M8: NR is inconsistent

[arthury]

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It appears that the Noise Reduction (NR) in the M8 is as temperamental as its AWB. I understand that NR has 2 types:

1. High ISO
   
2. Long exposure
   

 

(2) works well as can be seen in this one:

http://www.leica-camera-user.com/other/12994-m8-cityscape.html#post134337

 

But (1) needs a lot more fine tuning and I hope they are working on it for the next firmware update. Here's a sample that did not work in terms of (1) type of NR ... ISO 320

[chetccox]

Where exactly is the noise that was not reduced? Perhaps it is the picture downloaded for the web, but I don't see anything wrong with it.

[sdh]

Did you mean ISO 320? You shouldn't need much, if any, noise reduction at that ISO.

[arthury]

Did you mean ISO 320? You shouldn't need much, if any, noise reduction at that ISO.

 

 

Yes, it was ISO 320. Contrary to conventional thinking, do you see the lighted areas noisier than the darker areas?

 

I'll have to examine this issue a little more with other shots.

[robsteve]

Arthur:

 

Some of it may be the white balance. The WB seems correct for the American flag, but the street lighting is much different than the light on the flag.

 

I don't know if you have experience with the other Leica digital, the DMR, but on the DMR and the M8 Leica is leaving most of the noise reduction out and allowing the photographer to make the decision in post processing. This is one reason the files at higer ISO can have more noise, but are sharper than other brands. The noise reduction kills the fine details.

[jaapv]

From the noise reduction discussion I gather that this is an out-of-camera jpeg shot? Not a good idea on any digital camera, especially with this kind of subject - mixed light -difficult exposure - difficult colour balance that calls for an interpretation, as no imaginable exposure or balance will be "correct" - and a judgment call on noise reduction (should not need much anyway) RAW only imo.