Any advice on NR?

[sk8belle]

At least, I think it's a noise reduction issue. This photo looks very grainy to me, and I'm not sure what caused it. Does it have to do with the settings I used? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. I've included the EXIF data, if it helps.

EXIF data:
Resolution: 616 x 800
Flash used: Yes (manual)
Focal length: 15.7mm (35mm equivalent: 75mm)
Exposure time: 0.016 s (1/64)
Aperture: f/3.9
ISO equiv.: 400
Exposure bias: 0.70
Whitebalance: Auto
Metering Mode: matrix
Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)

Thanks in advance.

sk8belle

 

[extreme8]

I just did a quick check of some reviews of the Coolpix P4 and everything I've read says that the image quality (IQ) does fall off at ISO 400.
It appears the the P4 has an electronic VR that simply raises the ISO to allow faster shutter speeds to reduce shake.

I ran your picture through the free version of Neat Image and it cleaned up pretty nicely.
With your OK I'll post it so you can see.

 

[jann1033]

it looks a little noisy to me....did you try running it through noiseware? ( i was going to try it for you but you can't do a copy /paste with the free version)

it's weird but i have recently noticed on my 400 iso more noise in odd places, like a light colored jacket once and i don't know if it's that i am pickier or if the camera takes it different when it's cold or perhaps, just perhaps, i am how many votes for 3?

 

[sk8belle]

extreme8 and jann:

I don't have a copy of either Noiseware or Neat Image, so I hadn't tried that. Extreme8, I'd be interested to see how it cleaned up, so please go ahead and post it.

Thank you, also, for the feedback. I did have the VR on, in addition to the ISO 400. Maybe next time I need to use my ski pole as a monopod, set a lower ISO, keep the VR on, and see what happens.

 

[jann1033]

www.imagenomic.com , noiseware community version is a freebie and works great..don't know about neatimage

 

[Groucho]

Most PnS cameras start to get pretty severe noise at 400ISO... so what you're seeing is pretty normal, unfortunately.

Different colors do generate different levels of noise. Our living room has bright green walls and my old PnS would show astonishing levels of noise on them. I think blue is supposed to generate a lot of noise, too.

Noise reduction software helps a lot but it's not a silver bullet - you lose some details, and a lot of "texture", which leaves the picture looking clean but often very "plastic".

To get this kind of shot with no noise on your PnS, you'll probably need some sort of support system... pocket tripod, rest it on a shelf, whatever. A skipole may help but of course "hands-free" is best, and use the 2-second shutter delay to eliminate shake caused by you pressing the shutter.

Good luck!

 

[extreme8]

I went easy on the NR so as not to destroy too much of the texture in the snow in the foreground, but it does look better.

 

[sk8belle]

jann, thanks for the link I've got it bookmarked and will download the program later.

Groucho, I'll definitely try it with the ski pole as a support, maybe bring my little Gorillapod with me. My ski jacket's got so many pockets, there's plenty of space to store things in!

extreme8, that does look much better, thank you.