patrick28 Loc: Port Jeervis, NY

Following is an example of how the noise factor for a Panasonic Lumix FZ150 bridge camera varies with ISO settings. I merged six bands of shots taken of the same area while varying only the ISO. The ISO ranged from 100 to 3200 across the six shots. Aperture and shutter speed were held constant. Only the ISO was doubled for each shot.

I was not shocked at the noise handling of the camera but was pleasantly surprised at how that noise could be tamed in ACR6.5 and CS5.

The first sample is just as the images came out of the camera. No processing, only converting the images from RAW to JPG and merging them into a single banded 1800x800 image.

The Second sample is the same image after being processed in Adobe ACR 6.5. I used only the noise factor control, no other features. I ran the noise slider up from 0 to 66 and the Luminance Detail to about 45. No color noise treatment.

The Third sample is the banded image run through both ACR and PS CS5.
The noise filter and blur tool (45%) were employed across the entire image.

I believe that, for casual family album work with 4x6 prints, I can get away with ISO 3200. At room light, I can see little difference between ISO 200 and ISO 1600 in a 4x6 print in the third print. That represents a lot of my travel photos and I would normally use the FZ150 only for travel. Well, perhaps also for casual shooting at home in lieu of the Nikon D700.

It doesn't approach the D700's noise handling but, then again it doesn't have the D700's three f2.8 zoom lenses plus a 105mm macro tipping the scales at what at times feels like 87 pounds in a B4 bag.

And the D700 is comparatively shortsighted at 200mm whereas the FZ150 reaches all the way from 18mm to 600mm and has a VR that permits hand holding at 600mm!

For me, the FZ150 is well worth the money ($419). I also recommend or and other bridge cameras for consideration by any P&S shooters who might be thinking of moving up to a DSL.

To my knowledge, Nikon, Canon, Panasonic Fuji and Sony are today's leaders and competitors in the bridge camera field. I was surprised at how Fuji has come up in the field since I last followed developments more closely.

Fell free to do whatever to or with the photos.

RAW to JPG, no PP


ACR6.5, Noise slider only


ACR and CS5 noise filter, blur tool

patrick28 Loc: Port Jeervis, NY

Comment: It is customary to run the contrast up a bit when doing much noise reduction. I did not do that here, hence the loss of contrast in the processed samples.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

In the 2nd and 3rd photos, why did you feel compelled to mess with the 100 and 200 ISO's?

iresq Loc: Annapolis MD

If you only changed the ISO setting, how did you control the exposure?

Interesting though. The noise at 400 is unbelievable (in a bad way).

patrick28 Loc: Port Jeervis, NY

Because I had not yet examined the results under the loupe. Easier to ignore data that I don't need than to go back to create data that I do need. So, while I was in the process and rolling right along, I went from extreme to extreme.

Hopefully you're right. Noise will not be a consideration at ISO 100 or 200. But I don't know that yet.

Thanks for the prod.

patrick28 Loc: Port Jeervis, NY

You're right! I kept the EV constant by halving the T each time I doubled the ISO. (Trouble between the headsets in explaining what I was doing.)

Thanks for the heads-up!