40D - High ISO and Noise under control

Hi, I had an oppertunity to take some shots at a show. ISO 1600 F2.8 and I tried to get the speed up to prevent movement from being a problem. No flash, just the 40D and the stage light.

The noise was there, but after one run (default settings) though Noiseware, the results are below. Does look fine, look at the 100 crop? The full pic also provided to give an idea of the whole shot.

nice.... yea i use noiseware alot.... i also use USM after i run noiseware to add a lil sharpness back if needed

Don't see any noise, but also don't see any detail either. This is the major problem with all noise reduction methods, and why I always suggest leaving the noise in there unless the image will be resized for storage. This image you posted would have just as much detail at half the MP rating (possibly lower), so why not just reduce it and save some disk space? Not like you will lose anything.

basroil wrote in post #7938522
Don't see any noise, but also don't see any detail either. This is the major problem with all noise reduction methods, and why I always suggest leaving the noise in there unless the image will be resized for storage. This image you posted would have just as much detail at half the MP rating (possibly lower), so why not just reduce it and save some disk space? Not like you will lose anything.

+1 depending on what you are going to use the image for.

Wrong!

basroil wrote in post #7938522
Don't see any noise, but also don't see any detail either.

You are correct, here... Low-and-mid frequencies were filtered out of the wazoo... but can't truly tell how detailed the original was, to begin with...

basroil wrote in post #7938522
This is the major problem with all noise reduction methods, and why I always suggest leaving the noise in there unless the image will be resized for storage.

...Here is where you are wrong. Maybe with your methods. Leaving noise (entirely) is the WORST advice you can give anyone, considering the precision and depth of today's available technology (in a purely digital-to-digital domain).

PIX

I guess an idea of the original will help. Here is a crop. RAW to JPG was done ine DPP. I took some shots with "In Camera Noise Reduction" and some without to see the effect on the 40D. This one was without. Results show that the advantages of doing noise reduction later outways the 40D's ability.

I am still impressed with what ISO 1600 provides. Note that the hand we are looking at is a small percentage of the total picture. One cannot expect massive detail on the hand with the avaiable light and the size of it in relation to the total picture. (or am I wrong here).

Just wanted a second opinion on if what I am looking at is acceptable? (Maybe a 6x4 print)

After reading the feedback, I realised the 40D may have captured some detail that can be retained by keeping some noise in there. Did some Luminance and Chromatic adjustements in DPP and yes we have more detail.

ISO 1600 still usefull to me.

Thanks for the input