Hi,
I started to check the Pentax KX higher iso capability and I'm very pleased so far with the results,
considering it is an APS sensor.
I give you some samples here, all JPEGs "right-of-the-box", no noise reduction added, no sharpening either.
The B & W convertion is made in CS3 with Silver Efex Pro. Iso=3200 for all pictures.
28mm macro vintage lens. Manual focussing.(that is a bit of an hassle with the average viewfinder, did not used live-view)
-This first shot in reality was quasi a nocturne one when a huge cloud darkened the late evening just before the city-lights
were on. I've pushed the jpeg to give it a day atmosphere and it handled prety well.
[attachment=20324:plaza_espana_3200.jpg]
-This was a little later in a bar. Very very low and multicolored light source. Horrible conditions. I took a portrait of the waitress.
[attachment=20325:monica_3200_1.jpg]
-In the same bar, this is a crop that shows a detail of a picture (approx 20% of the all image).
I find the Pentax JPEG's files at 3200 to be really well balanced and clean.
[attachment=20326:bar_3200_detail.jpg]
-After heating myself in the bar, I whent to the...church well, a cathedral in the same district,
following the cue to enter.
[attachment=20327:cathedral_3200_1.jpg]
-The organ
[attachment=20328:cathedral_3200_2.jpg]
-And this one was a mess, 4 types of light sources with totally different intensity and the place from I was taking the
picture was in the dark. The KX resolved quite well.
[attachment=20329:cathedral_3200_5.jpg]
To me, this little camera is a joy to use in low-light and I wanted to share with you my enthousiasm.
Cheers,
Fred.