A70 noise in low light?

[J_Rok]

Hello. I'm new, but I've been lurking for quite some time. Anyway, I recently baught a new Powershot A70. I love it so far, but there is one thing. See I like to take long exposure pictures a lot, and low light shots. But whenever I take a low light shot I get tons noise in the picture. It's very distracting and ugly. Is this a user end error, or is it the camera?.

[UnknownVT]

whenever I take a low light shot I get tons noise in the picture. It's very distracting and ugly. Is this a user end error, or is it the camera?.

What ISO speed are you using?

ISO400 is known to be pretty noisy
whereas ISO50 (and even ISO100) seem quite reasonable even at low light (long exposures)

Here's the URL to an actual photo taken at 1/4 foot-candle or 2.7lux - which is f/2.8 at 13 secs @ ISO50
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/A70/A70LL0505.HTM
(click on the image to show the full sized 1,302K photo)

[PeterS45]

Hello. I'm new, but I've been lurking for quite some time. Anyway, I recently baught a new Powershot A70. I love it so far, but there is one thing. See I like to take long exposure pictures a lot, and low light shots. But whenever I take a low light shot I get tons noise in the picture. It's very distracting and ugly. Is this a user end error, or is it the camera?.

Don't use the Auto-ISO setting, but choose ISO 50 for the lowest noise-factor.

[J_Rok]

Ahhh. I was using ISO 400. Thanks a lot guys. Much obliged.

[Fiberoptik]

Jrok as well as using a lower iso setting the Canon Powershot a70 also uses a special noise reducing algorythm that kicks in on exposures longer then 1.3seconds so be sure you set your shutter accordingly. Also, most digicams have the same problem with extended exposures, it has to do with the CCD type sensor, (from what I understand). These issues will eventually be resolved when the newer type CMOS sensors are used in consumer level digicams.