Advice re excessive noise - Nikon D70

impr0v

I bought a D70 last November and for most of the time since then I've been very happy with the camera. Initially I experimented quite a lot with the camera and took part in a few of the photo challenges etc., and was eager to learn more about photography. However recently, for a multitude of reasons, I've been unable to use it in any sort of creative capacity or to learn more about how to extract the best performance from it, so when it has been used, it's been basically as a point and shoot digital camera.

Lately I've noticed that photos shot with the camera seems to contain an excessive amount of noise. On the worst examples the problem is so bad that people without any knowledge of photography would spot it straight off but at times I've also struggled to replicate the problems and have wondered if I'm imagining it.

I've tweaked all the settings that I think could be at fault, and have even reset the whole lot to factory defaults, but there still seems to be a problem. The camera is out of warranty this November and if there is any chance of a fault I obviously want to bring it back and get it checked over and fixed if necessary.

Please have a look at the samples below and tell me if you think there is a problem. I appreciate that it is hard to tell from cropped segments of larger images, but for filesize reasons I think it would be impractical to upload the original images. As far as I can recall all images were taken using the 'Auto' exposure mode, i.e. point and shoot, and all original files are 3008x2000px.

Sample 1:


This was taken two days ago in fairly bright and sunny conditions. The noise appears to be fairly heavy in the shadows. EXIF data as follows:

Resolution: 300 dpi
Bit Depth: 24
Focal Length: 29mm
F-Number: F/14
Exposure Time: 1/500 sec.
Metering Mode: Pattern
Exposure Compensation: 0 step

Sample 2:


This was taken from the top of Croagh Patrick in very sunny, but hazy conditions. All the shots from this particular set were heavily compromised by noise, but I'd imagine the atmospheric conditions had something to do with it.

Resolution: 300 dpi
Bit Depth: 24
Focal Length: 40mm
F-Number: F/13
Exposure Time: 1/800 sec.
Metering Mode: Pattern
Exposure Compensation: 0 step

Sample 3:


This was taken indoors in bright, daytime conditions without a flash.

Resolution: 300 dpi
Bit Depth: 24
Focal Length: 70mm
F-Number: F/4.5
Exposure Time: 1/60 sec.
Metering Mode: Pattern
Exposure Compensation: 0 step

If you have any suggestions as to what you think may be at fault, if indeed you think there is a fault at all, then please post them here.

Alun

For the first two pictures, the exposures seem quite short to me, even for the conditions you describe. You don't have the ISO setting set too high do you? With the camera switched on, press the ISO button to see what it's set to. Use the main command dial to change it if necessary, say to 200 or 400 and try the shots again. Basically the higher you set the ISO the more noise you'll get.

Just a thought from a satisfied D70s owner.

Valentia

Looking at your f stops and shutter speeds (it's difficult to get 1/800 sec exposure at f13 no matter how sunny it is) it looks like the ISO is set to something like 800 or 1600.

I agree with Alun, check the ISO. BTW the ISO info should also be available in EXIF info of the shots you uploaded.

impr0v

How do i retrieve the ISO information from the EXIF data? When I view the advanced image properties in windows explorer or photoshop, it isn't included.

I checked the camera and ISO auto was off and the ISO setting was at 640. This would apply to the first sample only, as I'm pretty sure the auto mode was engaged for both the other samples.

Metacortex

Like everyone else has said, try turning down the ISO, a high ISO would produce a grain type effect on your images

Alun

impr0v wrote:

How do i retrieve the ISO information from the EXIF data? When I view the advanced image properties in windows explorer or photoshop, it isn't included.

Use the supplied Picture Project s/w that came with the camera, or many of the free picture viewers such as IrfanView or cam2pc. I believe under XP that you can view EXIF data as well, although I haven't tried it.

I checked the camera and ISO auto was off and the ISO setting was at 640. This would apply to the first sample only, as I'm pretty sure the auto mode was engaged for both the other samples.

640 is a bit high, and a rather odd value to choose anyway. For subjects in bright sunlight such as you describe, 200 should be your choice. Go up to, say 400, for situations where it's a bit more overcast and you want or need to get your aperture down nice and low for good DOF. Anything above that is going to be for special cases only IMO.

impr0v

I will try lowering the ISO and see what the results are like. I was under the impression that in Auto exposure mode the camera will adapt the aperture and shutter speed for the ISO setting.

Both photoshop and windows explorer can view EXIF data, and there's no ISO information. I'm unable to see how to view the info with pictureproject.

kasintahan

impr0v wrote:

I will try lowering the ISO and see what the results are like. I was under the impression that in Auto exposure mode the camera will adapt the aperture and shutter speed for the ISO setting.
.

It will, but it will not change the ISO you've set; it'll just work around it (jacking up the shutter speed and closing down the aperture).

As everyone has said. ISO 50/100/200 is ideal on a DSLR. Above that is for extreme situations where getting any shot is better than getting no shot.

qwertz

In the menu, there is a setting where you can enable/disable AUTO ISO. Check this and make sure it's set to your preference.

Alun

impr0v wrote:

Both photoshop and windows explorer can view EXIF data, and there's no ISO information. I'm unable to see how to view the info with pictureproject.

You're right, WIndows XP explorer does show EXIF data, but not that field. In Picture Project, just select the photo and look in the Information Pane on the right under Shooting Data. You'll need to scroll down in the list a bit and it's under 'Sensitivity'.

impr0v

ISO 200:



Focal length: 29mm
F-Number: F/9
Exposure time: 1/500s

AUTO ISO on:

(same settings)

impr0v

Alun wrote:

In Picture Project, just select the photo and look in the Information Pane on the right under Shooting Data. You'll need to scroll down in the list a bit and it's under 'Sensitivity'.

Thanks, 'more information' is greyed out unless you select the thumbnail which is what was throwing me.

All of the images in the intial three samples had at the ISO at 640, so it would seem that this is my problem, thanks to everyone for their help.