thought maybe I was just blind before with my optimism for the D90, but what are these horizontal lines I see jutting across the D90 videos on vimeo from time to time? They are like flashes of horizontal lines every so often. What is that? What is that called? Is that just vimeo doing that?

[ydgmdlu]

The 5D Mark II's low-light performance is groundbreaking. The D90's is merely good. Camcorderinfo finally did an exhaustive evaluation of the D90, and they found that while its low-light performance is strong, it's disappointing given the sensor size. Basically, it outperforms $600-1000 consumer HD camcorders at moderately low light (~60 lux) but falls apart lower than that, underperforming the consumer camcorders starting at around 15 lux.