TREN
Nikon D6 read noise vs ISO
The Nikon D6 was measured at 41 ISO settings from ISO 50 to ISO 3276800. Values are Bill Claff's (Photons to Photos) direct measurements from raw files.
At base ISO (100) read noise is 5.98 DN, or 40.8 electrons at the sensor. From ISO 10000 up the camera is effectively ISO-invariant: raising ISO further doesn't meaningfully lower shadow noise. Settings above ISO 102400 don't change analog gain (digital push). Full well at base ISO is about 104,561 electrons; unity gain is around ISO 680.
Nikon D6 read noise table
| ISO | Read noise (DN) | log₂ |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | ○ 5.979 | 2.58 |
| 64 | ○ 6.021 | 2.59 |
| 80 | ○ 6.021 | 2.59 |
| 100 | 5.979 | 2.58 |
| 125 | 7.568 | 2.92 |
| 160 | 9.448 | 3.24 |
| 200 | 6.320 | 2.66 |
| 250 | 7.835 | 2.97 |
| 320 | 9.714 | 3.28 |
| 400 | 7.160 | 2.84 |
| 500 | 8.938 | 3.16 |
| 640 | 7.362 | 2.88 |
| 800 | 9.190 | 3.20 |
| 1000 | 11.314 | 3.50 |
| 1250 | 7.674 | 2.94 |
| 1600 | 9.580 | 3.26 |
| 2000 | 11.794 | 3.56 |
| 2500 | 9.000 | 3.17 |
| 3200 | 11.392 | 3.51 |
| 4000 | 14.026 | 3.81 |
| 5000 | 12.381 | 3.63 |
| 6400 | 15.671 | 3.97 |
| 8000 | 19.427 | 4.28 |
| 10000 | 19.973 | 4.32 |
| 12800 | 24.933 | 4.64 |
| 16000 | 29.857 | 4.90 |
| 20000 | 38.055 | 5.25 |
| 25600 | 48.168 | 5.59 |
| 32000 | 61.393 | 5.94 |
| 40000 | 76.639 | 6.26 |
| 51200 | 96.336 | 6.59 |
| 64000 | 120.259 | 6.91 |
| 80000 | 151.167 | 7.24 |
| 102400 | 191.341 | 7.58 |
| 128000 | ○ 235.568 | 7.88 |
| 160000 | ○ 290.018 | 8.18 |
| 204800 | ○ 359.538 | 8.49 |
| 409600 | ▲ 634.730 | 9.31 |
| 819200 | ▲ 1,052.789 | 10.04 |
| 1638400 | ▲ 1,782.888 | 10.80 |
| 3276800 | ▲ 3,169.413 | 11.63 |