High ISO pictures on DSLR help

[JHZR2]

Hello,

I have the need to shoot at ISO settings sometimes, which are higher than 400, sometimes higher than 800. I am not happy with what I perceive to be the grain and noise on my Nikon D70s.

See here:

This was taken at ISO1600, 1/500 sec and f/11 on a 50mm/1.4 fixed nikkor lens. This is a 6.1MP camera, cropped in the area where there were multiple colors, saved as a jpg (how the camera saved it, BTW), and laid out as 1024x768 max size when I uploaded it through photobucket. Windows claims the image as I saved it from photoshop is 1016x1024, so photobucket may have blown it up a bit, or else is just showing it as around 1016x1024 on your screen. A dumb picture to take at such a setting, for sure, but it is a crop that shows the grain/noise on the green and red paint colors. I don't like it. However, I dont have anything to compare with. Im going to try to get, say, a D300 to do a few comparison shots... but don't really know when this will be.

I have need to shoot with good DOF and hand-held, in low-light situations. This means raising the ISO, and though Im no pro, I want the best results I can get...

Not really sure if this is about the best I can get, or if I can really do better...

Any thoughts? Perhaps Im just doing something wrong? White balance, exposure correction, etc. that may help?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts you can provide!

Best regards,

JMH

 

[tom slick]

You aren't doing anything wrong, noise is a fact of life with high ISO numbers. Some DSLRs are better at high ISo then others.

Find some noise reduction software or a plug in for your editing software and it will help.

 

[surfstar]

seems like the D70 just isn't a good low light performer

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1034&message=24725458&q=d70+iso+noise&qf=m

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1034&message=27322476&q=d70+iso+noise&qf=m

just a couple quick references I found. Shoot in RAW and use a noise reduction plugin, if you have to use high ISO on your D70.

 

[XS650]

I've been looking into the same problem, except ISO 3200

Some of these tips sound reasonable
http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-3245.html

I haven't tried any yet. I may just accept the graininess as part of shooting in an underground wat3er cistern.

 

[tom slick]

I ran your image through "neat image" with automatic settings and it gave me this

much less noise

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: tom slick
I ran your image through "neat image" with automatic settings and it gave me this

much less noise


Not much detail loss either, that's impressive.

What's it cost and is it a PS plug in?

 

[tom slick]

http://www.neatimage.com/

I just used the free trial and it is a PS plug-in or stand alone

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: tom slick
http://www.neatimage.com/

I just used the free trial and it is a PS plug-in or stand alone


Based on your experience, which version do you recommend after the free trial? Or is the free trial version unlimited time?

http://www.neatimage.com/purchase.html

Edit:
http://www.neatimage.com/examples.html

Now I know I need it. The examples look a little soft, but there doesn't seem much if any actual loss of usable detail. Some software faerie knows what they are doing!
http://www.neatimage.com/examples.html

There is something very sophisticated going on there.

 

[Quattro Pete]

For ISO1600, that amount of noise is actually not bad at all. When you resize the images to something smaller, the noise should be even less visible. Noise reduction tools are your other option, like others pointed out.

 

[tom slick]

I haven't used any noise reduction software much, I was just using that software as an example. most of my shooting is 800 and slower.

 

[Yuk]

The D300 will clean a D70's clock, when it comes to noise! However, you are doing well with your D70.

Open up a little bit for the shadows (just be mindful of not burning out your highlights) and if necessary, use a noise reduction program like the above mentioned, or Noise Ninja.

Here is your photo as processed by Noise Ninja, but not processed at full strength:

This shows you how the colour noise can be processed without losing too much sharpness.

For kicks and giggles, and comparison, here is some stuff I shot at dusk in overcast conditions at ISO 1000. The Camera is an EOS 1D Mark II N.

 

[The_Jeff]

Exposing for the shadows is kind of a leftover from shooting print film. Nikon digital is sort of like kodachrome, can handle a little underexposure.

Next time try shooting at, say, ISO 800 and underexposing by about EV 0.7-1.0. Then mess with "curves" in your photo software to bring the midtones back up. Should get better highlights and the shadows won't suffer too badly.

Could also shoot RAW and mess with the files later.

 

[XPR]

I use Noise Ninja, works great.

 

[PF52]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
I have need to shoot with good DOF and hand-held, in low-light situations. This means raising the ISO, and though Im no pro, I want the best results I can get...



I'm assuming you used 1600 to illustrate the graininess, but could you have gotten away with, say, 200 for this picture? Heck, the sun is shining! I have a D80 and use ISO 100 almost all the time, then go to 200 or 400 if needed. I could see using 800 or so indoors, but thus far I've been able to get by with 400 indoors (I did spring for the f2.8 zooms which do very well compared to the kit lenses). Most of my indoor work is f2.8 at 17mm, at ISO 400. Focusing carefully, depth of field isn't a serious issue (its pretty generous with a wide angle anyway).

 

[JHZR2]

yes, just an illustration... but when I do need/want to use it, it is as evident if not more.

All the same, I was down visiting the in-laws this past weekend, got a deal on a D300, and bought it... Im keeping my D70s, as its a great camera for walking, traveling and snapshots, but depending on what I want to do, the D300 is far better - I can tell already based upon its focusing, color rendition and overall results on my standard gear.

Thanks again,

JMH