Comments on: Are some models of Sony Alpha DSLRs better than other ones at noise reduction or are they all the same?

By: Sound Labs

Sound Labs — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:56:59 +0000

All dSLRs have some kind of noise reduction, and usually settings like low, med, high etc. But on the entry level to mid level stuff, I’ve never seen one that can remove noise better while leaving more detail than software can in post.

And no they are not all the same. General rule of thumb for any brand dSLR, the more expensive the body, the cleaner the images are to begin with, or with NR turned off at a given ISO. And with the more expensive bodies, usually the camera has better built in NR. But that’s not 100 percent true at all times. I owned the first alpha, the A100, man nice camera, but a total dog for high ISO, it got dirty by 400, I dumped it quick. I’ve used the A200, better, but nothing to get excited about.

Another person mentioned that the full frame (and very expensive) Sony A850 and A900 have the best or lowest NR, I don’t think that’s the case. With NR off, I believe that the Sony A700 delivers the most detail with noise that’s finer in grain than any other alpha. The full frame alphas should be low light champs with that FF sensor, but they are not. I’d put them below the A700 in this regard.

The A550 (a very new body) can beat every alpha if the NR is on at high ISO, its NR is just better, Sony finally did something very simple, that they should have done long ago, they attack the chroma noise and go very easy on the luma noise for a more pleasing, non detail destroying kind of noise reduction. Turn the NR off, and I think the A700 is better. And the NR can’t be turned off in the A550 unless you are shooting RAW if I remember correctly.

So in my opinion, if you have money for a dSLR, like say under 1000 bucks, and you are fine with a entry level type camera, go for the A450 or A550. If you are just a jpeg shooter, and don’t want to fuss with RAW and photoshop, just go that way, no work, the camera has great NR for the bucks,it’s a no fuss kind of camera.

The A700 is really nice, I own it and I shoot RAW, NR always off and with low light, high ISO shots, I just clean up in post. I use NeatImage, but the majority of people seem to be using noise ninja. But since the A700 was recently discontinued, and the replacement is just months away, I don’t know that I’d recommend it. If noise really bugs you, and you do have the cash, my advice is to steer clear of the current FF Sony Alphas. They take a fantastic photo at low ISO, but I’ve seen enough full size images with no NR to be unimpressed.

If you can wait, see what Sony does with the follow up to the A700, that’s going to be an amazing camera, I can feel it in my bones. Oh yeah, join http://www.dyxum.com/ if you haven’t done so already, it’s the biggest Minotla/Sony forum around. You can see some of my low light high ISO stuff shot with my A700 here http://tonyflores.smugmug.com/Candids/Calistoga-Lighted-Parade-2009/10553554_8nLhL#734402420_NPFjF
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By: Blackriver Images

Blackriver Images — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:09:59 +0000

Just to make sure you and I are on the same page… in camera "noise reduction" is a setting that can be turned off and on and is used for two main situations. One; for extra long exposures. Two; use with high ISO settings. Basically what this means is the camera will take the RAW data and process it much the same a program in your computer would do after you download it. This processing can take a very long time at the end of which the camera will write the final image to your memory card in whatever format you choose. I have never seen any in camera NR that stand out above any other… it’s basically a short cut to what can be done much better in your PC after uploading. In camera NR is also time consuming as I said… as a rule of thumb it takes just as long as the exposure in the case of long exposure NR. ie. 30 second exposure and your going to be standing there for roughly 30 seconds while the camera processed the image. This holds true even for the duel Bionz processors of the A850 and A900.

If what you really meant was do any models perform better at high ISO’s with regard to noise the answer is yes.

The two full frame cameras the A850 and A900 are by far the best followed by the A500/550/450. Next is the A700. After that it becomes more debatable. This is not based on any web review but on the fact that I have shot with each of the cameras listed aside from the 450.

Sony’s as a rule do not perform as well as Canons and Nikon’s at high ISO’s. It is one of the weaknesses of the Alpha line. Nikon is the clear leader for high ISO performance but to be fair Nikon as a company stresses this factor in their cameras which is why the vast majority of their current bodies are 12mp’s, considered somewhat low by today’s standards. Nikon figures 12mp is more than enough for most any situation and I tend to agree.

Bottom line if your worried about in camera NR, don’t. Best to do it in your computer anyway. If your concern is low noise at high ISO’s or in low light (which is not necessarily the same) then my advice would be to either go with a Nikon or wait for Sony’s next wave of Alpha’s
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By: fhotoace

fhotoace — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 13:43:59 +0000

Actually there is little noise reduction on any DSLR, Sony or others.

Here is a link to all the current DSLR’s made

Here is a link that shows how all the current DSLR’s stack up to one another. Look at the Low-light ISO performance number. The higher the number, the better the noise/ISO ratio

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/eng/DxOMark-Sensor

As you will notice the best Sony camera comes in at number 9 and beats out one of the Hasselblad camera’s as well
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digiPro