Noise Reduction

Trashcan · 18-03-2007, 22:15

Per a tip I read on this forum, I'm shooting at the lowest ISO my camera (D40) will support, to avoid noise. However, my camera also has a "noise reduction" setting. How useful is this on-camera reduction? I assume it would lend to blurry pictures more than anything, but what does your experience tell me, pixalo?

**Dabhand16** · 18-03-2007, 22:32

I think the setting you are referring to is the long exposure noise reduction. This for use in taking night or very low light shots, when there is a tendancy for noise to be much more problematic than in daylight.

ChrisRabior · 18-03-2007, 23:36

I actually find that the long exposure noise reduction can be a pain in certain circumstances. I gave astrophotography a go. Managed to catch a shooting star and some pretty nifty star trails. With the noise reduction on, it really blurred out the shots. With it off, you could tell that stars were stars.

For stuff like street or city shots where you're on a long exposure and have a good amount of movement, I found it better to leave ON.

So I guess it depends on what you'll be shooting. Give it a test run in whatever conditions you'll be using it and see what turns out best for you.

As reference, I'm using a Rebel XT. My dad has the 20D, and mentioned similar experiences. Since you're on Nikon, all I can say is to do a test run and see for yourself which turns out better.

orangepeel · 19-03-2007, 08:37

Long exposure noise reduction won't affect how "blurry" the stars are.

Say you take a 30 second exposure (which would cause star trails btw - anything over 10 seconds will). At the end of the exposure, the shutter is closed but the camera keeps measuring data from the sensor for another 30 seconds. This gives the camera a noise profile which it then uses to remove noise from the original exposure.

Rob Barron · 19-03-2007, 13:10

Thanks for that Peely, I never knew about the camera continuing to process data after the shutter has closed. That explains why it often takes ages before the camera is freed up for use again.

Cheers,
Rob

Trashcan · 19-03-2007, 18:41

That would make sense peely, the manual stated explicitely that exposures over one second will take several seconds to process.

18-03-2007, 22:15	#1 (permalink)
Trashcan Quite Chatty Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ, US Posts: 83	Noise Reduction Per a tip I read on this forum, I'm shooting at the lowest ISO my camera (D40) will support, to avoid noise. However, my camera also has a "noise reduction" setting. How useful is this on-camera reduction? I assume it would lend to blurry pictures more than anything, but what does your experience tell me, pixalo?

18-03-2007, 22:32	#2 (permalink)
Dabhand16 Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dunstable Bedfordshire UK Posts: 8,761	Re: Noise Reduction I think the setting you are referring to is the long exposure noise reduction. This for use in taking night or very low light shots, when there is a tendancy for noise to be much more problematic than in daylight.

18-03-2007, 23:36	#3 (permalink)
ChrisRabior Getting Comfy Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 168	Re: Noise Reduction I actually find that the long exposure noise reduction can be a pain in certain circumstances. I gave astrophotography a go. Managed to catch a shooting star and some pretty nifty star trails. With the noise reduction on, it really blurred out the shots. With it off, you could tell that stars were stars. For stuff like street or city shots where you're on a long exposure and have a good amount of movement, I found it better to leave ON. So I guess it depends on what you'll be shooting. Give it a test run in whatever conditions you'll be using it and see what turns out best for you. As reference, I'm using a Rebel XT. My dad has the 20D, and mentioned similar experiences. Since you're on Nikon, all I can say is to do a test run and see for yourself which turns out better. __________________ Canon Rebel XT \| EF 70-200mm f/4L USM EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 \| EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III \| EF 50mm f/1.8 SIGMA 18-50mm f/2.8 DC Macro \| Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di LD \| 135mm f/2.8 Manfrotto 3021BPRO w/ 804RC2 pan/tilt head \| Manfrotto 697B w/ 3229 head Check out my tear sheets and Check me out on Alamy

19-03-2007, 08:37	#4 (permalink)
orangepeel Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 1,472	Re: Noise Reduction Long exposure noise reduction won't affect how "blurry" the stars are. Say you take a 30 second exposure (which would cause star trails btw - anything over 10 seconds will). At the end of the exposure, the shutter is closed but the camera keeps measuring data from the sensor for another 30 seconds. This gives the camera a noise profile which it then uses to remove noise from the original exposure.

19-03-2007, 13:10	#5 (permalink)
Rob Barron Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Poole, Dorset Posts: 5,115	Re: Noise Reduction Thanks for that Peely, I never knew about the camera continuing to process data after the shutter has closed. That explains why it often takes ages before the camera is freed up for use again. Cheers, Rob

19-03-2007, 18:41	#6 (permalink)
Trashcan Quite Chatty Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ, US Posts: 83	Re: Noise Reduction That would make sense peely, the manual stated explicitely that exposures over one second will take several seconds to process.

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