So I recently bought a Canon 70-200mm F4 "L" lens (Without IS) and was playing around lastnight with it on my tripod, I took some shots at dusk of the clouds (they were in the pretty red color you get once in awhile). Anyhow, I took the pictures at both 400 and 800 ISO at about 1/60 to 1/30 shutter speed with the lens. I do not have any copys as I trashed them after seeing them, but I thought to myself today...should there really have been that much noise? Or did I get a bad copy?

I was comparing the photos noise I took with the canon to my Tamron f/2.8 lens, so maybe thats why. But would the lens cause a large amount of noise just because of its f/4 apature? The camera (Canon XTi) chose the shutter speed and apature, so I dont know why it would take such crappy pictures.

Blah...any help?
I wish I had the photos still so I coul show you, but I dont...if need be I'll take some tonight though.

Is alot of noise common with these big number apature lenses? Or is this a bad lens?

thanks for helping the newb!
:thumbsup:

Ok I guess I didnt delete the photos off the memory card...heres a sample below.

And the Exif data (main points) are as follows...
Tv(Shutter Speed)
1/250Sec.
Av(Aperture Value)
F4.0
Metering Modes
Evaluative metering
Exposure Compensation
0
ISO Speed
800
Lens
EF70-200mm f/4L USM
Focal Length
70.0 mm
Image size
3888 x 2592
Image Quality
RAW
Flash
Off
White Balance
Cloudy
AF mode
AI Servo AF
Picture Style
Standard

I realize my settings were really crappy on my part for shooting at night...but I wouldnt expect so much noise regardless.

Hi Muddy Beast,

Noise is almost never the direct result of a lens. Sometimes it can be brought out by differences in the body's metering with various lenses/compositions- where one lens may meter a bit hot versus another, very rarely does it actually cause noise itself. This has only happened on very rare occasions (I believe it has happened with a few early 5D's) and was caused by an interaction between certain USM lenses and the camera's electronics, which Canon fixed IIRC. It is not an issue with the XTi as far as I'm aware.

Underexposed areas will have more noise than properly exposed areas at ISO 400 and above especially. Have you applied any post processing/raw conversion to the images? Also, what are your sharpening, contrast, saturation etc. parameters set at?

But would the lens cause a large amount of noise just because of its f/4 apature?
Short answer, no.

Long answer, noise comes from using high ISO and gets worse when underexposed.
Typically you get more noise in the shadows.

Aperture should have nothing to do with noise.
What's more likely is the camera meter underexposed the scene.

Can you post the whole image ?

Hi Muddy Beast,

Noise is almost never the direct result of a lens. Sometimes it can be brought out by differences in the body's metering with various lenses/compositions- where one lens may meter a bit hot versus another, very rarely does it actually cause noise itself. This has only happened on very rare occasions (I believe it has happened with a few early 5D's) and was caused by an interaction between certain USM lenses and the camera's electronics, which Canon fixed IIRC. It is not an issue with the XTi as far as I'm aware.

Underexposed areas will have more noise than properly exposed areas at ISO 400 and above especially. Have you applied any post processing/raw conversion to the images? Also, what are your sharpening, contrast, saturation etc. parameters set at?

Here is a statement from Canon USA's Marketing Director (I believe) :

http://www.dslrphoto.com/2006/02/23/chuck-westfall-comments-on-5d-camera-banding-issues/

This was back in February 2006 but it doesn't sound like they were able to fix it. I believe the problem is caused by radio waves from the lens motor causing interference with the camera electronics. It doesn't list the 70-200 as being a problem lens.

Alright, well oviously the image looks a little better sized down quite a bit...but here it is.

Original was large smooth, in raw, converted to JPEG...and No I did no editing to the image its self, looks exactly the same as it did in raw.

Thanks for the help guys...I guess I wasnt paying much attention to my settings *I really wasnt...* something you always need to keep in mind...ehh?

(Side note: Going on vacation tomaro, wont reply to any responces till the 27th.)

Here is a statement from Canon USA's Marketing Director (I believe) :

http://www.dslrphoto.com/2006/02/23/chuck-westfall-comments-on-5d-camera-banding-issues/

This was back in February 2006 but it doesn't sound like they were able to fix it. I believe the problem is caused by radio waves from the lens motor causing interference with the camera electronics. It doesn't list the 70-200 as being a problem lens.


Crap, looks like my favorite lens is on that list too. (EF28-200mm F3.5-5.6 USM) I very rarely shoot at high ISO though.

I am fairly certain that they did do something about it because you really don't hear about it anymore