Tryin' to understand photo noise

[AMinSF]

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Hiya, newbie Leica owner (punter for the continental crowd). So I recently got me a nice used d-lux 3, and I love it so far. But I read a lot about the photo noise it produces at higher ISO settings.

 

I attached 2 pics I took in the past- do they exhibit photo noise? Personally I like the effect- perspective is flattened and they look alot like paintings, IMO. Mind you, these were taken with a POS P&S (an old ass canon digital elph, back when 2.1 MP was hot!). I'm still wondering how I got that effect and if it indeed the fabled noise I hear about. Thx.

[koray]

The first one is a great shot!..

 

I can't say much about noise, though. To examine the noise one needs to look at images at 100%, examining each pixel. Noise appears like red/blue or yellowish patches (colour noise), or sharp speckles (luminance noise). If there is a watercolour / blurring effect in your photos, it is a result of heavy noise-reduction algorithms in your camera. Check out the following links for more information: What Is... Noise? - Digital Photography Tutorial - Photoxels and http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/image-noise.htm

 

Cheers,

 

K.

[AMinSF]

Thanks for the links on noise...I'm checking them out. As I take more pics with my d-lux3 I will see if I get a similar effect as the 2 megapixel canon powershot I used in the above photos. This effect did not happen often.

 

In the safari shot, the wildebeest animals in the foreground look painted. But I also wonder if the dust that the animals kick up effected the result. Has anyone reading this shot in an African safari and had similar results? I have some wonderful 'painted' zebras too!

[farnz]

It looks to me like the jpeg's contrast slider is maxed and the veiling glare and air-borne dust have diffused the rest. An interesting effect.

 

Pete.

[jaapv]

Thanks for the links on noise...I'm checking them out. As I take more pics with my d-lux3 I will see if I get a similar effect as the 2 megapixel canon powershot I used in the above photos. This effect did not happen often.

 

In the safari shot, the wildebeest animals in the foreground look painted. But I also wonder if the dust that the animals kick up effected the result. Has anyone reading this shot in an African safari and had similar results? I have some wonderful 'painted' zebras too!

It looks like the sky is 100% blown out and the rest overlaid with veiling flare - if I have had such shots - and I must have had- they would have been deleted.