Nikon D610 Review: Day 2 - HIGH ISO at the Beachville Museum (Projector, 1st Baseball Game, Piano & Other Mid-1800's antiques) Pt1

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 3200

For my second day with the Nikon D610, I went out to the Beachville Museum where they had everything from antique toys, to an exhibit from the first baseball game, to a recreation of Thomas Taylor's mid-1800's General Store.

More importantly, a lot of the exhibit rooms were very dimly lit, which provided a perfect opportunity to continue my testing of the D610's high ISO abilities.

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 3200

This old projector caught my eye right off the bat.  The lighting was fairly good in this room, especially with the window light right behind it, so the ISO is only a moderate 3200 for these shots.

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 3200

The versatility of the Nikon 24-85mm zoom and being able to go all the way from a nice wide 24mm to a portrait length 85mm was quite handy, especially when trying to frame different shots in tight quarters.

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 3200

This old mantle clock had great lines and wonderful detail.  Thinking about fiddling with it as an HDR art image. :-)

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 3200

Loved the look of this old piano.  Still in the same room with decent lighting, so all shot at 3200.

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 3200

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 3200

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 3200

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 3200

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 3200

The first baseball game exhibit was small, but interesting.  These are all shot at ISO 6400.

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 6400

 

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 6400

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 6400

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 6400

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 3200

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 6400

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 6400

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 6400

The next exhibit was a room full of old musical instruments.  Lighting was dimmer in this area of the museum, and the D610's high ISO abilities really came in handy here.  The next 2 photos are at ISO 12,800, and I have to say I'm impressed with results.

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 12,800

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 12,800

These next two are at ISO 6400, and yes, I'm aware the trophy is not a musical instrument. :-)

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 6400

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 6400

This next room's exhibit was a classroom display as well displays from the early limestone mining companies in Beachville.  Lighting was very low, and these photos are all shot at Hi 1 or ISO 12,800.

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 12,800

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 12,800

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 12,800

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 12,800

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 12,800

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 12,800

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 12,800

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 12,800

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 12,800

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 12,800

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 12,800

I found Thomas Taylor's mid-1800's General Store exhibit to be one of the most interesting exhibits at the Beachville Museum, and once again, lighting was very low so I worked with the D610 at Hi 1 and Hi2, ISO 12,800 and ISO 25,600 to see just what it was capable of.

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 12,800

The next three photos are all at the D610's Hi 2 setting, or ISO 25,600.  Yes, there is noise visible, but I'm amazed at how little of it there actually is.  It's mind-blowing how far the high ISO abilities of modern sensors have come.

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 25,600

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 25,600

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 25,600

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 6400

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 3200

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 12,800

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 12,800

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 12,800

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 6400

 

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 25,600

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 25,600

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 25,600

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 25,600

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 25,600

Nikon D610 + 24-85mm Kit Lens - ISO 25,600

There is still plenty of detail and color is pretty good at ISO 25,600.  I could probably clean them up further still in Lightroom with a little noise reduction and some contrast tweaking, but the point is, the Nikon D610 does VERY well at high ISO.

Auto focus was good too, even in the dim lighting and using the variable aperture Nikon 24-85mm kit lens.  The Nikon D610 was quick to lock on, and I found myself really enjoying shooting with.

Stay tuned for Part 2 - Nikon D610 Review: Day 2 - Off-Camera Speedlites at the Beachville Museum