James R. Kyle Loc: Saint Louis, Missouri (A Suburb of Ferguson)

This IS one of the Best things anyone can do when they are a "budding" photographer.

Ralloh Loc: Ohio

I downloaded the photo and zoomed in. Am I missing something? Where's the noise?

I used to sell real estate. That photo is just fine. You are dealing with the general public. I guarantee 99.99% of them would think this was taken by a professional.

bunuweld Loc: Arizona

I understand why you would not want to lug a tripod for your regular job. On the other hand, 1/30 shutter speed is too slow for a good hand-held picture. If you try a faster shutter speed and increase the ISO accordingly, you might find that what you call noise comes from camera movement rather than from the 400 ISO.

As a side comment, I think this particular picture would improve if the lights under the cabinet closer to the camera are off. They create a confusing reflection. Without those two lights on, I think the remaining reflection on the counter would be more attractive.

Kingmapix Loc: Mesa, Arizona

No need to switch cameras.
Use your flash for indoor pictures.

Mudshark Loc: Illinois

A. buy a small, light weight, simple, carbon fiber tripod. It will be less of a burden than you are thinking...especially when you see the results.
B. Set your camera on the big M....manual....
C. Set your ASA or ISO at 200
D. Set your f stop at f11
E. Look at the little needle and start expanding your exposure time...try 1/20 to start with...
F. focus about a fourth of the way into the scene. Or at the point of primary interest. Or make several shots at several focus points...your film cost are zero...
G. Only shoot in RAW
H. Place a neutral grey card in the first shot.
I. Holy Cow Batman...who knew this old camera could do that.......whoaaaa!!!
J. Learn to use your brain instead of the camera's artificial attempt at intelligence............. :shock:

dsturr

1DX.
As an aside, the question asked for "the best camera that produces little or no noise?" Top marks for those who provided a model. Zero for everyone who got sidetracked. This is one of the side effects of a long-term marriage; one starts to think like a wife.

Msiwc Loc: Los Angeles

Over expose by 1/3-1/2 stop and you can reduce in post if you need to...think that will solve your problems

Meives Loc: FORT LAUDERDALE

I asked, but didn't get an answer. Do you have the original before you photoshopped to push brightness?

M Napoli

Can you tell me why the photo isn't crisp and clear in the distance and shadows? I get the same result inside and outside. Inside I generally use 7.1 Aperture. I adjust shutter speed and External flash power depending on the room size, lighting and amount of windows that need to be seen through. Outside I use 11 aperture and adjust shutter speed. I have been doing this for a while now. It has just recently become a problem due to new clients that do a lot of magazine printing.

M Napoli

I forgot to mention... ISO at 400 inside and 100, 250 outside.

M Napoli

This is a different original. No post processing has been done to it.
1/60
7.1
ISO 400
External Flash Fired
Lens 10mm

brokeweb Loc: Philadelphia

I have a 60D and I love it! I don't think it's your camera. You may consider a different lens. I would think you would want a wide-angle lens for your shots because wide angle lens will make you subject appear larger than life. It will also allow you to offer more information in each photo. Where ISO is a big factor in camera noise, it's not the only factor. but in shooting, at ISO 400-in low light, without a tripod will contribute to noise.

May I suggest using a cheaper/manual lens, in aperture priority mode, on a tripod with a remote shutter. NO FLASH!!! (personal preference..I dislike flash with a passion).

In saying using a cheaper manual lens, You don't need auto focus, and image stabilization on a lens that you know you will be shooting on a tripod. So instead of all the motors and computer chips, get a simple lens with good glass instead of all of the automated electronics added. To keep the price down on a lens with automated functions they need to make up the manufacturing cost on the glass.

In real estate photography, the objective is, is to create a quality image that is appealing to the eye but at the same time represent your product in a realistic style. It is a detail oriented niche. You need to take the time so properly compose, meter, and focus your shots...offering the most accurate, and detailed information that you can. An agent will want the most professional photographs that they can because it's all about the presentation. And the presentation is what gains trust of which an agent must have.

RmcBUDDY Loc: Morris County, NJ

You were mentioning noise in your pictures. I don't see noise that would be of concern. Then you mentioned a magazine was printing your photos. Is it possible your PPI =Pixels Per square Inch are to low for printing. For print some people say 250PPI is good, I like to go to 300PPI. Shoot in RAW, process the photo and when resizing be sure your PPI is set to 300PPI. Hope this helps.

M Napoli

I use a 10 - 22mm lens. I agree about the flash. It causes problems with foreground lighting verses the light in the background. If I only rely on shutter speed with no flash, I will bleach out the windows. I am going to use my tripod tomorrow for all main living area shots. It can't hurt. I will also resize my PPI. Thanks for the input.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Napoli - everyone responding will be interested in the results of tomorrow's changes. Looking at the 2nd example posted along with the many good responses, I suggest the following:

1. Use a tripod, as discussed.
2. Use ISO 100, Aperture priority at F/10 to F/16, as discussed
3. Change your picture style to Standard, from Faithful, as used in the picture with the couch.
4. Use the 10-22 with no upward or downward angle to the scene being captured to reduce the distortion. The tripod will help achieve this setup.
5. Use a gray card or custom white balance to cut down on the yellow of indoor lights.
6. Change the Auto Light Optimizer to Standard, from High, as used in the picture with the couch.
7. Consider RAW rather than JPEG for the most control in Post Processing.
8. Consider AUTO ISO capped at 3200. My 7D uses the same processor and sensor as your 60D. Indoors when the camera selects ISO-3200, the result will need more clean-up, but the results are fine. You can also cap the ISO as a lower value.
9. Consider a Speedlight and bounce the light off the ceiling or use completely off camera. A used 580 via eBay will be as good as a new one.

There was a request for a posting of the original of the first picture of the kitchen. Along with others I suspect the post processing added the unintended changes to the jpeg as was captured initially by the 60D.

Regarding ISO 100 / 400 / and Auto: What is the camera selecting if you use auto? If the lighting is strong enough, will the camera select something lower than 400 if you don't 'hard-code' this value manually?

Unless pressed for time, you should take as many different pictures as possible ranging from full auto, thru Aperture Priority and full manual. I'd expect in both examples posted for this discussion, the 60D would have picked a smaller aperture and a shutter speed fast enough to avoid camera shake and a high ISO that wouldn't have been too noisy. Of course, this is just speculation from a couch in Chicago ...