6 replies to this topic

[walt@wblady.com]

I'm getting a lot of image noise with my Nikon D810 and the 200-500mm lens at high ISO settings (2500+). It's especially noticeable in the dark areas of the image. My other zoom lenses don't seem to be as bad. Is noise an issue with the 200-500?

 

[mikew]

I would be very surprised if the lens caused noise, are you using higher ISOs with it,because you have more reach are you shooting at say small birds in bushes,must admit ime struggling with this one so asking daft questions.

Have you done an exact side by side, same subject same iso but with two lenses.

[Merco_61]

Could you share one of your problem photos? As the downsampling will mask the noise or artifacts, it might be better to upload it to a file sharing service like dropbox and link it.

Are you sure that it is noise? Can it be VR artifacts?

[mikew]

Could you share one of your problem photos? As the downsampling will mask the noise or artifacts, it might be better to upload it to a file sharing service like dropbox and link it.

Are you sure that it is noise? Can it be VR artifacts?

 

Genuine question for my benefit can you give me a brief explanation or a link to a site for VR artifacts, not come across this term before so need to learn

[Merco_61]

When VR is on and the shutter speed is fast, the VR sometimes tries to compensate for the movement when the mirror is raised. As that action hasn't stabilized yet when the shutter opens, we get a choppy bokeh, similar to the pepper and salt look of noise. I think Thom Hogan has an article up on his site about how VR works, and sometimes doesn't.

 

I think I have some links saved on another computer and will try to find and post them later today.

[TBonz]

I agree...at best I would think the lens may make the noise easier to spot, but can't see how it would cause additional noise...I also agree with the recommendation to post an example with the EXIF data...As to the VR, I usually shoot with monopod and / or a high shutter speed, so it is almost always off on my lenses.

 

I have shot quite a bit with high ISO and don't recall any difference between lenses...Exposure can be fairly critical in keeping noise down and it does tend to be more visible in dark areas.  

[Merco_61]

The Thom Hogan article is here. The discussion where I learned about these potential VR problems was at the old Nikongear forum, before a couple of reorgs and the domain change to fotozones.com, so the original discussion seems to be lost.