Nikon D300 noise in images at low ISO

JHW · 27-04-2008, 17:53

In capture NX, you can set the Image control to standard, neutral or vivid. If I use neutral and turn off Active D-lightning the noise remains (not much but it's there). If it would have been at iso 800 I would understand why it gets noisy but at iso 200 it should NOT be visible. I will talk to Nikon tomorrow.
Thanks for the help.

JMitchell · 27-04-2008, 17:55

No but the thing is, using active D-Lighting alters the image file itself when being stored to the camera, so even if you 'turn it off' then it will still be affecting the image, I think...unless it's in a sidecar file for NEFs....

Soupdragon · 27-04-2008, 19:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHW

In capture NX, you can set the Image control to standard, neutral or vivid. If I use neutral and turn off Active D-lightning the noise remains (not much but it's there). If it would have been at iso 800 I would understand why it gets noisy but at iso 200 it should NOT be visible. I will talk to Nikon tomorrow.
Thanks for the help.

Can I ask a favour?

Can you take a shot of an egg on a gloss black surface if possible.
Use 14 bit raw not compressed, ISO 200, active d lighting off and all other camera settings at default, and then link the file as you did before.
Try not to use flash.

If you are too busy! don't worry about it.

JHW · 27-04-2008, 19:58

According to 'The photographers guide to Capture NX' it says that you can undo all your in camera settings without loss of quality. You can edit your images non destructively. If this is true the JPG file is altered but not when you use raw.
I read an review about Pentax K10d and they said that using this camera with a kit lens is not advisable. You should go for the 16-45 (i think it was) because its a much better lens. Maybe there is some truth to this. Anyway I've tried 12 bit, 14 bit and I stil get the same result. The images are (at ISO 200) to much noisy in the dark areas. I will test D300 with a 18-50/2.8 which I by the way use with my D60. The D60, using the same settings, does not show the noise in the darker areas...I know it's strange but strange things have happend before. Remember the Canon EF 70-300 IS. When shooting portrait the images got blurry - after a while (some months) Canon agreed that the lens was built wrong. So, who knows. One thing for sure: Today it's much easier then before (analog cameras) to see if a lens or camera is good or not that good.
Thanks!

JHW · 27-04-2008, 20:00

Soupdragon: I will shot the egg tomorrow.And it's no truble at all. EVERY idea is welcome. I get back tomorrow with the 'egg image'.

Soupdragon · 27-04-2008, 20:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHW

Soupdragon: I will shot the egg tomorrow.And it's no truble at all. EVERY idea is welcome. I get back tomorrow with the 'egg image'.

Appreciate that!

LJR69 · 28-04-2008, 13:10

I'd be interested in seeing this too!

silkstone · 28-04-2008, 14:07

I've just opened the first image in Bibble and there is some noise in the white building and also the top of the canopy. It's not too obvious at normal size but it is at 100%.

It looks as if there has been some shadow boost to compensate for the high contrast scene - is this the 'Active-D' lighting that people are referring to?

The good news is that it Ninjas out very easily on Bibble's default settings to leave a perfectly smooth image without losing clarity. If that's the price of auto shadow boost, it's not too bad.

JMitchell · 28-04-2008, 17:30

Yup that's the one silky

JHW · 28-04-2008, 18:51

The eggs are up and running

Soupdragon · 29-04-2008, 05:23

Soft boiled I hope, with soldiers!

JHW · 29-04-2008, 11:57

Soupdragon: Have you downloaded the images?

Soupdragon · 29-04-2008, 12:02

Where are they?

JHW · 29-04-2008, 12:19

Same adress as before, look earlier post. Should work

Soupdragon · 29-04-2008, 12:25

Okey Dokey!

I'll do that when I get home from work as I don't have NX installed here.

Many thanks.

JHW · 29-04-2008, 12:40

Let me know the result. I'm not sure what you looking for (maybe you like eggs

) and what you 'can read out' of the images. Took some comparison photos with my 18-50/2.8 sigma and Nikon 16-85. I can't see any difference in the photos. Except that VR is worth the money... Talked to Nikon about D300 and noise but I need to translate the technical terms before posting their opinion/tip/ideas. Later!

27-04-2008, 17:53	#31 (permalink)
JHW New here Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 16	Re: Nikon D300 noise in images at low ISO In capture NX, you can set the Image control to standard, neutral or vivid. If I use neutral and turn off Active D-lightning the noise remains (not much but it's there). If it would have been at iso 800 I would understand why it gets noisy but at iso 200 it should NOT be visible. I will talk to Nikon tomorrow. Thanks for the help.

