Which Canon 5D Mark II in-camera settings affect shadow noise most?
Asked 11/20/2010
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2 answers
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I’m seeing more shadow noise than I’d like from a Canon 5D Mark II, especially when an image is a bit underexposed and then brightened later. For example, one shot was taken at ISO 400 with these settings:
- High ISO NR: Low
- Highlight Tone Priority: Disabled
- Auto Lighting Optimizer: Low
- Peripheral Illumination Correction: Enabled
Which of these in-camera processing settings actually increase visible noise, and which only affect how it appears? If I want files that tolerate post-processing better, is there any useful tuning to do in-camera, or is the main solution simply to expose differently and process from RAW?
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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HTP will increase noise as it underexposes the image in order to avoid possibly clipping the highlights. Noise reduction will obviously reduce noise, but at the expense of fine details.
All other in camera processing may reveal noise, but not create it. If you are concerned about noise then I would highly recommend shooting Raw and taking full control over the processing and noise reduction applied. This is especially true if you intend to postprocess!
How you shoot will influence noise far more than in camera settings. Basically you want to get as much light down the lens as possible. Don't shy away from using a higher ISO if you cant get any more light as this will help overcome read noise in the shadows. Exposing to the right will help reduce shadow noise, possibly at the expense of highlight detail and colour fidelity - everything is a trade off I'm afraid!
Originally by user1375. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1375
15y ago
0
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The biggest factor is usually exposure, not the camera’s processing options. On the 5D Mark II, underexposing and then lifting shadows later will often show noticeable shadow noise.
From the settings you listed:
- Highlight Tone Priority can increase visible noise because it effectively underexposes to protect highlights.
- High ISO NR reduces noise, but at the cost of fine detail.
- Auto Lighting Optimizer and similar processing may reveal existing noise more, but they don’t really create new noise.
- Peripheral illumination correction can make dark corners brighter, which can also make noise easier to see there.
Best practice if you plan to edit later:
- Shoot RAW for maximum control.
- Avoid underexposure when possible; give the sensor more light.
- Don’t be afraid to raise ISO if needed to avoid very dark shadows.
- Apply noise reduction in post, where tools are usually better and more selective than in-camera JPEG processing.
So yes, some settings can make noise more visible, but the main fix is better exposure and RAW processing. Some shadow noise on a 5D Mark II, especially when brightening underexposed areas, is normal.
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