how to reduce noise in dim light

i just got a dslr one of the main issues that i hope to solve using this camera is grainy pictures taken at car shows indoors in dim light. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO REDUCE THIS GRAIN (DIGITAL NOISE)??? i generally shoot at an iso of 200.. what can i do to reduce noise??? (possibly by changing other settings such as aperture and exposure; and how should i change those settings to result in the best/well lit/ and clear image as possible with NO NOISE/GRAIN)??????

im open to any tips (using the factory flash on manual mode)

If you have a DSLR and have noise at 200 ISO, something's seriously wrong. Could I see an example?

Trainboy wrote in post #6117668
If you have a DSLR and have noise at 200 ISO, something's seriously wrong. Could I see an example?

I too am surprised that there is much noise at iso 200 - maybe well under exposing and when pulling back in pp it is bringing out the noise???

Without an example or two, and knowing which cam as well - difficult to tell.

Mark

dpouldar wrote in post #6117572
i just got a dslr one of the main issues that i hope to solve using this camera is grainy pictures taken at car shows indoors in dim light. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO REDUCE THIS GRAIN (DIGITAL NOISE)??? i generally shoot at an iso of 200.. what can i do to reduce noise??? (possibly by changing other settings such as aperture and exposure; and how should i change those settings to result in the best/well lit/ and clear image as possible with NO NOISE/GRAIN)??????

im open to any tips (using the factory flash on manual mode)

If you are getting noise at ISO200 then you must be underexposing and bringing it up in post. Some software will automatically adjust exposure when you post process if you don't turn that off.

Try posting some examples, especially ones that have not had anything adjusted in post.

The best way to shoot noiseless photos at high ISO (most people scarcely think about noise below ISO800 on dSLRs as it is so low) is to properly expose the shot.

At very high ISO (over 1600) it helps to slightly overexpose the shot (without blowing highlights) and pull back the exposure in post. But that should not be necessary for what you are doing....especially not at ISO200.

What lens are you using? Even with a fast lens, using ISO 200 with the buit-in flash isn't going to work well in low light. At best, you would be properly exposing only one part of the image with the rest underexposed and noisy. Especially, as you are using Manual Mode (which is using the flash to expose the subject only and isn't trying to expose the background at all except with the ambient light). Even with flash, I think you should turn up the ISO to 400 or 800 so that more of the background will be properly exposed.

I hope this is NOT a dSLR camera...unless you are shooting in pitch dark area. What camera and lens. Can you also post a photo with full exif attached?

You shouldn't be getting a lot of noise at ISO 200 unless there's something wrong with your camera or you're pushing the exposure in post. Examples would help.

Do yourself a favor and experiment with higher ISOs. Even 1600 is quite usable with a little noise processing.

Examples would help.

-js

I have a feeling that when the OP will come to answer this, this thread will become "My 40D doesn't hit the noise level at ISO 200".

I don't think the OP has used his new DSLR yet.

I just got a G9. The noise at ISO 400 on the G9 is about equal to ISO 1600 on my 30D.

The noise on your DSLR at ISO 200 is negligible.

same problem and question here

I think the OP has left the building!

yogestee wrote in post #6120870
I think the OP has left the building!

Ask bizarre question and head for the hills!

NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

Not another "My camera takes bad pictures, can you help me but I am not going to show you any pictures" thread.

I bet this goes to post #35 before we ever here from the OP again. Any takers?

Hmm Poor ISO200 , maybe it was a noink dslr...
On (almost) all new DSLR, ISO 400 is relatively noise free. Unless you underexpose by 2 stops and then boost it in PP.