IQ260 vs P45+ Long Exposure Test

[dougpeterson]

We've just posted our thoughts on the IQ260 vs P45+ for long exposures.

As always, we tried to make our test real-world and as hard as possible to really push image quality (differences in cameras rarely show up in low contrast controlled lighting tests).

Also, like all tests it is imperfect (for example one of the critical P45+ images is a bit soft, so it's great for comparing color and dynamic range but not great for comparing detail; fortunately we have other files where the 45+ is super sharp for that kind of comparison).

We have IQ260 units in our demo inventory, and units are beginning to ship this week to customers. If this test doesn't cover what you would want to see compared we are happy to arrange for you to do your own testing.

For those that have had the chance to use both the IQ260 and P45+ for long exposures your thoughts from your own testing are very welcome.

 

[thrice]

Slap an ND on that bad boy and show us 30min please Doug.

Interesting that the longer exposure shots weren't compared visually in the post, the description says up to 8min shots were taken for the comparison.

 

[dougpeterson]

Slap an ND on that bad boy and show us 30min please Doug.

Interesting that the longer exposure shots weren't compared visually in the post, the description says up to 8min shots were taken for the comparison.

Those actually are with ND filters. The native ISO140 of the IQ260 long exposure mode actually makes it pretty hard to go beyond a min or two without ND filters, even at night. Remember 8 min at ISO140 is the amount of light gathering of a 20ish minute exposure at ISO50.

Regardless I have a good number of longer exposures from the IQ260 (8min-60min) that I'm happy to share (already have posted a few of them on the forums). Just contact me.

On the skyline test Lance (who executed the test) stopped at 8 min because:
- Skylines are not especially great subject matter for super long exposures. The period after sunset during which the sky is still a nice mid-deep blue (wherein the contrast vs the building interior lighting is pleasant) is far shorter than it would take for a 15 min and 30 min test frame.
- We already had very long exposures to show anyone interested in that style. For instance the 8min, 15min, and 60min shots of the daytime long exposure skyline shot by our customer Marc Koegel with an IQ260.
- The vast majority of our customers that use P45+ units and are considering an upgrade to a 260 shoot in the "several minutes" range far more often than in the 30-60 minute range.