How should I change exposure settings on a tripod to reduce image noise in low light?
Asked 12/4/2017
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2 answers
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I took a very grainy photo in low light even though I had a tripod available. My settings were:
- focal length: 12mm
- ISO: 6400
- aperture: f/5.4
- shutter speed: 1/30s
If the camera is on a tripod, which settings should I change to reduce noise while keeping the exposure correct?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
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Primarily ISO. There can be a noise tradeoff if you end up having long exposures (depends on the camera and/or sensor), but the quick answer is always "lower the ISO". In your case, lowering the ISO to a more reasonable 200 would mean (at the f5.4 aperture- I don't know what lens you're using) lowering the shutter speed by 5 stops to 1 second. This speed is unlikely to result in much sensor noise and would almost certainly be a noise improvement.
Originally by user11772. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11772
8y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Use a lower ISO and compensate with a longer shutter speed. Since the camera is on a tripod, you don’t need 1/30s unless the subject is moving.
At ISO 6400, noise is expected. A good first step is to drop to your camera’s native ISO, which is often ISO 100 or 200 (many cameras use 200). Going from ISO 6400 to ISO 200 is 5 stops less sensitivity, so to keep the same exposure you’d lengthen the shutter from 1/30s to about 1 second, assuming the aperture stays at f/5.4.
You can also open the aperture wider if your lens allows it, then use a somewhat shorter shutter speed. The key idea is:
- lower ISO = less noise
- longer exposure on tripod = acceptable if subject is still
- wider aperture = more light, but less depth of field
So for a static scene, the best answer is usually: lower the ISO first, then increase exposure time as needed. Very long exposures can have their own noise tradeoffs on some cameras, but moving from 1/30s to around 1s will usually be a clear improvement over ISO 6400.
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