So this isn't the typical back and forth over noise, but is an example where I wouldn't expect to see noise but am. See the picture at the bottom. It was shot on a 50D, RAW, ISO 100, f5.6, 1/200, using a 580EXII off shoe into a white umbrella.

The problem I am seeing is that the black background has significant banded noise. A larger version (though not the original) is here. Even though it has been downsized quite a bit, the banded noise is quite visible. I thought noise like this was only a problem at higher ISOs?

So the question is- do I have a faulty camera? Or is there a legitimate reason for the noise? And if there is, any suggestions as to how to avoid it in the future would be appreciated.

sorry, I am not seeing any banding in the shadows. In fact, it looks like a super photo with masterful lighting!

Joe

+1, that's a beautiful picture. Where is the noise?

jamach wrote:
sorry, I am not seeing any banding in the shadows. In fact, it looks like a super photo with masterful lighting!

Joe

Thank you for your nice comment!

Very strange. Apparently the calibration on my laptop's screen must be horrible or something. On my laptop (from where I posted the message), the black background in the larger version looks noisy as can be (and there is clear banding). At work (on a non-calibrated, 24" dell monitor) it looks fine.

Let's see a 100% crop of the dark area. 50D would not be my choice for studio work.

EBH

Cross-posted.

Banding on a laptop is common as many of them use 6-bit LCD panels.

EBH

EB-1 wrote:
Let's see a 100% crop of the dark area. 50D would not be my choice for studio work.

EBH

I'll definitely post one up when I get home.

As for a 50D for studio work.. well, let me just say I am a weekend warrior, and my "studio" is a black sheet precariously draped over some sofa cushions on our bed . I'd love to look at a 5D MKII or better, but there is no way that is in the books right now.

EB-1 wrote:
Cross-posted.

Banding on a laptop is common as many of them use 6-bit LCD panels.

EBH

It is not a banding like you'd see in a gradient (which I believe is what you are referring to). It is pretty clear noise banding- there are vertical "lines" of noise that are more dense than the surrounding noise. Though if my laptop screen is that far off, it might be hard to even show the problem (I can play with the contrast to exaggerate it, but that seems to defeat the purpose).

I'm viewing it on a calibrated Cinema Display and it looks great. No banding visible. Toss your "laptop" and get a real monitor.

There is a little bit of pattern noise in the background. This is unfortunately a "property" of the camera. Normally, it is only visible when the exposure is pushed or substantial shadow recovery is applied. The white balance may also affect pattern noise.

Resizing for web may enhance the pattern. At 100% view you don't normally see bands, but a "tendency" to bands in the noise. Try to print it as large as you can, it may not be a problem then.

At low ISO, the cameras 1D3, 1Ds3, 40D and 500D show less pattern noise than The 450D, 50D, 5D and 5D2. There is also some copy variation, but generally less than the variation between models.

I'm viewing it on an HP HDX18 laptop with a calibrated hi-def display, and it also looks great. If I download your larger image and open it in CS4, I don't see any noise (even at 100% crop) unless I lighten the image dramatically.

Mark, you've got some great T6 and P51 photos too. Please post them over on the Mustang Air 2 Air thread in the City forum. You'll fit right in.

Mark

I think what you are seeing has more to do with your monitor, as others have stated; the shot looks fine on my system.

That said, the 50D does show some modest shadow noise even at ISO 100. Canon's processing stack applies noise reduction to 50D files at all times (in-camera and in DPP), though in DPP you can turn this off.

However, don't worry about this: low-ISO noise can be ignored for most reproduction, and in any case is easily removed from the files with little or no compromise in image quality.

msalvetti wrote:
I'm viewing it on an HP HDX18 laptop with a calibrated hi-def display, and it also looks great. If I download your larger image and open it in CS4, I don't see any noise (even at 100% crop) unless I lighten the image dramatically.

Mark, you've got some great T6 and P51 photos too. Please post them over on the Mustang Air 2 Air thread in the City forum. You'll fit right in.

Mark

Thanks Mark. I definitely think this must be monitor issue. It just looks so extreme on my laptop, that I figured it was an issue with the camera.

I think I actually posted a few of those in that thread (or a similar thread in the City Forum). It has been a few years since I went formation flying with my uncle. Luckily I'm moving back to MN, and will be flying with him a lot more often!

your laptop calibrationis WAYYYYYYY out of wack

I would not dare to edit on it, if the banding jumps out at you
even turning backlight to max on my LCD the banding is still barely noticeable.

anyway, i see nothing at all to be upset there at all on my calibrated monitor, nothing at all.


(that said, the canon 50D does have more low ISO banding pattern noise, by 2x, than the older 40D though, according to some tests I carried out; the 1dsmkiii, 1dmkiii and 40D have less ISO100 banding pattern noise than the 50D and 5dmkii by as much as a factor of 2)

Thanks everyone. This is most definitely a monitor issue, as everywhere else I look at the images, they look great. Sorry for the false alarm!

Nero wrote:
Thanks everyone. This is most definitely a monitor issue, as everywhere else I look at the images, they look great. Sorry for the false alarm!

Now I hope this is a good lesson for all to not make the noise cry by looking at their monitor. If you haven't made a print to make the call for help you probably shouldn't make the call.

With just about eveyone who is a photographer owning a printer of some sort, even the cheapest of cheap desktop printers will immediately reveal that there is no noise issue.

Looked at it on 3 different 24 inch calibrated LCD's, not a hint of banding or noise. 50D is perfectly capable of studio work by the way, takes careful exposure and thoughtful PP but the detail is well worth the effort as witnessed by lots of examples on several of the forums here at FM. The studio use of the 50D yields excellent results because of the more carefully controlled lighting and exposure. The 50D is just one of several cameras built by Canon and Nikon which are on the fine edge exposure wise and are not terrible forgiving. That said you appear to have a beautiful picture here.

Dave

EB-1 wrote:
50D would not be my choice for studio work.

EBH

pretty curious about why?