P&S Struggle

There's no 'noise' in the viewfinder. Do you see noise in the bathroom mirror when most of the lights are out?

liza wrote in post #3702768
I shoot a lot of low light sports photography. Noise is an issue only if my exposure is off. If you don't understand basic manual exposure techniques, read Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Exposure." And you aren't going to get good low light stuff with the camera you have. You need a DSLR with fast (read: f/2.8 or faster) lenses. I'd suggest a 30D and perhaps a Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 lens, if you need a telephoto. The reason why I say 30D is due to its ability to shoot at ISO 3200, among other things.

Thanks Liza for responding,
I think I may have lead you guys astray. My only problem with the noise is not in the comp itself but in the electronic view finder or the lcd as they both try to BOOST the image and as such produce so much "noise" in their respective projections that I am struggling focusing DEAD ON because I cant see the fine detail or nice sharp edges to focus on before I take the shot. This is ONLY when auto focus hunts or can NOT lock at all.
Sorry to generate the confusion, I hope this makes more sense now.

Harry-Its the noise of focus, not noise in the final photo

tsaraleksi wrote in post #3707862
There's no 'noise' in the viewfinder. Do you see noise in the bathroom mirror when most of the lights are out?

Going to try right now.

Harry

tsaraleksi wrote in post #3707862
There's no 'noise' in the viewfinder. Do you see noise in the bathroom mirror when most of the lights are out?

Yep, there IS noise, I am an avid duck hunter and for the last 6 or 7 years I have shot, cropped, and burned several videos documenting my duck seasons and I'm sure you know we start 30 minutes before sunrise and with that I have shot a lot of video in low light. I have learned to compensate for the noise produced by the evf and/or the LCD, and to help, my Sony cam has nightshot with a built in IR light and I have an auxiliary IR light to enhance. Even though the LCD on my S5 IS has gained resolution over the last model, ( I dont have a benchmark as this is my first camera), There is noise there AND since the the viewfinder is electronic and not true TTL it has noise as well and it is worse than the LCD because I dont have the luxury of the resolution of the LCD.

I went in the laundry room as it is the darkest room right now 9:25 AM North Texas USA, so no mirror but there was and is NOISE in the EVF. Are you thinking it may be a cam malfunction?
Harry

Perhaps you should switch to a DSLR,then. It isn't cheap, and you'll have to process the images, but the outcome, IMO, is well worth it.

And, Rang, I'll probably have my camera converted to IR by Lifepixel. They do a great job.

Err, I didn't mean looking through your camera, I meant with your eyes. Because when you look through the viewfinder of a DSLR, you are looking at a mirror-- there is nothing there to cause noise.

The DSLR is the better way to go, that noise you are seeing in your LCD is sounding to me like the LCD is "gaining up" so you can still see a picture in low light, none of this is an issue with a DSLR as you are looking through an optical viewfinder.

I thought I would really miss viewing the LCD while taking images when I got rid of my Powershot Pro1, but I dont miss it at all, best move I ever made!

Nick

tsaraleksi wrote in post #3708007
Err, I didn't mean looking through your camera, I meant with your eyes. Because when you look through the viewfinder of a DSLR, you are looking at a mirror-- there is nothing there to cause noise.

ohhhhhhh,,,,,,,,,,you were being a smart ass, I see. Well its been my experience there are no stupid questions dont forget you were new ONCE. I dont have a DSLR, if you read all the post you would have knowned I have a used an SLR but only a couple of times and said then, it being TTL or Through The Lens, noise was a NON issue.
Stepping up to a DSLR is not the issue nor is money. My wife got me this camera two weeks ago for my birthday and I am simply getting my hands around it.
I ASSURE you I wont be new for long and remind me to not treat the Noobs with dis-dain or dis-respect. I learned along time ago treat you surbordinates well as you never now who you will work FOR one day.

Harry

liza wrote in post #3707988
Perhaps you should switch to a DSLR,then. It isn't cheap, and you'll have to process the images, but the outcome, IMO, is well worth it.

And, Rang, I'll probably have my camera converted to IR by Lifepixel. They do a great job.

