What ISO is too high in a dim sanctuary?

[capturedexpressions]

I only have a Canon 30D (8 megapixel), in a dark ceremony, will I not be getting a lot of noise/grain going high on ISO? I'm not getting the sharpest image with my settings. I normally shoot 600-800 ISO and 1/30 shutter in a dark shutter. With a wider open ap. I've noticed that I don't get a crisp face on the subjects from a far. Any advice? :confused:

[sblais]

I only have a Canon 30D (8 megapixel), in a dark ceremony, will I not be getting a lot of noise/grain going high on ISO? I'm not getting the sharpest image with my settings. I normally shoot 600-800 ISO and 1/30 shutter in a dark shutter. With a wider open ap. I've noticed that I don't get a crisp face on the subjects from a far. Any advice? :confused:

What focal lenght are you using? Could it be camera shake instead? On a properly exposed image, ISO 800 should be very usable!

[Big Mike]

What lens?

Can you show us an example, along with all the EXIF data?

[mmahoney]

I only have a Canon 30D (8 megapixel), in a dark ceremony, will I not be getting a lot of noise/grain going high on ISO?

The 20D / 30D series is remarkably good in it's high ISO performance so don't be afraid to use 1600 or even 3200.

Two suggestions .. keep the shots well exposed, (or even slightly overexposed) and run through noise removal software if necessary.
Mike

[jjmucker]

yeah. look at these 2 shots.both at ISO 1600 taken with my 350D which is not even as good as my 30D for controlling noise, but still well usable. as the other guys said, if you get the exposure nailed then if need be run them through a NR program. most noise doesnt even show up on the standard print sizes anyways. plus by bumping the ISO up to 1600 you will get a better shutter speed so less blur.

[CyberPet]

The noise of the 30D at ISO 3200 is about as the noise at ISO 800 on the 350D - if the exposure is correct on both.

[sblais]

The noise of the 30D at ISO 3200 is about as the noise at ISO 800 on the 350D - if the exposure is correct on both.

Stop tempting me!! ;)

[jjmucker]

The noise of the 30D at ISO 3200 is about as the noise at ISO 800 on the 350D - if the exposure is correct on both.

yeah thats what i think too. the 30D is great for high ISO.al need to get me another one :D

[sumozebra]

1600 and 3200 are very usable, as long as u don't need to adjust the levels and curves. If u get the right exposure, then bam u got a perfectly good usable photo even at that high of an ISO with a 20/30/5D

[Toogy]

In dark churches I live at ISO 1600

[TheGreatDivorce]

"Too high" just depends how much grain you like, what camera you use, how you process the shots, etc.

I've pushed ISO 1600 almost 3 stops in Lightroom, on my 5D, and it still looked fine in print and onscreen. Yes, it there was noise, but so what?

My 30D and 20D don't hold up as well to such abuse, though.

Side note, shouldn't you have at least a back up camera if you're shooting weddings?

[dpurslow]

There is no such thing as too high - getting the image is the most important part - remember if there is too much noise, turn it black and white and make it arty :-)

Seriously - its better to get a grainy shot than no shot at all

[capturedexpressions]

The 20D / 30D series is remarkably good in it's high ISO performance so don't be afraid to use 1600 or even 3200.

Two suggestions .. keep the shots well exposed, (or even slightly overexposed) and run through noise removal software if necessary.
Mike


What is a good noise removal program?

[capturedexpressions]

What lens?

Can you show us an example, along with all the EXIF data?


I will send some this evening. I'm so glad to hear that 1600 can be okay. I've never went over 800 due to a photographer telling me they would be too grainy past that point. I normally use my Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS lens. I also will have my 20D up front sometimes with the 17-85 f/4.5 lens on it. Thanks for the help!

