More noise in raw converter

[LightBright]

I was wondering if anyone else has this problem. I started shooting sports recently. When it is night time I boost the ISO up to 1600 to get at least 1/500th shutter speed while shooting football. When I view my lcd monitor and zoom in to check correct focus I see some noise, but it’s not that noticeable. However when I load all those same images on my computer and use the supplied Sony RAW converter, the noise gets out of control and starts looking like the tiny red and green dots on Cool Ranch Dorito chips.

[OldClicker]

First, do you have v4 firmware installed on the A700? - TF

[LightBright]

Hi OldClicker.

Yes I do have v4 firmware installed on my a700. I also should mention that when I open my high iso RAW files in the image Picture Motion Browser the noise is moderate, its only when I have it in the RAW converter it seems to take a good clean image and adds too much noise to it. I have the high iso Noise Reduction off on my camera, do you think I should turn it on?

[PWhite214]

I have never used the raw converter supplied by Sony. I have an A200, wonder if the converter is the same.

I use IRFANVIEW, http://www.irfanview.com/, for viewing, sometimes for conversion. This is free for non-commercial use.

Lately I have been using Silkypix, which costs about 100 USD.

Phil

[Anbesol]

That is caused by the auto adjustment settings for the raw conversion, it is probably in the contrast adjustment, change the raw conversion adjustments and you'll notice a change.

Still, this is unusual, at least for 1600. 1/500th is awful fast, you may try 1/320th at ISO 1000, which is significantly cleaner on the A700 for only 2/3rd stops difference.

[DonSchap]

It really helps if you have MORE light! :wink5:

[LightBright]

Thanks again guys for all the help.

PWhite214
Thanks for the link. I’ll give it a try because currently i am also having a hard time viewing my files with ease. Every time I move a folder with the motion browserI have do a whole data base scan and its driving me nuts

Anbesol I played with the noise reduction settings in the converter and it helped allot, though it doesn’t look as clean as in the browser, it’s much better than before. I don’t think the contrast is the issue because when I move that slider left or right the noise becomes more apparent.

Wished I could have used flash Don but they might kick me off the field for that lol.

[NoKnees]

Make sure you turn off the software DRO adjustments in the software as well. This seems to big the biggest noise generator out there. By default this is on either Auto or Manual, and really will drive up the noise in the photo.. Yes, you'll loose some shadow detail, but hopefully your subject is well lit enough that this isn't a problem.

With high ISO shots, generally I make sure to turn off everything in IDC initially, then only make changes to the white balance if needed, sharpening, color correction "Advanced" sometimes, and that's about it. I find I get better noise reduction with Neat Image or another external program rather than Sony's...

[pisco]

Noise is way more noticeable in dark areas or underexposed pictures. Experiment overexposing +.7 to +1. I've gotten usable pictures even with my A100.

[Anbesol]

Ah yes I nearly forgot the DRO, any DRO used will make these colored artifacts, particularly high level DRO. For very high ISO shooting I would even turn DRO completely off.

[LightBright]

Sweet! I had DRO on standard, when I turned it off I found good improvements in the dark areas.

[PWhite214]

I had left my camera (A200) on ISO 1600. These are the same frame, without noise reduction, and then with Auto Noise Reduction in Paint Shop Pro.







While it does reduce the noise, it also reduces the detail in the image. So use with caution.



I downloaded Noise Ninja, free trial. The third pic is the 'quickie' results. Might be worth the $79.00.

Phil