Nikon D5100

Mode: Program
Aperture: f/7.1
Shutter: 1/200
ISO: 400

In this shot the rotating LCD was used, as footing wasn’t great and a lower angle shot was desired. You can see the image stabilization struggling to keep a perfectly sharp image, even at 1/200 of a second. There is good gradation, however, and no visible noise despite ISO 400 being used.

Mode: Program
Aperture: f/7.1
Shutter: 1/320
ISO: 800

There is a good amount of chromatic aberration here, with a good amount of blue fringing in the background. There is almost no visible noise, despite ISO 800 being used. The normal program favored a bit of underexposure here, preserving more detail in the shadows. There is also very attractive, even bokeh for a kit lens visible on the right and in the crops.

Mode: Program
Aperture: f/8
Shutter: 1/250
ISO: 400

Again the rotating LCD was used here for the purposes of framing a lower shot. The off-kilter angle was intentional, though focus remains very accurate despite the fading light and use of the live view AF system. There is a fair amount of chromatic aberration in the background, but color detail remains clear in the cloth of the flags.

Mode: Program
Aperture: f/5.3
Shutter: 1/10
ISO: 6400

Using our usual low light still life here, the Nikon D5100 produces a fairly usable image, even at ISO 6400. Most of the fine detail has been taken out through noise reduction, though some still remains along the edges of the petals. Color gradation is still quite good, though the highlights look compressed. This could be printed with some minor editing. ISO speeds beyond 6400 are heavily burdened by color noise.

Mode: Manual
Shutter: 1/60
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 800

The detail saved by stopping down to an ISO of 800 versus the photo above is clear here. At three stops difference noise is barely visible, fine detail is retained, and highlights and general tonality is greatly improved.