Mottled effect on G9 images - is this normal?

[curiousgeorge]

Noticeable on 100% crop at all apertures, looks like noise but even occurs at IS0 100.

Any other G series owneers noticed this, and is there anything I can do about it?

Thanks in advance.

unprocessed conversion from RAW at 100%
http://www.georgeandreou.net/storage/IMG_4561a.JPG

[curiousgeorge]

After some more pixel peeping it appears that this is indeed noise. At ISO 80 it's better.

But I'm really surprised. Who would expect noise this bad at ISO 100, even with a small sensor.

[tkbslc]

Did you brighten the photo at all afterward? It does look a bit like a darker photo, which can lead to more noise. On a bright sunny day you should not see noise at ISO 100.

That said, I have always felt like my compacts are not stellar at anything but base ISO.

[curiousgeorge]

I increased exposure by half a stop during conversion. But yes, it was a pretty dim day. I'm taking it on holday next week so I'm hoping you're right and that it will perform much better in sunny conditions.

Yes, I'm beginning to think this is a ISO 80 only camera, that said I'm pleased with the IQ at this ISO.

[tkbslc]

increasing exposure reveals extra noise - even just half a stop, and especially in the shadows. With compacts and their small sensors, you have to be even more careful. Luckily, I bet it is not much of a issue in the full image.

[curiousgeorge]

Forgot to mention that the image showed the same amount of noise before I increased the exposure in the RAW converter.

[BobsYourUncle]

With my G9 I find the same thing - noisy above 80 and especially in low light conditions. Good daylight is not an issue but mine is an ISO80 camera. I don't shoot anything above that unless I absolutely have to. I have got good at hand holding half second exposures.

[tmwag]

Yes, I'm beginning to think this is a ISO 80 only camera, that said I'm pleased with the IQ at this ISO.

That is correct for the most part however I've seen some amazing images shot at ISO 400 and processed afterwards using noise reduction software

[curiousgeorge]

With my G9 I find the same thing - noisy above 80 and especially in low light conditions. Good daylight is not an issue but mine is an ISO80 camera. I don't shoot anything above that unless I absolutely have to. I have got good at hand holding half second exposures.
Good to hear it's not just mine.

I'm really disappointed though that Canon have sold out by increasing megapixels at the expense of noise control.

My next test will be to see if shooting at a 8MP helps.

[BobsYourUncle]

My next test will be to see if shooting at a 8MP helps.

Is there a setting to shoot at 8? I didn't know you could do that.
Or are you referring to the fine / superfine settings?

[curiousgeorge]

Yes, M1 is 8MP. You can also go lower. That's separate to the fine setting with I think is JPG compression.

[abjam77]

Noise on my G9 is pretty bad unless it is a bright sunny day. I just ignore it; its better to get a clear noisy shot than a blurry noise-free shot or no shot at all. If you are are just posting to the web ISO 800 can be usable. Noise removal programs go a long ways to help too.