I get a lot of 'grain' (actually electronic noise from the camera mechanism) with pictures taken in moderately dim indoor lighting. Can I eliminate or reduce this by juggling ISO, speed or f stop? Or anything else?
Digital Camera Question
- Thread starter Cyrano
- Start date
The grain is also called "noise" and can be reduced by dropping the ISO. Chances are, however, that you will then find that you require shutter speeds that are too long to get proper focus, even with the aperture (f stop) wide open. This is one of the reason why people will pay a lot of money for a decent DSLR and more importantly, fast glass. The ability to shoot without a flash in low light and get workable pictures usually requires some expensive equipment, and is rarely attainable with a consumer point-and-shoot or phone camera. Not sure what you are shooting, but you can experiement with tripods/monopods to get a steady camera that works with the longer exposure times you'll need.
LVSteve
Member
Is it a point and shoot (P&S) type camera or a full blown SLR? SLRs have bigger sensors and gather more light per pixel, hence you see less noise. SJShooter is spot on, If you don't want to use flash, reducing the ISO leads to wide apertures with less depth of field AND slow shutter speeds making you vulnerable to camera shake.
P&S cameras have small sensors and, as all the camera manufacturers are in a megapixel war, many pixels are crammed into this small space. As a result the pixels get smaller and they collect less light so the gain in the amplifiers has to be boosted, hence the noise in low-light. As sensor manufacture has improved, they have become inherently less noisy for a given pixel size. The manufacturers use this improvement to cram on more and more pixels which has become the metric, not actual image quality. Can you tell this is a beef of mine?
P&S cameras have small sensors and, as all the camera manufacturers are in a megapixel war, many pixels are crammed into this small space. As a result the pixels get smaller and they collect less light so the gain in the amplifiers has to be boosted, hence the noise in low-light. As sensor manufacture has improved, they have become inherently less noisy for a given pixel size. The manufacturers use this improvement to cram on more and more pixels which has become the metric, not actual image quality. Can you tell this is a beef of mine?
Not sure I am an "expert" but . . .
As you have already identified, the image degradation, usually described as image "noise", is the result of the less light striking the image sensor surface. Without changing cameras or camera components, you are probably limited to slowing your shutter speed, as much as circumstances allow. More open shutter time will allow more light to "hit" the sensor.
Otherwise, the quality of your image depends on your choice of camera or lens. In the old days, we paid more money and bought faster lenses. Now, you may be limited to the installed lens, especially in the range of cameras that I can afford. That means it is important to pay close attention to the speed of the installed lens while buying the camera.
In the old days, we also chose film that performed as well as possible in the light conditions we expected. Now, the image sensor and associated electronics in the camera you purchase provide a similar contribution, or limitation. When choosing a camera I can afford that performs well in lower light, it has been helpful to find a review website which consistently rates the "noise" contributed to the image by the sensor and electronics. This is a great chance to employ the old adage, "less is more'".
This is a fairly basic explanation and may not address your question. If so, my apologies, sir.
Oh, and I see there are people who think and/or type faster who have offered similar input while I typed mine.
As you have already identified, the image degradation, usually described as image "noise", is the result of the less light striking the image sensor surface. Without changing cameras or camera components, you are probably limited to slowing your shutter speed, as much as circumstances allow. More open shutter time will allow more light to "hit" the sensor.
Otherwise, the quality of your image depends on your choice of camera or lens. In the old days, we paid more money and bought faster lenses. Now, you may be limited to the installed lens, especially in the range of cameras that I can afford. That means it is important to pay close attention to the speed of the installed lens while buying the camera.
In the old days, we also chose film that performed as well as possible in the light conditions we expected. Now, the image sensor and associated electronics in the camera you purchase provide a similar contribution, or limitation. When choosing a camera I can afford that performs well in lower light, it has been helpful to find a review website which consistently rates the "noise" contributed to the image by the sensor and electronics. This is a great chance to employ the old adage, "less is more'".
This is a fairly basic explanation and may not address your question. If so, my apologies, sir.
Oh, and I see there are people who think and/or type faster who have offered similar input while I typed mine.
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cmort666
Member
Generally speaking, the higher the ISO, the greater the noise.
To lessen noise, you will have to balance aperture and shutter speed. This of course introduces trade-offs such as slow shutter speeds, blur, etc.
Faster, more expensive lenses can help, as can more sophisticated cameras which have less noise at higher ISOs.
There's always noise removal in image processing software.
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Smith357
US Veteran
Since you can control the f-stop on your camera it means you should have the ability to control shutter speeds. Use a tripod, low ISO and long shutter to remove the grain.
Cpo1944
Member
I agree with all of the above and you might want to experiment with a good flash.
Ben_hutcherson
Member
Very true...good flash technique can actually make a world of difference for indoor photos.
At the most basic, an add-on flash with a pivoting flash head can be used to "bounce" the light off the ceiling or wall. Provided that the ceiling is white(or nearly so) and not too high, this can give a much more natural look to flash pictures.
Depending on how deep you want to get into it, using multiple flashes with slaves in combination with diffusers and reflectors can give much better results than ambient light.
Good flash photography is a difficult skill to learn, however.
THE PILGRIM
Member
THE PILGRIM
Member
Did anybody mention digital zoom? That will tend to give you noisier pictures.
If it's turned on, go into your settings and turn it off.
If it's turned on, go into your settings and turn it off.
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