I wanted to see what the high-ISO noise levels on the 50D looked like when shooting in the sRAW1 mode (JPEG also). I was blessed with decidedly low light, and was hand holding my 400mm f/5.6 lens. This image was processed in Lightroom with default NR and then exported to CS4. I performed my typical adjustments to the image, but I applied no additional NR in CS4. I find the noise to be pretty minimal in this image, and know that with NR using Noise Ninja, it will look great. Lightroom doesn't do nearly as good a job with full-sized RAW files at this ISO (DPP is much better in that regard). Not only is the noise manageable, the feather detail is quite good. Without using a very high ISO, I would not have been able to capture this image hand held with a 400mm non-IS lens. As it stands, I shot wide open at ISO 3200 and got only 1/400 for a shutter speed. I'm beginning to think that I'm going to start shooting sRAW1 + large/fine JPEG or maybe even straight JPEG (I can't believe I just said that :D) when I'm forced to shoot at ISO 1600 and higher. The JPEGs look great right out of the camera.
Wow! Superb. However, I am a lightroom guy. I don't use Photoshop and noise ninja. So though I love the second one, I have to be satisfied with the first.
Hi Doug,
I have a 50D as well and have had it out on at least half a dozen shoots in the past two weeks using both 800 and 1600 ISO. I must admit that your results are a lot better than mine. The thing that I am finding is that my pictures tend to come out with that waxy look that you get from some of the pictures you put through post processing noise removal programs.
Is there some adjustment that I have missed that can get better picture detail without the introduction of the noise? Did you have to do much adjustment with the microadjust feature to get your lenses tuned into the camera?
If you don't mind, I would like to know about your basic camera adjustment for the 50D when you go out for a shoot.
Hi Steve. I shoot exclusively AI Servo with the center point active. I use the middle button on the back of the body for AF, while the shutter button is used for metering and shutter actuation. I have not found a need for microadjustment of any of my long lenses so far. I have high-ISO NR set to standard, although this doesn't affect RAW files processed in Lightroom.
With regard to post-processing, I do not run NR on the bird at all. You can accomplish this by selecting the bird and copying it to its own layer above the noise-reduced layer. Or you can create a mask that hides NR on the bird itself.
Dang...this is wonderful to see, especially since I just ordered a 50D. Also nice to see someone else who shoots the 400 5.6L. I was beginning to think I was the only one who had one.
50D- High ISO and sRAW1
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