27-04-2008, 17:55	#32 (permalink)
JMitchell Feet under the table Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 3,422	Re: Nikon D300 noise in images at low ISO No but the thing is, using active D-Lighting alters the image file itself when being stored to the camera, so even if you 'turn it off' then it will still be affecting the image, I think...unless it's in a sidecar file for NEFs....

27-04-2008, 19:58	#34 (permalink)
JHW New here Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 16	Re: Nikon D300 noise in images at low ISO According to 'The photographers guide to Capture NX' it says that you can undo all your in camera settings without loss of quality. You can edit your images non destructively. If this is true the JPG file is altered but not when you use raw. I read an review about Pentax K10d and they said that using this camera with a kit lens is not advisable. You should go for the 16-45 (i think it was) because its a much better lens. Maybe there is some truth to this. Anyway I've tried 12 bit, 14 bit and I stil get the same result. The images are (at ISO 200) to much noisy in the dark areas. I will test D300 with a 18-50/2.8 which I by the way use with my D60. The D60, using the same settings, does not show the noise in the darker areas...I know it's strange but strange things have happend before. Remember the Canon EF 70-300 IS. When shooting portrait the images got blurry - after a while (some months) Canon agreed that the lens was built wrong. So, who knows. One thing for sure: Today it's much easier then before (analog cameras) to see if a lens or camera is good or not that good. Thanks!

27-04-2008, 20:00	#35 (permalink)
JHW New here Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 16	Re: Nikon D300 noise in images at low ISO Soupdragon: I will shot the egg tomorrow.And it's no truble at all. EVERY idea is welcome. I get back tomorrow with the 'egg image'.

28-04-2008, 13:10	#37 (permalink)
LJR69 Getting Comfy Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Thatcham, Berkshire, UK Posts: 154	Re: Nikon D300 noise in images at low ISO I'd be interested in seeing this too!

28-04-2008, 14:07	#38 (permalink)
silkstone Feet under the table Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Silkstone Common, Yorkshire, UK Posts: 3,278	Re: Nikon D300 noise in images at low ISO I've just opened the first image in Bibble and there is some noise in the white building and also the top of the canopy. It's not too obvious at normal size but it is at 100%. It looks as if there has been some shadow boost to compensate for the high contrast scene - is this the 'Active-D' lighting that people are referring to? The good news is that it Ninjas out very easily on Bibble's default settings to leave a perfectly smooth image without losing clarity. If that's the price of auto shadow boost, it's not too bad. __________________ "I believe in equality for everyone, except reporters and photographers" - Mahatma Gandhi

28-04-2008, 17:30	#39 (permalink)
JMitchell Feet under the table Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 3,422	Re: Nikon D300 noise in images at low ISO Yup that's the one silky

28-04-2008, 18:51	#40 (permalink)
JHW New here Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 16	Re: Nikon D300 noise in images at low ISO The eggs are up and running

29-04-2008, 05:23	#41 (permalink)
Soupdragon Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,074	Re: Nikon D300 noise in images at low ISO Soft boiled I hope, with soldiers!

29-04-2008, 11:57	#42 (permalink)
JHW New here Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 16	Re: Nikon D300 noise in images at low ISO Soupdragon: Have you downloaded the images?

29-04-2008, 12:02	#43 (permalink)
Soupdragon Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,074	Re: Nikon D300 noise in images at low ISO Where are they?

29-04-2008, 12:19	#44 (permalink)
JHW New here Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 16	Re: Nikon D300 noise in images at low ISO Same adress as before, look earlier post. Should work

29-04-2008, 12:25	#45 (permalink)
Soupdragon Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,074	Re: Nikon D300 noise in images at low ISO Okey Dokey! I'll do that when I get home from work as I don't have NX installed here. Many thanks.

29-04-2008, 12:40	#46 (permalink)
JHW New here Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 16	Re: Nikon D300 noise in images at low ISO Let me know the result. I'm not sure what you looking for (maybe you like eggs ) and what you 'can read out' of the images. Took some comparison photos with my 18-50/2.8 sigma and Nikon 16-85. I can't see any difference in the photos. Except that VR is worth the money... Talked to Nikon about D300 and noise but I need to translate the technical terms before posting their opinion/tip/ideas. Later!