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canon 50d noise (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter foxydave
- Start date
tdodd
Just call me Tim
I would guess you are pixel peeping at 100% and thus enlarging the image from the 50D more than that from the 40D, which will magnify noise/blur/softness and any other aberrations. If you view images from each at the same size - say "Fit to screen" instead of both at 100% - then I doubt you will see much difference at all in terms of noise.
It goes without saying that you need to expose properly, or better yet, expose to the right.
Make sure you disable ALO and HTP as well.
If you compare the two cameras on the DXO website you will see there really is little between them as far as noise is concerned, when you equalise the viewing enlargement. See here....
http://tinyurl.com/ylqlkxp
Then click on "SNR 18%" and then click on "Print" to get an equalised view. Indeed, according to the data presented, the 50D is cleaner than the 40D in print, but unsurprisingly is noisier at the pixel level.
Alternatively, see this album of actual pictures taken with my 40D and 50D in conditions of equal lighting and processing (Lightroom defaults) from 100 ISO to 3200 ISO....
http://picasaweb.google.com/EezyTiger/40D50DISO?authkey=Gv1sRgCOTJjLOY6JOhyAE#
For a lengthier discussion on 50D noise, take a look at this thread - http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=179054. I don't get involved until post #50, but I think several people found the points I made to be quite enlightening.
It goes without saying that you need to expose properly, or better yet, expose to the right.
Make sure you disable ALO and HTP as well.
If you compare the two cameras on the DXO website you will see there really is little between them as far as noise is concerned, when you equalise the viewing enlargement. See here....
http://tinyurl.com/ylqlkxp
Then click on "SNR 18%" and then click on "Print" to get an equalised view. Indeed, according to the data presented, the 50D is cleaner than the 40D in print, but unsurprisingly is noisier at the pixel level.
Alternatively, see this album of actual pictures taken with my 40D and 50D in conditions of equal lighting and processing (Lightroom defaults) from 100 ISO to 3200 ISO....
http://picasaweb.google.com/EezyTiger/40D50DISO?authkey=Gv1sRgCOTJjLOY6JOhyAE#
For a lengthier discussion on 50D noise, take a look at this thread - http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=179054. I don't get involved until post #50, but I think several people found the points I made to be quite enlightening.
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tdodd
Just call me Tim
ALO is Auto Lighting Optimizer and it works a bit like "Auto Levels" that you might find in your editing software. Basically the camera guesses how you'd like the image to look and makes it's own adjustments. In particular it is likely to brighten shadow areas, which will increase the visibility of noise in those areas. ALO only affects JPEG files from the camera or raw files procecessed within DPP, although if you shoot raw you can turn off ALO within DPP if you choose. ALO does not affect raw files processed in other software like Lightroom.
HTP is "Highlight Tone Priority", which aims to protect highlight details from blowing out. It achieves this by underexposing by 1 stop and then adjusting the image to brighten the darker areas more than the bright ones. Not only do you get the problem of underexposure throughout the tonal range, but noise in the shadows becomes more visible too. This feature will affect (harm!) raw exposures as well as JPEG.
Personally I only shoot raw and never use either of these features. I do always aim to avoid underexposure and try to get the exposure right in camera or expose to the right and then pull levels down in post. Any time you (or the camera) has to brighten the exposure you risk making any noise appear worse.
Have a look at ETTR explained here - http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/expose-right.shtml and here - http://ronbigelow.com/articles/exposure/exposure.htm
HTP is "Highlight Tone Priority", which aims to protect highlight details from blowing out. It achieves this by underexposing by 1 stop and then adjusting the image to brighten the darker areas more than the bright ones. Not only do you get the problem of underexposure throughout the tonal range, but noise in the shadows becomes more visible too. This feature will affect (harm!) raw exposures as well as JPEG.
Personally I only shoot raw and never use either of these features. I do always aim to avoid underexposure and try to get the exposure right in camera or expose to the right and then pull levels down in post. Any time you (or the camera) has to brighten the exposure you risk making any noise appear worse.
Have a look at ETTR explained here - http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/expose-right.shtml and here - http://ronbigelow.com/articles/exposure/exposure.htm
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AndyMc
Well-known member
Thread & links all very interesting but I've ripped my jeans getting up & down off the fence
I'm looking at upgrading from my 400d. I have difficulty in justifying (missus) going for the 7d so looking at the 50d. I know there will be significant performance improvements but I'm now thinking about waiting for the 60d (?). No doubt by the time I've made my mind up, money will have been parasitically attacked on the home front (kids) :eek!::-O:-C.
I'm looking at upgrading from my 400d. I have difficulty in justifying (missus) going for the 7d so looking at the 50d. I know there will be significant performance improvements but I'm now thinking about waiting for the 60d (?). No doubt by the time I've made my mind up, money will have been parasitically attacked on the home front (kids) :eek!::-O:-C.
tdodd
Just call me Tim
In terms of IQ the 7D does improve over the 40D and 50D but it is not a night and day transformation. The night and day transformation is in the AF, which I find to pretty much be the equal of my 1D3 for BIF with my 100-400.
Of course, the 7D throws in a few additional features of potential benefit, including faster FPS and the 100% viewfinder. Then there's the inclusion of wireless off camera flash control, video and a few other neat touches like the built in level, temporary override of AI-Servo to One-Shot and vice versa, an extra stop either way of EC and FEC and better battery data.
They're all good cameras and I do think you get what you pay for. At £1700 the 7D was silly money, but now at around the £1200 mark it offers very fair value, if you can afford it and can make use of the features. If you'd rather spend less then the 40D and 50D are very capable as well, within their class. All of them should be a nice upgrade over a 400D from several viewpoints - AF, viewfinder, FPS, build, battery, ergonomics. The 7D just goes further in each of those departments and throws some more in for good measure.
I do have a 30D, 40D, 50D, 7D, 5D2 and 1D3 so I do feel qualified to offer an opinion. You might also check out the 7D vs 1D3 thread as well. That should tell you how good the 7D is. The URL for the 7D AI-Servo album has changed as follows....
http://picasaweb.google.com/EezyTiger/7DAIServo?authkey=Gv1sRgCKfYg_qhrPzzdw#
The crow looks a little soft because my AF microadjustment was not perfect at the time I took those shots, but the camera has tracked the bird very well, even into deep shade.
Of course, the 7D throws in a few additional features of potential benefit, including faster FPS and the 100% viewfinder. Then there's the inclusion of wireless off camera flash control, video and a few other neat touches like the built in level, temporary override of AI-Servo to One-Shot and vice versa, an extra stop either way of EC and FEC and better battery data.
They're all good cameras and I do think you get what you pay for. At £1700 the 7D was silly money, but now at around the £1200 mark it offers very fair value, if you can afford it and can make use of the features. If you'd rather spend less then the 40D and 50D are very capable as well, within their class. All of them should be a nice upgrade over a 400D from several viewpoints - AF, viewfinder, FPS, build, battery, ergonomics. The 7D just goes further in each of those departments and throws some more in for good measure.
I do have a 30D, 40D, 50D, 7D, 5D2 and 1D3 so I do feel qualified to offer an opinion. You might also check out the 7D vs 1D3 thread as well. That should tell you how good the 7D is. The URL for the 7D AI-Servo album has changed as follows....
http://picasaweb.google.com/EezyTiger/7DAIServo?authkey=Gv1sRgCKfYg_qhrPzzdw#
The crow looks a little soft because my AF microadjustment was not perfect at the time I took those shots, but the camera has tracked the bird very well, even into deep shade.
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AndyMc
Well-known member
Two impressive, differently difficult sequences.
I need a plan................................
