Nikon D4S vs Nikon D5: read noise comparison

Input-referred read noise at base ISO: Nikon D4S 15 e⁻ (ISO 100), Nikon D5 43.7 e⁻ (ISO 100).

Nikon D4S

The Nikon D4S was measured at 34 ISO settings from ISO 50 to ISO 409600. Values are Bill Claff's (Photons to Photos) direct measurements from raw files.

At base ISO (100) read noise is 2.07 DN, or 15 electrons at the sensor. From ISO 6400 up the camera is effectively ISO-invariant: raising ISO further doesn't meaningfully lower shadow noise. Settings above ISO 12800 don't change analog gain (digital push). Full well at base ISO is about 113,218 electrons; unity gain is around ISO 730.

Nikon D5

The Nikon D5 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 5.58 DN, or 43.7 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 124,927 electrons; unity gain is around ISO 780.

Nikon D4S vs Nikon D5 read noise table

ISO	Nikon D4S	Nikon D5
50	2.129	5.540
64	2.114	5.579
80	2.099	5.579
100	2.071	5.579
125	2.173	7.013
160	2.346	8.815
200	2.056	5.816
250	2.204	7.260
320	2.378	9.063
400	2.497	6.635
500	2.713	8.168
640	3.053	7.013
800	3.411	8.877
1000	4.000	10.703
1250	4.659	7.311
1600	5.816	9.126
2000	6.727	11.314
2500	7.945	8.515
3200	9.646	10.703
4000	11.876	13.269
5000	15.242	11.472
6400	16.679	14.320
8000	21.556	17.877
10000	24.590	18.252
12800	31.125	22.943
16000	39.124	28.443
20000	51.625	36.504
25600	63.558	45.570
32000	75.584	56.886
40000	94.353	73.009
51200	119.428	91.139
64000	–	113.772
80000	–	142.025
102400	240.518	177.294
128000	–	213.783
160000	–	261.379
204800	464.650	315.173
409600	797.865	544.958
819200	–	929.300
1638400	–	1,770.572
3276800	–	3,258.517

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