Noise question

[fordfanjpn]

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I haven't had time to experiment with this myself, so does anyone have an opinion on whether, in terms of noise, it is better to underexpose at a lower ISO and bring up the shadows in software, or to use a higher ISO and get the exposure right in the camera? Will one produce less, or less offensive noise than the other? I'd like to be able to shoot in low light situations with the least amount of noise.

 

Bill

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[erl]

Yes, I have started setting iso 640 with -1 exp. comp. instead of just using 1250 iso. I believe it does return more acceptable noise and so far I see no down side to the practice. I should mention, I ONLY shoot DNG. I doubt this would work with jpegs.

 

I shot a large group of approx 90+ golfers on a course shortly after dawn. The 16"x20" print, shot at the above setting, looked better than anything I could shoot on 35mm film under the same conditions. Traditionally, I always shot this sort of job on Hasselblad. I am convinced the M8, used as above, is superior.

[fordfanjpn]

Yes, I have started setting iso 640 with -1 exp. comp. instead of just using 1250 iso. I believe it does return more acceptable noise and so far I see no down side to the practice. I should mention, I ONLY shoot DNG. I doubt this would work with jpegs.

 

I shot a large group of approx 90+ golfers on a course shortly after dawn. The 16"x20" print, shot at the above setting, looked better than anything I could shoot on 35mm film under the same conditions. Traditionally, I always shot this sort of job on Hasselblad. I am convinced the M8, used as above, is superior.

 

Many thanks. That's exactly what I wanted to know. I will try that myself this weekend. I also only shoot DNG, so hopefully my results will be similar to yours. I appreciate your taking the time to work this out. It's much appreciated.

 

Bill

[luigi bertolotti]

I agree: I am astonished by the definition in shadows of the M8 sensor : I remember that someone in this forum told it's a specific character of the digital engine of M8; with such a definition, I experienced that you have no problem to bring up 1 to even 2,5 stops in Software (I use LR, but think the same with C1), of course working on RAW; on the contrary, it seems to me that managing via Software the noise of a 1250 or 2500 ASA exposure is much more difficult, time-consuming and uncertain as result : I have the (vague) idea that for noise reduction it could be better a "combined process" : start with the proper function in LR, then go to PSD and use other tools of PS... but have not yet well focused this way...