What "noise removal" software do you use?

Just wondering if there are better noise removal programs out there than others? I shoot a lot of indoor sports for my kids, and I really need to use a high ISO. I use a canon 7d, and I keep the "strong" setting in the "High noise reduction" function. But, my photos just don't look as nice as most of the ones I see on this forum. I shoot a lot of gymnastics, so I need fast shutters--around 400--and ISOs around 3000. My best lens in that simple 85 1.8.
I process most of my photos in Aperture 3, and I also have Photoshop Elements 7; but I'm thinking that I need a plugin for noise removal.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. And more importantly, what software does not work very well.

Thanks for any advice.

Hi Mike,

I use Topaz DeNoise 5 on my 7D images. I picked DeNoise after a fair amount of research. I highly recommend watching the Topaz Denoise 5 tutorial on youtube at : http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=M3QeDswRaWo If you want to try Topaz DeNoise you can download a trial at: http://www.topazlabs.c​om/

I'm just a user of their product and have no other association with Topaz.

Best of luck...
-Rob

3200 is stretching the ISO on a 7D. I'm not sure there is any form of software that will remove all the noise this camera will produce at that level. However, I use Noise Ninja when I have to reduce noise and I've found that it works real well...but again, I never pushed my 7D that far!!

Thanks, Rob. I will look it up!
Appreciate it.

I've been amazed by the nose reduction in Lightroom 3, but I imagine a dedicated program would work even better.

I use the plug in Noiseware Pro

When I trialed LR3, I was quite impressed with the NR. I haven't purchased it yet and I still only use the NR in LR and that's with shooting a 7D. I'll be processing some basketball shots this evening that were shot with ISO 3000 (if I remember correctly) and only will utilize the NR in LR. I leave the in camera NR to standard.

I shoot RAW and use CS5 and/or LR3 - I've been happy with the built-in NR and paid enough for the Adobe software that I don't want to spend more for a third-party add-in.

If you want to do your noise reduction in Aperture (as a plugin), try Nik Dfine. It was recently updated to 64 bit and has some great control options. You can use control points to concentrate noise reduction on the parts of the image that need it most, or you can also control noise reduction levels by color range.

If you want to export from Aperture and do your noise reduction in Photoshop Elements, try the Noiseware plugin. I have been using Noiseware for a long time and have always thought it was the best around. I have just recently started using the Nik plugin so I can keep even more of my workflow inside of Aperture. I haven't decided which one is better yet.

The Noise Ninja plugin for Aperture does not work well. I never had good results with that.

Also keep in mind that you have some "hidden" noise reduction options in Aperture under the "Raw Fine Tuning" setting at the top of the adjustment panel. It's no substitute for a plugin, but I think it works better than the standard noise reduction adjustment.

thecackster wrote in post #11333040
I use the plug in Noiseware Pro

+1

I shoot a 5D, doesn't need noise removal.

I shoot at 3200 (7D) in a dark gym and use LR3. I only need to adjust the NR slider to 28 and get great 8x12 prints. I haven't had the need to print larger yet. NR in LR3 is superior to LR2

Neat Image, but CS5 does a nice job, too.

Thanks for that link. I have Denoise and it's great, but I've just been using the stock presets. Good to know how to use it to it's full potential.

I also have Imagenomic's Noiseware, and it's pretty good too but it muddy's up pics a lot. Although I haven't watched a tut on that yet, it might do better than I've been using it at. It's also a TON faster in processing an image than Denoise.

rob_turner wrote in post #11332636
Hi Mike,

I use Topaz DeNoise 5 on my 7D images. I picked DeNoise after a fair amount of research. I highly recommend watching the Topaz Denoise 5 tutorial on youtube at : http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=M3QeDswRaWo If you want to try Topaz DeNoise you can download a trial at: http://www.topazlabs.c​om/

I'm just a user of their product and have no other association with Topaz.

Best of luck...
-Rob

Another vote for LR3 built in noise reduction.