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Noise


Janet445

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Are there any reasons why an image would be noisy, other than user error (low light, high ISO, slow shutter, etc.)?  The reason I ask is because I used to shoot tack sharp, but the last 6 months or so just about all of my images require noise reduction, no matter when or what or how I’m shooting.  I’m not a licensed professional but like I said, I feel like my skills have gotten worse and not better.  I don’t want to continue to blame myself for it if there’s another reason :) . 

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Canon 5D Mk2

24-70mm f2.8L

1st image ISO 800, 70mm, f3.2, 1/500sec

2nd image ISO 800 63mm f4.0 1/500sec

I don’t have an ton of experience with this lens but have pretty much kept it on the camera since I got it because I have 6 kids and is much more practical than my 85mm for grab and go.  The filter on the lens was shattered shortly before I started noticing this difference.  I wish I could tell you how it happened but I don’t know.  I just pulled it out of my bag that way one day.  I have wondered if the change in my images could have something to do with if the lens was banged against something hard enough to shatter the filter.  It’s almost like a sandpaper look to skin and anything really.  Thanks for your help.

IMG_0316.jpg

IMG_0599.jpg

Edited by Janet445
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I'm really not seeing noise. Prime lenses tend to perform better the zoom lenses. The original Canon 24-70 f/2.8L is notorious for being soft, but your lens doesn't seem to be that bad. Honestly, you reaction is pretty much the same from others who went from a prime to a zoom. 

Not all lenses are created equal. Some lenses perform better than others when it comes to skin. This all boils down to learning your gear. 

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Here is just one of about a bazillion I went back and found that were taken before the aforementioned lens filter shattering. There is virtually none of that noisy sandpaper look to the skin.  Obviously I trust you if you believe its user error/new lens learning curve and I will leave it at that and practice more.  I just wanted to be sure and rule out what happened to my lens and the difference in the quality of my images compared to before.  Thanks again.

IMG_1485.jpg

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12 minutes ago, Janet445 said:

Obviously I trust you if you believe its user error/new lens learning curve and I will leave it at that and practice more.

No, this is not what I'm saying at all!  It's not user error, it's not even an error at all!  These photos are PERFECT.

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18 minutes ago, Janet445 said:

Here is just one of about a bazillion I went back and found that were taken before the aforementioned lens filter shattering. There is virtually none of that noisy sandpaper look to the skin.  Obviously I trust you if you believe its user error/new lens learning curve and I will leave it at that and practice more.  I just wanted to be sure and rule out what happened to my lens and the difference in the quality of my images compared to before.  Thanks again.

IMG_1485.jpg

Please also remember that this is ISO 500, compared with the other two which were ISO 800. It's not a huge difference, but it's not nothing either.

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Yes, true.  

I feel like something has changed about the quality of my images overall, but I can’t put my finger on it.   Thank you for helping me with this particular issue.  I really appreciate you taking a look.

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At this point, you could send your lens in to have it cleaned / serviced. It's possible that some bits of the shattered filter got inside the lens, or more realistically, the AF mechanisms might be a little off. But from the images that we've been shown, there isn't a reason to be worried.

Perhaps you are looking for problems now since the accident? 

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I'd say JPEG level 4 is causing more harm than good. You really want to be higher. "10" is fine, of course you could go a little lower if you wanted to for web usage.

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