Photo look grainy (noise)


Status
Not open for further replies.

damienloh

New Member
Oct 17, 2005
59
0
0
I am using Canon Ixus Izoom 5mp, with DIGIT II
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Canon/canon_sd30.asp

I used to shoot at 3mp but find that photo (day & night time) tend to look grainy on my pc. So i shoot at 5mp instead but still have those grains. Is that small camera cannot shoot clear photo because the lens is small? or is it setting problem? I tried manual and auto.
 

or is it due to low light? this camera has a review of lower performance in low light condition. I set ISO to 50, 100 and 200.
 

how grainy is it. maybe you can post the photo for us to evaluate. :dunno:
 

erm... are you viewing it at 100%? if so... unless the subject is very close... else it will always be "grainy" even at iso 50. This is mainly due to a small sensor.

But if you view the full picture "compacted" size eg your monitor screen, or on a 4R. It should be ok :D

if its still grainy went its "compacted" there may be some problems with the camera...
 

Ok, I just took a look at your pic.

Some things to consider:

1. You're using an "older" point-and-shoot cam with an older sensor technology.

2. You shot it without flash, so your cam had to boost the ISO.

Unfortunately, TinyPic removed the ISO information. Can you tell us what the ISO was from the original file?
 

Above photo taken using manual mode. The EXIF reads:

Make - Canon
Model - Canon DIGITAL IXUS i zoom
Orientation - Top left
XResolution - 180
YResolution - 180
ResolutionUnit - Inch
DateTime - 2007:11:23 18:52:59
YCbCrPositioning - Centered
ExifOffset - 196
ExposureTime - 1/15 seconds
FNumber - 3.20
ExifVersion - 0220
DateTimeOriginal - 2007:11:23 18:52:59
DateTimeDigitized - 2007:11:23 18:52:59
ComponentsConfiguration - YCbCr
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 5 (bits/pixel)
ShutterSpeedValue - 1/15 seconds
ApertureValue - F 3.19
ExposureBiasValue - 0.33
MaxApertureValue - F 3.19
MeteringMode - Multi-segment
Flash - Not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 6.30 mm
UserComment -
FlashPixVersion - 0100
ColorSpace - sRGB
ExifImageWidth - 2592
ExifImageHeight - 1944
InteroperabilityOffset - 2206
FocalPlaneXResolution - 11520.00
FocalPlaneYResolution - 11571.43
FocalPlaneResolutionUnit - Inch
SensingMethod - One-chip color area sensor
FileSource - DSC - Digital still camera
CustomRendered - Normal process
ExposureMode - Manual
White Balance - Auto
DigitalZoomRatio - 1.00 x
SceneCaptureType - Standard

Maker Note (Vendor): -
Macro mode - Normal
Self timer - 20/10 sec
Quality - Superfine
Flash mode - Not fired
Sequence mode - Single or Timer
Focus mode - Single
Image size - Large
Easy shooting mode - Manual
Digital zoom - None
Contrast - Normal
Saturation - Normal
Sharpness - Normal
ISO Value - 200
Metering mode - Evaluative
Focus type - Auto
AF point selected - Auto AF point selection
Exposure mode - Easy shooting
Focal length - 6300 - 14900 mm (1000 mm)
Flash activity -
Flash details -
Focus mode 2 - Single
White Balance - Auto
Sequence number - 0
Flash bias - 0.00 EV
Subject Distance - 390
Image Type - IMG:DIGITAL IXUS i zoom JPEG
Firmware Version - Firmware Version 1.00
Image Number - 1013509
Owner Name -

Thumbnail: -
Compression - 6 (JPG)
XResolution - 180
YResolution - 180
ResolutionUnit - Inch
JpegIFOffset - 5108
JpegIFByteCount - 5630
 

2. You shot it without flash, so your cam had to boost the ISO.
The flash might make the background look darker. So sometimes I don't use flash. Or use "red-eye double flash". This Canon has a "slow synchro" flash which use a slow shutter speed too.
 

