Is the grain in my 400 ISO film photo from the film or the scan?
Asked 11/3/2010
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I shot a photo on a Pentax K1000 with 400 ISO film at f/1.7, and the image looks quite grainy. I’m trying to figure out whether that grain is mainly inherent to the film and exposure, or whether the scanner/lab scan is adding a lot of it. Is this level of grain typical for ISO 400 film, and would a different scan or lab make much difference?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
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Scanners are effectively digital cameras so they do introduce noise but not very much, what you're seeing is the film grain. ISO400 film is very grainy when compared to ISO400 on a modern DSLR. This often gets forgotten when comparing film to digital (resolution or otherwise).
Grain aside (which as already stated isn't always objectionable) the photolab scans are pretty poor quality all round. Getting a professional drum scan may not improve grain but will probably result in better colours, dynamic range etc.
Originally by user1375. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1375
15y ago
0
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Most of what you’re seeing is likely film grain, not scanner noise. ISO 400 film usually shows visible grain, especially compared with modern digital cameras. If the photo was underexposed, that can make the grain appear even more obvious.
A scanner can affect how grain looks, but usually only slightly. Different scanners and light sources can render grain as sharper or softer, so a different lab or a higher-end scan may change the appearance a bit. However, it probably won’t remove the grain, because it’s part of the film image itself.
That said, a low-quality lab scan can still limit overall image quality. A better scan may improve color, tonal range, and detail, even if the grain remains. So if your concern is specifically the grain, that’s mostly normal for 400-speed film; if your concern is overall scan quality, a better lab or professional scan could still help.
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