D3 iso 200, 1/3 sec

5D iso 200, 1/3 sec

D3 iso 1600, 1/25 sec

5D iso 1600, 1/25 sec

D3 iso 3200, 1/50 sec

5D iso 3200, 1/50 sec

D3 iso 12,800, 1/200 sec

D3 iso 25,600, 1/500 sec

A disquieting feature of this is that, to my eyes, the D3 image at ISO 3200 is sharper than those at ISO 1600 or 200. This raises the ugly possibility that there was some mirror-induced vibration which shows up more at the slower shutter speeds used for the lower ISOs. That is most unfortunate. I did not use mirror lockup on either camera because the D3 does not permit mirror lockup to be used at the same time as the self timer, and I did not have a remote release for the D3. Thus I felt it better to use the self timer by itself. Perhaps I should have done this test with flash.

I fear therefore that this test can not be used to assess sharpness as I had intended. But you can still use it to assess noise and resolution, or lack of it, at higher ISOs.

Peter Facey, Winchester, England
20080119 originated