Another sample photo using Indoor Scene Mode:
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=6jnlbol&s=1

EXIF info:

Make - Canon
Model - Canon DIGITAL IXUS i zoom
Orientation - Top left
XResolution - 180
YResolution - 180
ResolutionUnit - Inch
DateTime - 2007:11:25 15:36:40
YCbCrPositioning - Centered
ExifOffset - 196
ExposureTime - 1/13 seconds
FNumber - 4.00
ExifVersion - 0220
DateTimeOriginal - 2007:11:25 15:36:40
DateTimeDigitized - 2007:11:25 15:36:40
ComponentsConfiguration - YCbCr
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 5 (bits/pixel)
ShutterSpeedValue - 1/13 seconds
ApertureValue - F 4.00
ExposureBiasValue - 0.00
MaxApertureValue - F 4.00
MeteringMode - Multi-segment
Flash - Not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 9.06 mm
UserComment -
FlashPixVersion - 0100
ColorSpace - sRGB
ExifImageWidth - 2048
ExifImageHeight - 1536
InteroperabilityOffset - 2206
FocalPlaneXResolution - 9102.22
FocalPlaneYResolution - 9142.86
FocalPlaneResolutionUnit - Inch
SensingMethod - One-chip color area sensor
FileSource - DSC - Digital still camera
CustomRendered - Normal process
ExposureMode - Auto
White Balance - Auto
DigitalZoomRatio - 1.00 x
SceneCaptureType - Standard

Maker Note (Vendor): -
Macro mode - Normal
Self timer - 20/10 sec
Quality - Superfine
Flash mode - Not fired
Sequence mode - Single or Timer
Focus mode - Single
Image size - Large
Easy shooting mode - Full Auto
Digital zoom - None
Contrast - Normal
Saturation - Normal
Sharpness - Normal
ISO Value - Auto
Metering mode - Evaluative
Focus type - Auto
AF point selected - Auto AF point selection
Exposure mode - Easy shooting
Focal length - 6300 - 14900 mm (1000 mm)
Flash activity -
Flash details -
Focus mode 2 - Single
White Balance - Auto
Sequence number - 0
Flash bias - 0.00 EV
Subject Distance - 40
Image Type - IMG:DIGITAL IXUS i zoom JPEG
Firmware Version - Firmware Version 1.00
Image Number - 1013655
Owner Name -

Thumbnail: -
Compression - 6 (JPG)
XResolution - 180
YResolution - 180
ResolutionUnit - Inch
JpegIFOffset - 5108
JpegIFByteCount - 5566
 

Hope you all can help me to determine is it my camera limitation, camera settings or other issues. Thanks. Wish to take good & *clear* photo.
 

to take the least noisy picture that your camera can take, you need to use the slowest ISO setting that you have.
if exposure is too slow, use a tripod
or you might want to try using flash and a slave flash ceiling bounce
 

Hi, is slowest ISO mean lowest value 50?
 

yes :)

but in cases where it's not bright enough. u need slow shutter to compensate for the exposure.
 

Thanks. Can someone look at above 2 photo and give comments?
 

ISO 200 on that older Canon really is a bit grainy... This particular model "only" scores 3.61/5 on the dpreview image quality feedback from users, which is unusually low. The common consensus is that it's only good outdoors in bright daylight, and is bad indoors.
 

hmm.. perhaps I should get a better camera? Saw my friend using Lumix and photo came out sharp & clear.
 

hmm.. perhaps I should get a better camera? Saw my friend using Lumix and photo came out sharp & clear.

Lumix is also infamous for high ISO noise, except for perhaps the newest models.

Since you're already familiar with the Canon interface, I suggest the new 860 IS. It's remarkably sharp, and the ISO noise control is good.
 

Yes, it's camera limitation. The Fuji f50 is ok too, but less "stylish" i guess.
 

Status
Not open for further replies.