High ISO and Noise reduction

[gazcoyle]

Hi guys, just thought id post a few images from a couple of recent games, the first 6 are from the same game,

images 1 and 4 are shot at 1600 ISO with a little noise ninja applied.

2 and 5 are shot at 3200 ISO with noise ninja applied

3 and 6 are at ISO 1600 with noise ninja applied

Image 7 is just thrown as a comparison, ISO 1250, no noise reduction used.

1 ISO 1600 WITH NOISE REDUCTION

http://www.thornhilltrojans.com/1.jpg

2 ISO 3200 WITH NOISE REDUCTION


http://www.thornhilltrojans.com/2.jpg


3 ISO 1600 WITH NOISE REDUCTION

http://www.thornhilltrojans.com/3.jpg

4 ISO 1600 WITH NOISE REDUCTION

http://www.thornhilltrojans.com/4.jpg

5 3200 ISO with noise reduction

http://www.thornhilltrojans.com/5.jpg

6 1600 ISO with noise reduction

http://www.thornhilltrojans.com/6.jpg

7 ISO 1250 with no noise reduction

http://www.thornhilltrojans.com/7.jpg

[Mike Bell]

Great series of action shots and a good demo of how useful good noise reduction software is. I shoot amateur football in Scotland and routinely have to use it. I generally use 800 to 1600 and compromise a bit on aperture or shutter speed. Maybe I should go higher on the ISO?

[gazcoyle]

Hi Mike, i regularly have to use ISO 1600 and 3200 during the winter months and under floodlights and arent afraid to do so, exposure for me is key, get it right and it minimises noise. Also these photos are only cropped very slightly, fill the frame and you reduce the effects of noise.

Having mentioned about exposure im now going to contradict myself, there are occasions when i have no choice but to shoot ISO 3200 and under expose anything up to a full stop just to get any decent sort of shutter speed, when on the rare occasion this is the case i try to shoot my subjects coming at me head on which reduces the effect of motion blur as opposed to shooting my subject running accross the frame which leads to horrible motion blur.

[Mike Bell]

So what kind of apertures and shutter speeds were these taken at? What camera and lens?

I use a 5D with 70-200 f2.8 L and shoot at f4 (2.8 if it's very dark) and 1/500 - 1/1000 sec.

[cazray]

hi gaz nice shots id like to gety into rugby and footie,what kit were you using I shoot cricket in summer but at the end of the season the midweek games can finish at 9pm and high iso is a neccessary.

[gazcoyle]

Sorry guys should have detailed equipment as well

1dmk2 with a 300 L IS f/2.8, all shot wide open at f/2.8 and shutter speeds vary between 1/400th and 1/640th

[Mike Bell]

Sorry guys should have detailed equipment as well

1dmk2 with a 300 L IS f/2.8, all shot wide open at f/2.8 and shutter speeds vary between 1/400th and 1/640th

And we thought it was just your tremendous skill! :lol: Seriously nice kit, man!

[gsgary]

High Gaz wondered where you had been hiding, Great shots i use my 1Dmk1 at iso3200 a lot these days and not scared of it i downloaded some noise profiles from the ninja site for the mk1 they work a treat

[drisley]

Nice job! Did you let Ninja make it's own profiles? Or download custom profiles for each ISO?
Would you mind sharing your Ninja settings? I used to use it, but seemed to like Noiseware Pro better.
However, your results here are fantastic. There is some "grain" visible in the bokeh, but it's very pleasing, much like film.

[gazcoyle]

High Gaz wondered where you had been hiding, Great shots i use my 1Dmk1 at iso3200 a lot these days and not scared of it i downloaded some noise profiles from the ninja site for the mk1 they work a treat

Hi Gary, i just noticed youve recently popped up on the Canon EOS forums, ive still got some custom tone curves from when i had a 1d, ill email them to you if you want them but your work looks like you dont need them.

Drisley, i used the dedicated profile for the 1d2 downloaded from the picture code website, i then adjusted it as it seemed a little harsh and gave too much of a plasticy look to images, i also stopped the filter using any USM, i then saved the adjusted profile as my default. i use the same profile on 1600 and 3200 ISO images, below that and i tend not to need or use and noise reduction.

[mtonsbeek]

Fantastic shots! I will be receiving my 300mm 2.8 this week.
I will be pleased if I get even half the quality my dispay above.
Do you use any in camera sharpening or in camera saturation enhancement?

Maarten

[gazcoyle]

Fantastic shots! I will be receiving my 300mm 2.8 this week.
I will be pleased if I get even half the quality my dispay above.
Do you use any in camera sharpening or in camera saturation enhancement?

Maarten

Can't remember exactly off hand, i know i don't use any saturation adjustment and i think sharpness is set full on as the 1d2 produces slightly softer images than any other 1d series body.

[mtonsbeek]

Can't remember exactly off hand, i know i don't use any saturation adjustment and i think sharpness is set full on as the 1d2 produces slightly softer images than any other 1d series body.


Thanks. Well, what ever you have done, it worked a treat!
Always nice to see some good rugby shots.

[kt8]

I really need to get into Noise Ninja, I dont use any at the mo, Simple fact is if I need above 800 iso I dont shoot, Damn Nikons !!!!

2 things this year for me, Noise ninja and PhotoMechanic.

Fab shots Gaz, Really clear and crisp, Loving them.

[drisley]

The new D3 is killer. I would give it nearly a 2 stop advantage over the Mk3.
ISO6400 (http://www.manitobamuscle.com/misc/d3_6400.JPG) is like ISO1600 on the Mk3! WOW.

[Sauk]

i got a chance to sit by someone using a D3 at the game last night. That camera is amazing! It's 12000 iso shots were looking as good as my 3200 iso! lol

Amazing camera

[drisley]

Yeah, somebody just sent me full res D3 and Mk3 files.

The D3 ISO6400 (http://www.manitobamuscle.com/misc/d3_6400.JPG) pic looks as clean as the Mk3 ISO1600 shot.

[AdamLewis]

Yeah, somebody just sent me full res D3 and Mk3 files.

The D3 ISO6400 (http://www.manitobamuscle.com/misc/d3_6400.JPG) pic looks as clean as the Mk3 ISO1600 shot.

It also lacks detail...But whatever floats your boat.

IMO Noise Ninja is an amazing program. I compare shots side by side and when I use NN, I typically lose nothing but the noise. Any detail loss at the 700~800px size is imaginary and the cleaner pictures look infinitely better than the noisy ones.

Just my personal 2 cents.

[drisley]

The lack of detail could be a focus problem.
I've seen side by sides with the D3 and Mk3 at ISO6400, and the D3 had significantly more detail and less noise than the Mk3 image. If you want me to show I will.
And yes, way less noise, with the benefit of more detail really does "float my boat"

And I'm a long time Canon user, who shoots mainly low light, high iso pictures. I have no brand loyalty, though, I side with the best products. I only hope Canon can catch up. But I dont expect to see another 1 series for 1-2 years. :(

Notice how much more detail there is in the D3 image, especially in the text "Paper reproduction guide Q60c" and "ISO resolution chart for electronic still cameras". I had to read the latter off the D3 image because on the Mk3 image it was almost illegible.
Mk3 ISO6400 (http://69.93.231.164/PRODS/E1DMK3/FULLRES/E1DMK3LL64007.JPG)
D3 ISO6400 (http://69.93.231.164/PRODS/D3/FULLRES/D3LL06403.JPG)