gmcase Loc: Galt's Gulch

I am fairly well skilled with settings on cameras and I have concluded after doing everything to keep noise manageable in conditions like night time rodeos it is going to come down to noise reduction software. I have used Topaz de noise and it works better than the built in Lightroom feature but even tweaking DeNoise for hours I still cannot maintain enough detail and get to acceptable noise. My wife sent me this link for some other software that will port from and to Loghtroom. I am going to try it when I have a little time to immerse myself in it for a few hours.

http://digital-photography-school.com/macphun-noiseless-pro-software-review/

Christine105 Loc: Brisbane, Australia

Dear Gmcase

Thank you for your time in responding to this issue. I shall pass on the link to her. I hear what you are saying about the noise reduction software. It's just so frustrating with the lighting conditions, however i guess that is the challenge of photography and makes it so much more satisfying when you can nail an image in those circumstances. I think we will go and try playing with more settings at a Harness racing event for practice before attempting another night time rodeo. I realize they are different events, but they are both action at night in variable light.

I really appreciate your efforts to help her. :)

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

I shoot with a 70D along with other cameras.
Usually for the low light photographs, where I can't use a tripod etc I will use fast (f2 or faster) lenses and very high.
ISO 3200+ with my Canon cameras.
I don't have a fast ultra wide.
Using slow lenses just makes get 1/2 decent images a lot more difficult especially for action.
I normally publish on the web or for prints up to 10x8, however most are smaller.

My processing methods for these raw images are.
In LR - Zero any changes LR may have made (this is a preset)
In LR - tweak the xposure if necessary
in LR - posibly increase the contast slightly
In LR - Export the the image as a 16 bit PSD file usually 1920x1080 maximum.
In Photoshop, on a duplicated layer, apply noise reduction using Topaz DeNoise.
Make the noise reduction selectively, using masks, if need be and/or reduce the noise reduction if I can (layer opacity)- just keeps it looking too smooth.
In Photoshop sharpen for the final output
Save as a maximum qualty jpeg.

Example 1 was shot at ISO 12800. Topaz Noise reduction was moderate (I think is a lot), applied globally and opacity reduced to 70%. This was just check to see how ISO 12800 looked on a Canon 70D.

Example #2 was shot in awful lighting at ISO 6400 with an F4 lens almost wide open and hand held and a Canon 70D. The noise reduction was applied globally using similar techniques.

#1 Canon 70D ISO 12800

(Download)

#2 Canon 70D ISO 6400

(Download)

Christine105 Loc: Brisbane, Australia

Wow Richard, Thank you so much for this. That is excellent. I shall show her this especially if it doesn't come up on her screen when she is lurking :) This gives hope. Appreciate your processing info also. You are a champion. :)

mikedidi46 Loc: WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA

My lens of choice for my 70D is my 24-105 f/4, and I have nor tried sports shots at night time. But I have go very good results up to 12,800 at night.
I would use Aperture with ISO on Auto.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Unfortunately, even with all the good tips you have received, the 70D with the lenses you list is a very marginal setup for the type of shooting your mother wants to do. Even my 7DII would struggle with those lenses in low light. Nothing wrong with her lens collection, but the fastest one is f/3.5. Coupled with the 70D's limited high ISO performance, that doesn't give her much room to work. Probably the most economical solution would be a faster lens. If a prime lens in the 50-100mm range would work then Canon has several from f/1.4 to f/2.0. There is also a 200mm f/2.8 for a bit more. Any of those would be an improvement, as well as any number of 3rd party lenses, which I am not familiar with. For big bucks there is the 70-200 f/2.8 L IS II. I use one on both a 7DII and 6D with excellent results.
IMO, if she is going to do a lot of this type of photography she should look at optimizing both her lenses and camera for low light. The 7DII and 5DIII deserve a look. There are a good number of used or refurbed 5DIII's out there. A lens of f/2.8 or faster is pretty much a must have. The 70D is a good camera. It's just not a good low light camera.

wcmoorejr Loc: Birmingham Alabama

Hey,

I shoot mainly indoors (7D, 7Dmkii) at theater, ballet, and dog sports (agility / flyball). I use a 24-70L2.8 and a 70-200L 2.8. Both body's give me good performance even at ISO 6400. although I do have to use more noise correction software on my 7D images.

Have you checked your white balance? sometimes if it is on the wrong settings (and you are not in raw) it will make the pictures appear blue and noisey.

Regards,
Willie

BuckeyeBilly Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

Christine,
Here is a link to a website for DxO Labs. It is a company that measures all sorts of aspects about cameras. Some people here on UHH refer to it as part of their support, one way or the other, in making a judgment about cameras. Some people complain that DxO is biased towards Nikon. I cannot speak to that but this link offers information that confirms the problem of noise with the Canon 70D that you've described. According to DxO's scientific measurements, the 70D begins to start showing evidence of noise beginning around ISO 926.
http://www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Canon/EOS-70D

Here is another link that has a list of things you can do to help reduce noise in any situation. Part of the suggestions require knowing how to make adjustments on the camera so you'll need to have the camera manual available to refer to.
http://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Noise-in-Your-Digital-Photography

Manual from Canon's website for the 70D:
http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/5/0300011965/03/eos70d-im4-en.pdf

baygolf Loc: DMV

She has a EF-S 17-55mm which is the fixed 2.8 lens.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

You're right! I misread it as the 18-55. I think that may be a bit short for what she wants to do. But you never know. Still, if the 2.8 is producing too much noise for her then she definitely should look into upgrading her camera. I still think that a 2.8 or faster, along with a 7DII or 5DIII would be her best bet. Provided she has the budget to allow any of that. Otherwise, a fast prime or two might be the way to go.

juanderfulpics Loc: central jersey

On my old 7d I found that if auto lighting optimizer was on the noise was unbearable. Turned off and shooting with a 70-200 2.8 I got much better results shooting HS football game in extremely poor lighting. Had to drop shutter to 140 at 2.8 and got about 35% usable keepers when movement wasn't as fast.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Tri-X has noise above 400 and millions of great photos were taken and published with it. I know we all want noiseless photos but do not say they are worthless and cannot be salvaged. Just a thought that will insult many I am sure.
I happen to like the old grainy look in various circumstances.

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

Since any photo, digital or film, lives on the light it is given there really is no other way. I've shot video at a bike race with minimal lighting and it was also filled with grain. There is no other way other than a very fast lens and high ISO. Good Luck

gmcase Loc: Galt's Gulch

I double checked and I had disabled all the auto related features previously. Thanks for the heads up though.

gmcase Loc: Galt's Gulch

I don't think anyone is asking for noiseless but when the image looks like there is a layer of semi translucent multicolored salt and pepper on top not even the great P. T. Barnum could sell that as grain. :mrgreen: