ISO performance T2i and beyond (not to infinity but still pretty far)

RiON here...

The T2i in my experience has noticeable noise issues that begin around a setting of 800. It makes me want to drown people in ranch dressing. Are there other Canon bodies that perform considerably better at this ISO setting and higher... with a similar crop sensor?

Riddle me that... or suffer your end via ranch.

RiONhimself wrote in post #12787552
RiON here...

The T2i in my experience has noticeable noise issues that begin around a setting of 800. It makes me want to drown people in ranch dressing. Are there other Canon bodies that perform considerably better at this ISO setting and higher... with a similar crop sensor?

Riddle me that... or suffer your end via ranch.

Better start looking at the Nikons...

Welcome to POTN!

Without pics, it didn't happen... (ie. please post some examples with EXIF intact)

Chances are the images are underexposed, and you are brightening them up afterwards, which will create noise.

As mentioned, boosting the exposure in post (whether it be upping the exposure in the RAW, or just generally pushing your curves too far) can really make matters worse. However based on what I normally see it's more often people cropping their images significantly which makes them look quite bad.

Try this: find a photo @ ISO800 that you consider noisy, and get it printed at something like 8x12 (approx A4).

I have a T2i that I have not gotten to spend a ton of time with, but I find that as long as I am exposing properly, noise is managable up to and including 1600. Once I hit 3200 (which has its uses) I find I am using a lot more NR in post processing.

RiONhimself wrote in post #12787552
RiON here...

The T2i in my experience has noticeable noise issues that begin around a setting of 800. It makes me want to drown people in ranch dressing. Are there other Canon bodies that perform considerably better at this ISO setting and higher... with a similar crop sensor?
Riddle me that... or suffer your end via ranch.

your exposure is probably wrong!
seriously, - my old XSi /450D is fine at ISO 1600 and your T2i is even better !

Does this look like it's drowning in ranch dressing?

XSi (450D) at ISO 1600

I've got the T2i and ISO is usable up to 1600 ISO without noise reduction, but at 3200, uh, it's noisy.

There is a menu option for noise reduction, but it will take away some 'sharp-ness'.

Regards,

David

Here is the 7D out of camera JPG at ISO 3200, it should be the same for the T2i.

my 5d2 felt like it had less noise at 3200 than i did at 800 on my t2i. i also didn't like going past 1600 for that very reason. or maybe we're just doing it wrong?

Just walked out the back door and took two pictures one at 1600 and the other at 3200 with the T2i. No photo editing whatsoever; straight from the camera, downsized and converted to .jpg.

ISO would be more pronounced in low light.

1600 ISO

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Yes, I agree low light produces more noise, but especially again if not exposed properly. If a photo in low light is exposed properly, 1) nobody would know it was low light except by looking at the exif data and 2) the noise still would be manageable.

Here is a sample where I was trying to pull up some noise to do a comparison. The 7D at 6400 in very, very low light. Very noisy indeed, no doubt, especially seen at web sizes.

"ISO would be more pronounced in low light."

This is where I notice the most noise. Low light situations... no flash and such. Jacking up the ISO in an attempt to get the shutter quick enough to allow for a decent hand held shot. I'm going to fish around for some photos that illustrate my "problemo".

And by the by... thanks for the warm welcome "Team Speed"

Well, I shoot at 1600/3200 a lot in low light basketball gyms. I usually want to be at 800, but when I have to lower the shutter time, the ISO must go up.

However... I believe the problem IS as several here have described: wanting to get too much in post-processing. At least, it seems that every time I really notice the noise it's after I've done a really neat PP step.

But then, I'm an amateur shooting jpeg - you guys may have an easy answer in RAW.

What lens are you shooting with?

RiON says

Been searching for one of those photos that irritated me to the point of murder via condiment. Sadly, I'm on the road and the majority of my photos are at home on my precious [external]. I don't have my camera with me either. I'll punish myself later.

I did find this one that has a bit of noise at 800 under the chin of this "specimen." Noise apparently only shows up in the poorly lit portions of the photos. The shadow cast by the chin. Admittedly this is a poor example, splitting hairs here. Really only noticeable when you zoom in a bit, looked a bit worse before reducing the size for flickr. The backdrop looks like it has bit O dreaded noise in it as well.

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