Yea Liza perhaps, this cam was a gift, I am new. I wont be for long. Thanks for your input.

Harry

I was merely trying to illustrate the issue to you, as no one else seemed to be answering your question (and instead discussed image noise). You act like I should have simply known that you already understood the way a dSLR works, but if you did, then why would you have asked the question in the first place?

If you wish to take offense, that's your prerogative.

Nick_C wrote in post #3708018
The DSLR is the better way to go, that noise you are seeing in your LCD is sounding to me like the LCD is "gaining up" so you can still see a picture in low light, none of this is an issue with a DSLR as you are looking through an optical viewfinder.

I thought I would really miss viewing the LCD while taking images when I got rid of my Powershot Pro1, but I dont miss it at all, best move I ever made!

Nick

Thanks Nick your exactly right I just wish I had control over that gain.

Thanks for your input.
Harry

Blast wrote in post #3707848
Hey Jon,
Sorry If I was vague here. noise in the final photo is not the issue. It is the noise produced by the LCD or the EVF that is making it difficult for me to FOCUS my composition in low light. If the auto focus doesn't lock on, sometimes I struggle getting it dead on myself with the pixelation produced by the projected noise.
Sorry to be confusing. Does this make sense?

Harry- thanks for the response, I appreciate you guys taking the time to help

Like I've said, several times, the viewfinder in DSLRs is optical, not electronic. So there's nothing to cause sensor noise while focusing.

tsaraleksi wrote in post #3708112
I was merely trying to illustrate the issue to you, as no one else seemed to be answering your question (and instead discussed image noise). You act like I should have simply known that you already understood the way a dSLR works, but if you did, then why would you have asked the question in the first place?

If you wish to take offense, that's your prerogative.

....merely trying to illustrate.... oh puh-leeze, now thats just passive aggressive, at least cop to it. Thats like saying "I was just standing here Mr. Policeman, I wasn't doing anything" *rolling eyes here*.

.....you act like I should have known..... you should have I stated that I have used an slr NOT a Dslr, so there is no history lesson to pull from. Thats why I would have asked the question.

.....if you wish to take offense..... *grinnin* not offended, I just call-em like I see-um. There are a few folks on this board that believe "length of service here", automatically grants mentor status. I know a rocket scientist that has been a scientist for thirty years and i wouldn't let him plot me a course to drive to town. hands on experience does NOT make an expert.

.....thats your prerogative.... *grinnin again*, Thanks for your permission but I am well aware of my prerogatives "partner"

HH-I'm new NOT stupid

Jon wrote in post #3708336
Like I've said, several times, the viewfinder in DSLRs is optical, not electronic. So there's nothing to cause sensor noise while focusing.

Thank-you! now I know. I "preeshate cha"
Blast

Please leave psychoanalysis to the moderators. We have a lot of first-hand experience with mental illness.

We're a friendly group here, and our goal is to help each other. This sort of exchange accomplishes nothing in that pursuit. If you're going to be offended by answers to questions, especially where your level of knowledge/experience is completely unknown, you're going to have to be a little less thin-skinned and get into the spirit of how we do things.

There are no stupid questions until they're asked a second third, or fourth time. Most important, a person can be forgiven if they answer in a way that seems to assume you know nothing.

It could very well be the case.

Blast wrote in post #3708341
....merely trying to illustrate.... oh puh-leeze, now thats just passive aggressive, at least cop to it. Thats like saying "I was just standing here Mr. Policeman, I wasn't doing anything" *rolling eyes here*.

.....you act like I should have known..... you should have I stated that I have used an slr NOT a Dslr, so there is no history lesson to pull from. Thats why I would have asked the question.

.....if you wish to take offense..... *grinnin* not offended, I just call-em like I see-um. There are a few folks on this board that believe "length of service here", automatically grants mentor status. I know a rocket scientist that has been a scientist for thirty years and i wouldn't let him plot me a course to drive to town. hands on experience does NOT make an expert.

.....thats your prerogative.... *grinnin again*, Thanks for your permission but I am well aware of my prerogatives "partner"

HH-I'm new NOT stupid