Canon Powershot sx1 is - very noisy video

[Pedro Lemos]

Happy new year!
I just bought a SX1, mainly because 5dm2 is out of my budget for the moment and i would like to have a camera that can shoot stills and video with same quality.
My expectations were big, because i saw some videos at youtube and vimeo filmed with that camera, and they were very good, like this one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozOmbfBsAjc), and this one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZHfbcV6UmM).
With the camera in hands and after a few shots, i am very disappointed.
The video at low light is very noisy, as you can see over here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5HoTokeBx0).
The original file played on a computer or a plasma it is even worst.
I went to the store, tried with different cameras, and the result is the same.
So, do you people have some idea about killing this noise?
Does somebody else had a similar experience?
I believe it is the auto ISO, but i can't find a way to manually control it.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Tanks to you all.
Pedro

[tony723]

Under small CCD/CMOS sensor, high noise level under high ISO is expected. The only way to reduce the noise level is to buy another camera such as 5D Mark II.

[Pedro Lemos]

Under small CCD/CMOS sensor, high noise level under high ISO is expected. The only way to reduce the noise level is to buy another camera such as 5D Mark II.

Thanks very much for your answer.
I'm now saving for the M2 :)
But meanwhile, digging around over the net, i have found some info about this issue that may interest SX1 owners.
Leave it here if can be useful to somebody.
First, on video mode (Video car wheel) the exposure can be manually controlled, and users can twist the settings trying to under exposure the image, decreasing the autoIso in that process.
Tried and not approved.
The results are a little better, but very far from acceptable.
Second, on Manual mode (M car wheel) aperture, shutter and iso can be defined by user and, when recording starts, the SX1 accepts the user choice only, and if only, the image is proper exposure.
Tried but i think i did not find the way to define a exposure that the camera “likes”.
So, for the moment, i'm very disappointed with this camera and i think i will return it.
I got till Tuesday for that.
And yes, it is possible to do low noise video with low light with the SX1.
The videos i have posted are the evidence.
But, sadly, i'm not able to do it.

[10megapixel]

I thought your video looked pretty darn good myself...???

[Collin85]

Happy new year!
I just bought a SX1, mainly because 5dm2 is out of my budget for the moment and i would like to have a camera that can shoot stills and video with same quality.
My expectations were big, because i saw some videos at youtube and vimeo filmed with that camera, and they were very good, like this one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozOmbfBsAjc), and this one (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZHfbcV6UmM).
With the camera in hands and after a few shots, i am very disappointed.
The video at low light is very noisy, as you can see over here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5HoTokeBx0).
The original file played on a computer or a plasma it is even worst.
I went to the store, tried with different cameras, and the result is the same.
So, do you people have some idea about killing this noise?
Does somebody else had a similar experience?
I believe it is the auto ISO, but i can't find a way to manually control it.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Tanks to you all.
Pedro

Pedro, Youtube isn't really helpful for anything here. The quality shown in Youtube videos are so low that you really shouldn't (and can't) determine any technical conclusions. For the three videos you posted above (even in YT HD mode), all I see are soft videos which are also devoid of noise (since the videos are so soft).

If you want us to have a taste of the SX1's videos, you should be loading up small clips for direct download. Don't use Youtube. Even in VGA mode, Youtube clips typically look soft.

Secondly, you're shooting videos in low-light, so you should expect some noise in your videos. If you were upgrading from the S5-IS for the video, you should be upgrading due to the higher resolution of the videos, not any sort of improvement in noise-handling.

[Pedro Lemos]

Thanks for your answer, Collin.
First of all, congrats for your gallery. There are some excellent shots over there.
Impressive.
Of course i agree with you about Youtube softness and noise in low light.
My problem is about the amount of noise.
I've downloaded the original file of one of those videos (from Vimeo 1280x720) and there is a substantial difference.
I can upload them to a web server if needed, but i don't have them with me right now.
Might be my eyes, as 10Megapixels said, but i see a huge gap in noise between those videos in similar light conditions.
From there i must presume there is a way to lock (or sheet) the SX1 automatic ISO and shutter, and i know the key to that lock is in Manual mode, but i can't figure it out.
Believe me, i've tried harder.
And i did not upgrade from the SX5.
I own a Eos20D (witch i intend to upgrade to 5dm2) for stills and a Sony TG1 for video (also terrible in low light), and i thought this camera could be a nice compromise between a SLR and camcorder, for carrying around with me all the time in my bag for some quick shots and videos.
And if i'm able to do same stuff like the other video i've posted it is what i need, because it is a great light camera for stills and makes very nice footage in daylight and acceptable indoors and night.
Otherwise, no.

[osv]

fwiw, the video you downloaded from vimeo may not be the original camera raw footage.