J,
I'm starting to think that the CCD to Cmos controversy actually may have something to it; which doesn't mean that CMOS will not in due course become better. I've looked at some of my old Nikon D1x images, and they were kind of interesting, had good skin tone.
Regarding ISO, you know, when you're doing available light in this city 1600 is probably the strict minimum to use a camera handheld, in the late afternoon. My 1Ds3 is always at the limit of its abilities. I have a D4 that can at least in theory do better ISO, but I'm not happy with it, it's going to be sold soon. The 1Ds3, whatever its limitations performs wonderfully as long as you are inside its envelope.
There is a lot of room for better high ISO; here is ISO 52000, 1/30s F1.4 from my Nikon D4; this is within the designated usage of this camera, but go up over 3200 ISO, and you steadily loose color quality, sharpness and resolution until you are left with a postage stamp
if you ask me there is a lot of room for Nikon to raise their quality to marketing ratio, frankly I would recommend people just go straight to the D800 or Sony equivalent, although I did make a bunch of interesting images @6400.
Edmund
But I'm curious what is anyone going to do with 400,000 iso? chase the cat around their flat in the dark?
IMO
BC