Lenses and noise

Na Horuk · 02-13-2013, 05:53 AM

I know that noise is a sensor sensitivity property, but I can't help feeling that some lenses tend to produce noisier images. Maybe its just because they are slower or something, but has anyone else noticed this? With some lenses I notice noise even at ISO 100. To me, some lenses just appear to show more noise than others.Or am I just confusing "low resolution" with "noise"?

JinDesu · 02-13-2013, 06:00 AM

Noise is a property of signal. If a lens does not transmit a lot of signal, the sensor will generate noise.

This, if a lens normally exposes darker, it will show noise.

lytrytyr · 02-13-2013, 06:10 AM

Originally posted by Na Horuk

With some lenses I notice noise even at ISO 100.

In which areas of the image?

I do have the impression that some lenses produce a grainier-looking bokeh.

loco · 02-13-2013, 06:18 AM

I have gotten this impression too and even had a thread about it a year or two ago. I felt like my DA 35/2.4 produced cleaner images than my 18-55 kit lens. When I actually did some comparison shots of the same scene at higher ISOs, I found there to be no real practical difference in noise. So the perception was either it was all in my head, or more lkely, a matter of shooting different types of photos with the two lenses. I imagine it was related to what JinDesu suggested regarding exposure.

oxidized · 02-13-2013, 06:33 AM

In my experience, noise is the same across lens. The only difference that you might see is that given the same ISO, the amount of darks in the scene will affect the degree of the grain. If you shoot in darker conditions (lots of shadows) the noise in the shadows will be greater than in the highlights. On the other hand, if you are outdoors and lighting is dark but uniform, if you expose properly so that you dont have extreme shadows, even though the ISO remained unchanged the noise will appear to be less extreme.

Na Horuk · 02-13-2013, 11:29 AM

Originally posted by loco

So the perception was either it was all in my head, or more lkely, a matter of shooting different types of photos with the two lenses. I imagine it was related to what JinDesu suggested regarding exposure.

Yeah, I guess so.
And yes, noise usually shows up in the dark parts. Its impossible to always "expose to the right."

**Kerrowdown** · 02-13-2013, 02:21 PM

Originally posted by Na Horuk

Lenses and noise

Mine are all pretty quiet, but then I always manual focus.

alphanerd · 02-13-2013, 03:20 PM

Lenses with more flare can have a washed-out look that is similar to higher noise.

derekkite · 02-13-2013, 06:45 PM

I find that I can bump the iso a bit higher on my DA*300 compared to the older manual Tamron adaptall 300 and 400's. With my 400 f4 I wouldn't dare go higher than iso 320, but with the DA I can get similar results to 800 or so. Not sure why, maybe there is more resolution and detail available for the noise reduction algorithms to work with.

02-13-2013, 05:53 AM	#1
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Lenses and noise I know that noise is a sensor sensitivity property, but I can't help feeling that some lenses tend to produce noisier images. Maybe its just because they are slower or something, but has anyone else noticed this? With some lenses I notice noise even at ISO 100. To me, some lenses just appear to show more noise than others.Or am I just confusing "low resolution" with "noise"?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Noise and Over Exposure	Northern Soul	Pentax DSLR Discussion	6	06-20-2011 05:22 AM
K5 and 43 focusing noise	bluekorn	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	8	05-28-2011 09:02 AM
Do different lenses affect noise level/quality?	loco	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	25	05-19-2011 09:46 AM
Noise...noise..do I need software?	ejbpesca	Photographic Technique	15	04-07-2011 03:39 PM
More noise with DA lenses?	Tom M	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	7	05-17-2008 05:03 AM

02-13-2013, 06:00 AM	#2
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	Noise is a property of signal. If a lens does not transmit a lot of signal, the sensor will generate noise. This, if a lens normally exposes darker, it will show noise.

02-13-2013, 06:10 AM	#3
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by Na Horuk With some lenses I notice noise even at ISO 100. In which areas of the image? I do have the impression that some lenses produce a grainier-looking bokeh.

02-13-2013, 06:18 AM	#4
loco Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,846	I have gotten this impression too and even had a thread about it a year or two ago. I felt like my DA 35/2.4 produced cleaner images than my 18-55 kit lens. When I actually did some comparison shots of the same scene at higher ISOs, I found there to be no real practical difference in noise. So the perception was either it was all in my head, or more lkely, a matter of shooting different types of photos with the two lenses. I imagine it was related to what JinDesu suggested regarding exposure.

02-13-2013, 06:33 AM	#5
oxidized Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: USA - Delaware Photos: Albums Posts: 435	In my experience, noise is the same across lens. The only difference that you might see is that given the same ISO, the amount of darks in the scene will affect the degree of the grain. If you shoot in darker conditions (lots of shadows) the noise in the shadows will be greater than in the highlights. On the other hand, if you are outdoors and lighting is dark but uniform, if you expose properly so that you dont have extreme shadows, even though the ISO remained unchanged the noise will appear to be less extreme.

02-13-2013, 11:29 AM	#6
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186 Original Poster	Originally posted by loco So the perception was either it was all in my head, or more lkely, a matter of shooting different types of photos with the two lenses. I imagine it was related to what JinDesu suggested regarding exposure. Yeah, I guess so. And yes, noise usually shows up in the dark parts. Its impossible to always "expose to the right."

02-13-2013, 02:21 PM	#7
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,819	Originally posted by Na Horuk Lenses and noise Mine are all pretty quiet, but then I always manual focus.

02-13-2013, 03:20 PM	#8
alphanerd Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 119	Lenses with more flare can have a washed-out look that is similar to higher noise.

02-13-2013, 06:45 PM	#9
derekkite Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Nelson B.C. Posts: 3,782	I find that I can bump the iso a bit higher on my DA*300 compared to the older manual Tamron adaptall 300 and 400's. With my 400 f4 I wouldn't dare go higher than iso 320, but with the DA I can get similar results to 800 or so. Not sure why, maybe there is more resolution and detail available for the noise reduction algorithms to work with.