noise on my pictures

[hektic]

Im wondering why i keep getting alot of noise in the background.


what film speed should I use and what ISO is the better?

[Roadrnr]

The lower the ISO the less noise you will have. Also, long exposures can create noise too.

I try to shoot most everything in 100 ISO, unless lighting requires me to go higher......

[Daniel Bates]

Long exposures only create noise in digital cameras (as far as I know, anyway). If you're using film, try a lower ISO rated film, like 100 or 200. It all depends on what you're shooting--outdoors in full sunlight, shooting still subjects (flowers, etc), ISO 100 is fine.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by hektic

Im wondering why i keep getting alot of noise in the background.


what film speed should I use and what ISO is the better?

What camera and what ISO are you using now?

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by Daniel Bates

Long exposures only create noise in digital cameras (as far as I know, anyway). If you're using film, try a lower ISO rated film, like 100 or 200. It all depends on what you're shooting--outdoors in full sunlight, shooting still subjects (flowers, etc), ISO 100 is fine.

Film has noise. It's called grain.

[Daniel Bates]

I know that, John. But a long exposure on film isn't going to create increased grain like a long exposure on my 1D creates increased noise, will it?

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by Daniel Bates

I know that, John. But a long exposure on film isn't going to create increased grain like a long exposure on my 1D creates increased noise, will it?

True but with film you have to worry about reciprosity failure. Remember digital has two kinds of noise, Chroma and Lumminous. You may want to deal with Chroma but you may want to keep some Lumminous noise. I don't find noise that big a deal at worst you image may look like a psuedo-Seurat. I try to work with noise. I don't do long exposures but I shoot a lot at 3200 f/1.0 and just have to deal with it. If the photo works the noise isn't going make or break it. If noise will break it, it wasn't that good to start with.

Here is a very interesting discussion on the Cambridge Color site about digital noise.

[Dokk]

My Olympus E-500 seems to have more of a prob with color noise than luminosity noise at higher ISOs or longer exposures. One thing that I've found that I can do in Photoshop that helps when I just HAVE to have that long exposure is to duplicate the background layer, change the blend mode to color, then apply a slight gaussian blur. This kills a lot of the noise in the background while not really noticeably affecting the subject. Be careful though, too much blur can desaturate the image and cause really saturated colors (like bold reds) to bleed. 'Course, that's another effect that can really look kewl at times. lol
I have a blue muslin backdrop that I love to use a lot and for some reason, I tend to get more noise with this background than others.

Originally Posted by johnastovall

True but with film you have to worry about reciprosity failure. Remember digital has two kinds of noise, Chroma and Lumminous. You may want to deal with Chroma but you may want to keep some Lumminous noise. I don't find noise that big a deal at worst you image may look like a psuedo-Seurat. I try to work with noise. I don't do long exposures but I shoot a lot at 3200 f/1.0 and just have to deal with it. If the photo works the noise isn't going make or break it. If noise will break it, it wasn't that good to start with.

Here is a very interesting discussion on the Cambridge Color site about digital noise.

[babybluetx23]

Originally Posted by hektic

Im wondering why i keep getting alot of noise in the background.


what film speed should I use and what ISO is the better?

What Camera are you shooting with? I know when I had my canon 300d I could ONLY go to 400 without noise, once I hit 800 It was noisy as could be, however with my 5d I can go up to 1600 and only get a little bit of noise in really low light situations.

[anorcross]

Another tip to reduce noise is to shoot to the right, that is overexpose slightly (but don't blow the highlights). With the 20D, for example, an ISO 800 shot overexposed by 2/3 stop and then given -2/3 EC in RAW development will have less noise than an ISO 200 shot underexposed by 2/3 stop and given +2/3 EC in RAW development. Underexposure has a huge effect on noise.

[venchka]

Originally Posted by Daniel Bates

I know that, John. But a long exposure on film isn't going to create increased grain like a long exposure on my 1D creates increased noise, will it?

Underexposed areas of film tends to make the grain more visible. It is particulary noticeable on color negative film.

How come: Digital camera hardware/firmware/software ignores speeds slower than 100 (or sometimes 50) and faster than 1600 (or sometimes 3200). For that matter, my film cameras start slow (25 or less) but they stop at 3200. I know, once upon a time Kodachrome was in the 10-25 range and B&W stopped at 3200. Camera makers never give you more than they think you need. Another argument for a good hand meter.

[hektic]

i understand that film has noise, but I have too much noise in some of my pics.

camera rebel X EOS canon

the iso ive been taking most of my pics are at about 100 like mid day in Houston
so.. between 2-5 downtown

oh.. and i dont use flash

[venchka]

Originally Posted by anorcross

Another tip to reduce noise is to shoot to the right, that is overexpose slightly (but don't blow the highlights). With the 20D, for example, an ISO 800 shot overexposed by 2/3 stop and then given -2/3 EC in RAW development will have less noise than an ISO 200 shot underexposed by 2/3 stop and given +2/3 EC in RAW development. Underexposure has a huge effect on noise.

Weston meter in hand so I don't get totally confused...

ASA 800 + 2/3 stop = ASA 500
500 - 2/3 stop = 800

ASA 200 -2/3 stop = ASA 320
320 + 2/3 stop = 200

Why not just shoot at ASA 400 and be done with it?

Obviously digital sensors are behaving a lot like color negative film. Why not. Color negative film was the choice of the masses. The digital folks are just trying to emulate color negative film. I routinely rate color negative film 1 full stop below the speed printed on the box. Grain hasn't been a problem so far. So far, I haven't used any film faster than 400. I plan to go way out to some Fuji 1600 tonight. I'll let you know what happens. From what you all are saying, the digital sensors behave in much the same way. Avoid underexposure whenever possible.

[venchka]

Originally Posted by hektic

i understand that film has noise, but I have too much noise in some of my pics.

camera rebel X EOS canon

the iso ive been taking most of my pics are at about 100 like mid day in Houston
so.. between 2-5 downtown

oh.. and i dont use flash

Can you show us examples?

[babybluetx23]

Ok I have never had a problem in the Prosumer line of Canon cameras at 100 iso. What was the rest of the exif info?