Digital camera image quality degradation?

[Ultra Magnus]

Does the image quality of a digital camera degrade after time? I have a sony dsc-f828 wich isn't known for low noise images. The 8mp 2/3" sensor has its limits but it seems that over the past few months my images are getting more and more noisy. I can't figure it. At iso 64 & 100 I remember it taking some pretty good shots, but recently it's looking worse and worse. Maybe I'm just getting more sensitive to the noise. I guess that's good, that my eye is getting better at noticing details like that.

I'm very much ready for a big sensor camera.

BM

[livin4lax09]

either that or you are shooting in darker places. darker areas is where noise begins to appear, as noise is just colors that extend outside the range of the CMOS sensor. if you overexpose photos, then you won't see nearly as much noise as if you underexpose.

[Ultra Magnus]

I think you a right. Now that I think about it, I realize I started noticing more noise about the same time I got an external flash. Bouncing the flash off the ceiling puts more shadows onto a person's face than using the built in direct flash. That and me getting better at noticing details in an image...

I went back to the first photos I took with this camera and looking carefully I can see plenty of noise in the darker areas of the images. Back then this camera was such a huge step over what we previously had that it didn't bother me.

Either way, I need a big(ger) sensor camera.

Thanks.

BM

[another view]

Darker areas show more noise - this also shows up with underexposed images if you try to brighten them in Photoshop. Bounce flash should be really soft light as opposed to direct flash which will create shadows (but in other places). For bounce flash, the flash head should be aimed at the ceiling half way between you and the subject.