p.5 #1 · Sony A900 initial impressions from 5D user
Have you tried these settings? (talked about in dpr and photoclubalpha)
The key points to securing a good low noise 6/13 megapixel in-camera JPEG with the Alpha 900 are:
* Use ISO 3200 rather than 6400 if possible, as 6400 is an extended setting using ‘digital ISO boosting’ (this advice also applies to most cameras where ISO 6400 is the highest possible setting)
* Do not underexpose, and don’t allow the auto metering to underexpose for you!
* Set Low or Normal NR, never High.
* Use Extra Fine JPEG not Fine, or RAW+JPEG (limited to Fine as its best option) if all you want is a JPEG.
* Use Neutral Creative Style rather than Standard, and sRGB colour space (this is always less noisy than aRGB).
* Use manual White Balance or take a Custom White Balance measurement and setting rather than relying on Auto White Balance in very warm tungsten, or mixed, lighting.*
* Set +1 or +2 sharpness, as this changes the behaviour of the noise reduction to favour a tight crisp noise pattern rather than a blotchy soft one.
* Use the open-shadows Zone setting (-1) with a corresponding cut in Brightness (-2) as this also changes the NR behaviour, while the two adjustments cancel out any change to midtone values.**
"
So far, I'm getting some truly amazing results with the following custom settings:
base mode 'standard', saturation +1, sharpness +2, brightness -2, zone matching -1; DR+; high ISO NR 'high'. (Here DR+ compensates darkening from low brightness and from the zone matching; sharpness up to +3 somehow doesn't look ugly at all.)
Shooting with NR off with further Noiseninja NR makes ISO 3200 look like ISO 400; most bright shots look great without any NR at all; ISO 6400 with NR is good for A4 print. "
