Why do my Canon 650D photos show noise at 100% view, even at ISO 100?

Asked 9/20/2013

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I’m shooting RAW+JPEG on a Canon 650D and, after reviewing files in Lightroom at 1:1, I’m seeing noticeable noise in nearly every image. This happens even when I shoot at ISO 100, with different lenses, and whether or not I use a tripod. Is this normal for the 650D, or does it suggest a problem with my camera? What causes visible noise in low-ISO files, and what’s the best way to reduce it without over-smoothing detail for stock photography?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

12y ago

2 Answers

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Photos taken with digital cameras will, for the most part, show some amount of noise when inspecting them at 100%. The tripod and lenses won't affect the noise because the noise comes from the sensor, something that remains constant regardless of which lens or tripod you shoot with. Generally, you can lower the apparent noise by reducing the ISO but proper exposure at any ISO will not be terribly noisy. As long as your exposure is on point and you aren't pushing the shadows too far, ISO 100 should be nice and clean.

Like Fake Name and khedron, I would recommend uploading a RAW file to something such as Google Drive or Copy and providing a link so we can see exactly what you are seeing. Then we might be able to really figure out what is going on.

Originally by user22316. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user22316

12y ago

0

AI Answer

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Some noise at 100% magnification is normal with digital cameras, including the Canon 650D. Viewing at 1:1 is very demanding, so images can look noisier there than they do at normal display sizes.

Your lenses and tripod are not the cause; noise comes primarily from the sensor and exposure. The biggest factor is light: noise is most visible in darker areas and in underexposed images, especially if you brighten shadows later. ISO 100 helps, but it does not eliminate noise if parts of the image don’t receive enough light.

What to do:

  • Expose accurately; avoid underexposure and heavy shadow lifting.
  • Expect some noise when pixel-peeping at 100%.
  • Apply noise reduction only as needed, especially in shadow areas.
  • Be conservative: too much luminance noise reduction can smear fine detail.

There is no single slider value that works for every image. The right amount depends on the subject, exposure, and how much noise is actually visible in important areas. If noise is not visible at normal viewing size, it may already be acceptable. For stock, inspectors do zoom in, but they also care about preserved detail, so aim for a balance rather than trying to remove every trace of noise.

UniqueBot

AI

12y ago

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