Is Noise Reduction Useless with Modern Mirrorless Cameras & DSLRs? (VIDEO)
Noise reduction is a hot topic these days and we frequently bring you Photoshop and Lightroom tutorials that demonstrate various methods for addressing the problem. This tutorial from Adorama TV takes a totally different tact by exploring the actual relevance of noise reduction tools when shooting with a modern mirrorless camera or DLSR.
Instructor David Bergman is a versatile NY-based pro specializing in sports photography, celebrity portraiture, and on-location performance imagery. The video below was provoked by a query submitted to his unique Ask David Berman website where anyone can post questions on common photography concerns.
Today’s question goes like this: “I primarily shoot sports and sometimes need very high ISOs. I’ve seen some people use noise reduction at lower ISO settings but it seems that the cameras these days look good—even at ISO 12,800. At what point is noise reduction useless.
Bergman’s seven-minute response addressea these issues and more. He acknowledges that new technology has changed the game in recent years and says, “today’s sensors are so good that even some super high ISO shots look pretty darn clean.” He notes further, however, that whether you need to reduce that noise depends upon a few important factors.
He begins with a discussion about why you may need to use high ISO settinga in the first place, and most of the time it’s not because you want to but because you have no choice. It other words, “if you’re photographing sports, wildlife, concerts, or really anything in low light, you need a fast enough shutter speed to freeze motion.”
Thus, if your aperture is wide open and you still need to brighten things up, the only remaining option is to raise ISO. Bergman describes the compromise like this: “If the choice is between a noisy shot that’s sharp and a clean one with motion blur, it’s a no brainer—I’ll take the sharp image every time.”
The remainder of the lesson takes a practical approach with Bergman’s recommendations for when, why, and how to reduce noise. You’ll learn the difference between luminance noise and chroma noise, the implications of Jpeg vs. Raw, and the tradeoffs between long exposures and high ISO noise.
Once you’re done watching be sure to check out the Ask David Berman website where you can submit questions of your own and view the complete episode archive.
And don’t miss the eye-opening tutorial we featured recently with another accomplished pro who demonstrates why Photoshop’s best tool for sharpening photographs isn’t what you think and not found where you’d expect.