[jjmucker]

What is a good noise removal program?

if you shoot in raw and use DPP, which came free with your EOS camera then go into preferences and there a tab for noise removal, which in my opinion does a really really good job when converting your raws to jpg :D

[CyberPet]

I swear by Noiseware by http://www.imagenomic.com/

[Eoseni]

There is no such thing as too high - getting the image is the most important part - remember if there is too much noise, turn it black and white and make it arty :-)

Seriously - its better to get a grainy shot than no shot at all

I agree 100%, as would the bride and groom. And use noise as part of the charm of your photography!

[jjmucker]

I swear by Noiseware by http://www.imagenomic.com/

i have this too and use it occasionally but the software thats built into DPP is actually pretty good. and its free ;)

[song4themoon]

do you shoot at 1/30 hand held? If so then most likely it's motion blurr because you cant hold your hand still enough for that exposure.

[Phil V]

There's no such thing as too high an ISO, a little noise is preferable to camera / subject movement.
You can remove the noise, or convert to B&W and add a little more and it becomes 'grain'. But it's all preferable to unsharp IMHO.

[hef]

1600 iso is acceptable but i usually try to keep it to 800 when possible for the church.

[beaconlightboy]

for those of you shooting at 1600 plus, are you using the camera to meter the shots, or are you using a hand meter before the ceremony? i have not dared to venture past 800 as my 800's seem to be noisy.

[dpurslow]

Here you go, a quick guide.

This photo was shot at iso 800 - Canon 20D

http://www.davidpurslow.com/forumpics/1600-1.jpg

This one was shot at ISO 1250 - Canon 1dmk2

http://www.davidpurslow.com/forumpics/1600-2.jpg

And this one at 1600 - Canon 20D

http://www.davidpurslow.com/forumpics/1600-3.jpg

[Stan43]

What is a good noise removal program?

I try and shoot mostly with the 5D during the ceremony. It handles 1600 very well. I use Noise Ninja to reduce noise. There are several good ones but this is the only one I've used and it works well.

[TheGreatDivorce]

30D/ ISO 1600
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v680/ixoye/IMG_1485lowres.jpg

5D/ ISO 1600
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v680/ixoye/wppi-2007-22-3editlowres.jpg

5D/ ISO 1600
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v680/ixoye/wppi-2007-46editlowres.jpg

5D/ ISO ~10,000 (ISO 1600 pushed 2.77 stops in Lightroom)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v680/ixoye/iso12000.jpg

All with NO noise removal except the default chroma removal in Lightroom.

Expose to the right, whenever possible. Pushing the exposure exaggerates the noise greatly.

I use partial or spot metering, and usually overexpose by 1/3 - 2/3 stops.

[hef]

Here you go, a quick guide.

This photo was shot at iso 800 - Canon 20D

http://www.davidpurslow.com/forumpics/1600-1.jpg

This one was shot at ISO 1250 - Canon 1dmk2

http://www.davidpurslow.com/forumpics/1600-2.jpg

And this one at 1600 - Canon 20D

http://www.davidpurslow.com/forumpics/1600-3.jpg

Perfect... Very well done.

[hef]

30D/ ISO 1600
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v680/ixoye/IMG_1485lowres.jpg

5D/ ISO 1600
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v680/ixoye/wppi-2007-22-3editlowres.jpg

5D/ ISO 1600
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v680/ixoye/wppi-2007-46editlowres.jpg

5D/ ISO ~10,000 (ISO 1600 pushed 2.77 stops in Lightroom)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v680/ixoye/iso12000.jpg

All with NO noise removal except the default chroma removal in Lightroom.

Expose to the right, whenever possible. Pushing the exposure exaggerates the noise greatly.

I use partial or spot metering, and usually overexpose by 1/3 - 2/3 stops.

Just lovely.... i like your perspective.

[jerrybsmith]

Minimizing noise at high ISO's is completely dependent on the proper exposure. Underexposed shots really show grain when brought up to normal exposure. That may be fine if you purposely want to emphasize grain but usually does not produce good results if you need a properly exposed photograph. I push my 5D and 30D all the time to 1600 and I see very little grain if any when the print is 8x10 or less with minimal cropping.