Why do my Canon 7D RAW files look noisier than my 50D images?
Asked 5/27/2011
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I upgraded from a Canon 50D to a Canon 7D. The images looked great on the camera LCD, but after importing the RAW files into Lightroom and DxO I’m seeing more visible noise than I expected, even at low ISO settings. The in-camera JPEGs look much better, so I’m wondering whether this is normal for the 7D, whether RAW files need more post-processing, and if there are any settings or shooting habits that help reduce noise.
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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Because of the pixel density I would say. Your 50D had the highest pixel density in Canon's lineup when it was released, at 4.5MP/cm2. At that density the lens becomes the limiting factor, you need good glass. A few reviews pointed out that the image quality of the 50D wasn't much better than the 40D it was replacing actually, with a density of 3.1 MP/cm2. This is even more true for the 7D, which topped the 50D with a 5.4 MP/cm² density. For reference, the full frame Canon 5D II is at 2.4 MP/cm2.
From a theoretical point of view pixel density should affect the amount of random digital noise and the dynamic range in the image the camera produces. Granted, a lot is going on under the hood in the 7D to reduce/fix this "limitation", but that could be why you feel there is more noise in your 7D than in your 50D.
I have a 5DMII. Friend of mine bought a 7D. We tested in a room I had used my 5DMII in, and I was surprised by the noise myself, it didn't have the same "quality" as what I would see on the 5DMII. Granted, we should have put my L lens on his 7D, instead of his kit lens. He sold it to buy a 5DMII.
Originally by user1273. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1273
15y ago
0
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This can be normal. The 7D packs more pixels into the same APS-C sensor area than the 50D, so its higher pixel density can make noise more visible when you inspect RAW files closely. With sensors this dense, lens quality and careful processing matter more, and the gain in detail doesn’t always look cleaner straight out of RAW conversion.
Also, RAW files will usually look noisier than in-camera JPEGs because the camera applies its own noise reduction and tuning to JPEGs. If the JPEGs look good, that’s a strong sign the camera is behaving normally and your RAW workflow may just need more noise reduction and sharpening adjustment.
Some shooters also report the best results on Canon bodies at ISO 160 multiples, so that’s worth testing for yourself.
In short: the 7D isn’t necessarily defective. Expect to do a bit more post-processing with RAW files, use good lenses, and compare images at the same output size rather than only at 100% zoom.
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