Am I alone in finding the X1 high ISO noise attractive

[Wayne]

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Recently, Cyber Monday, I went ahead and purchased a real reasonably priced X1 "Bargain Grade" from KEH. I had passed on it during the Black Friday sale, but just could not resist the second time. In the time I was waiting for the camera, I went ahead and purchased a 36mm Brightline viewfinder. I guess it was graded as a bargain because all that was included was the camera, battery, and charger. I did not even get a cap (fortunately I have a surrogate.) I can't complain: other than missing a bunch of stuff that comes with a new camera, it is in great shape, and seems to work well.

 

It was late when I got home. The photo below was taken from my deck at ISO 3200. It shows my back yard, as well as the neighbor's miniature horses in his pasture, beyond. I absolutely love the high ISO rendering of this camera. While detail is missing, the essence of the scene, as observed from the deck this rather warm Autumn evening, is 100% there. It's great. I may leave the thing set at 3200 for every B&W shot. I know it is dark, but the metering was perfect. The light is exactly like was at the time of the shot.

 

Is this an example of "noise having more of a 'film grain' quality than a noise quality?" I have read about the phenomenon but do not really have a clear understanding of the distinction between the two qualities. This could be fun.

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[gbealnz]

Wayne,

Hmmmmm, this will grab a few replies no doubt. I have had a used X1 for a couple of years now, and while I have not used it for about a year, (distractions in the shape of an X-Vario, and T, plus film) I still recall it's beautiful images and will never sell it.

It's the right size to go everywhere, and coupled with one of your film cameras (I think you have a Barnack?), it is a perfect "colour partner".

Enjoy it, I do/did mine.

Gary

[robert blu]

Wayne, beautiful back yard (I only have buildings around me!). The B&W capacities from the X1 are very good. I have mine since 5 years and still satisfied! 

robert

[wda]

Wayne, I love your enthusiasm and you typify a late-adopter of this fine little camera. I still use mine regularly for selected trips when its high performance and compactness justify its role. Your picture does appear rather dark on my monitor; but I guess that is how you saw the scene late in the day. Because of this I find it difficult to comment on noise because I can hardly see any. I look forward to more pictures from you in normal daylight conditions or absolute indoors in artificial lighting.

 

Incidentally, was your picture presented more or less as copied from the camera; that is no postprocessing?

[Wayne]

Thanks for the responses.

 

Yes, the photo came right out of the camera. Well, I did have to resize it to allow for posting.

 

Here is another X1 thing I have just discovered for myself: This morning, while playing around with the image in Apple Photos, I looked at the RAW image for the first time. I cannot remember EVER thinking that a color image was better than the monochrome rendering. I mean, I have nothing against color- in fact I love great color images- It is just that, whenever I have converted a color image to monochrome, I have always thought it an overall improvement.....more truthful to the overall conditions surrounding the photo. Not so with this X1 (at least for this image.)

[@McLeica]

Personally, I quite like grain.

 

I've always been a sucker for uniform grain with contrast across B+W film. 

[wda]

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....- It is just that, whenever I have converted a color image to monochrome, I have always thought it an overall improvement.....more truthful to the overall conditions surrounding the photo. Not so with this X1 (at least for this image.)

Wayne, much depends on the subject and lighting. Your twilight example would be predominantly monochromatic even when shot in colour. More important is my plea that you devote some time mastering LR, because you will be amazed at what you can produce when starting with a raw file. If new to LR, find the videos by Julieanne Kost (an Adobe tutor). Work through those tutorials which are new to you.

[can-photo]

I still  use my X1 a lot, great image quality and fits in my pocket. I was out with it torrential rain and was still fine (even though it is not weather proof)

 

probably the the only thing I find poor are the jpegs and poor focus on dark environments, otherwise it is my go to camera for everything else

[DwF]

H Wayne,  Thank you for sharing this. The look you are after is certainly valid to pursue as any look or style that speaks to you. I think WDA's suggestion is a good one, because it is really important to have some mastery of the parameters you are working with.  Given this subject as a fairly traditional landscape, and while it may not not lend itself to this look/noise; it's good and a great learning experience if nothing else to pursue your vision. 

 

There is a richness that is here in the shadowy affect, but you'd maybe be better served to approach it differently and suppress the noise.  Maybe try and reshoot the same image on a tripod at say 400 or 800 and open the shutter to get the correct exposure and post process the file from from there to desired effect and see how it works.

 

For noise/grain, I would personally do that with people and street/city subjects. Also, check out Michael Kenna's work whose work "landscape" with 21/4 neg and long exposure is quite mysterious and unique. Of course there are others too who worked in 35mm where grain is more pronounced.

 

David