SL3-S low light, high ISO and noise

[LocalHero1953]

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I was photographing drama rehearsals yesterday afternoon in a studio with matt black walls and overhead strip lights, using my new-to-me SL3-S. I set the maximum ISO to 50,000, compared to 25,000 that was my practice with the SL2-S. Only one shot ended up at this level, and that was only by accident because I unintentionally stopped down to f/11 (50mm lens, 1/200s). 

All shots adjusted by Auto Tone Control. From top to bottom, (a) original shot, no noise reduction, no sharpening (b) ditto, 100% crop (c) AI noise reduction in Lightroom (d) ditto, 100% crop.

The colours are a bit bland, but reasonably accurate. For my purposes (and in a more interesting shot!) this result is usable, but given that only one out of several hundred shots required the use of ISO 50,000, I'll probably only use it rarely. An example scenario where I might use it is a group of dancers in a rehearsal studio (i.e. low power lighting, fast movement, and good depth of field).  

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[hoolyproductions]

Quite impressive. I am very impressed with the results at ISO 25,000 and I find these totally useable. Example below taken last Sunday of the artist N C Lawlor from Dublin. 

APO summicron 50mm, 1/60, f2.

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[nax_gt]

Yeah, ISO 50,000 is emergency-only. That f/11 + 1/200s forced the high ISO. Noise is brutal at 100% crop, AI cleanup helps for web/prints, colors stay muted.