Is this sunrise photo softness and noise normal for a Canon T2i with the 18-55mm kit lens?
Asked 7/10/2011
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I shot a sunrise at the beach with a Canon T2i and the 18-55mm kit lens. The image looks fine at normal size, but when I zoom in it seems a bit soft and noisier than I expected.
Settings for the attached shot were 1/25 sec, f/4, ISO 100, with focus set on the chair. Is this level of sharpness and noise normal for this camera/lens, or is it likely caused by the low light / exposure?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
6
The sharpness seems reasonable for that lens at f/4. Noise can make an image look less sharp, but you could sharpen it a little in post.
As for the noise, it's most likely the result of underexposing the image. Underexposing an ISO100 will lead to more noise than using a higher ISO! If that weren't the case there'd be little point in having ISO settings.
The reason for this is that the camera electronics create a sort of base level of noise, regardless of how much light there is. Using a high ISO amplifies the analogue signal (which will be low in low light) before it is converted to digital and thus gives you a much better signal to noise ratio (therefore less observed noise in the image).
Originally by user1375. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1375
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes — for a T2i with the 18-55mm kit lens at f/4, this looks fairly normal, especially if you’re judging it at 100% zoom. The kit lens is decent but not exceptionally sharp wide open, and pixel-peeping often makes perfectly usable images seem soft.
The bigger issue is likely exposure rather than the camera itself. In low light, an underexposed ISO 100 file can show more visible noise than a properly exposed shot at a somewhat higher ISO, because the signal is weak relative to the camera’s base noise. Sunrise skies can also show more noise, especially in the blue channel.
A few takeaways:
- Your result is acceptable for that lens and setting.
- f/4 on the kit lens won’t give maximum sharpness; stopping down a bit often helps.
- Proper exposure matters more for noise than simply keeping ISO at 100.
- RAW processed well will usually look better than in-camera JPEG.
- Judge sharpness at normal viewing size, in web size, or in print — not only at 100% magnification.
A little sharpening in post is normal and can improve the final result.
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