Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!

mwc · 09-03-2010, 07:32 PM

I have a Pentax k-m DSLR. It is about 1-1/2 years old. Took great photos for first year or so. Lately all photos have come out grainy. Usually solid colors are the worst. Like the sky or background of trees. Any suggestion as to what the problem may be? I attached a photo taken the other day on the automatic sports setting. Usually use the auto settings.

Attached Images

Adam · 09-03-2010, 07:56 PM

I bet you the ISO is set to a high setting- could you please re-post the photo with exif data embedded?

aleonx3 · 09-03-2010, 08:59 PM

Looks like you are not using the lens hood, as it looks like vignetting at the corners; or may be the way you are holding the camera/lens. Check the iso setting on the camera.

knoxploration · 09-03-2010, 09:02 PM

Originally posted by aleonx3

Looks like you are not using the lens hood, as it looks like vignetting at the corners; or may be the way you are holding the camera/lens. Check the iso setting on the camera.

Having done the same thing myself, I'd say the vignetting is simply that he/she's shooting through a chain-link fence.

And I'll throw in a vote for "Check the ISO sensitivity", too.

SpecialK · 09-03-2010, 09:05 PM

Sports mode no doubt increases the ISO to get a higher shutter speed. And, yeah, that's fence, not vignetting.

aleonx3 · 09-03-2010, 09:05 PM

Originally posted by knoxploration

Having done the same thing myself, I'd say the vignetting is simply that he/she's shooting through a chain-link fence.

And I'll throw in a vote for "Check the ISO sensitivity", too.

That explains..

knoxploration · 09-03-2010, 09:12 PM

Originally posted by SpecialK

Sports mode no doubt increases the ISO to get a higher shutter speed. And, yeah, that's fence, not vignetting.

Good catch, didn't notice the sports mode reference.

Marc Sabatella · 09-04-2010, 09:14 AM

While sports mode would indeed be likely to push ISO higher higher given the chance, the OP says they usually use Auto, and I assume they have the issue there too. So I'd say they either inadvertently set a high ISO, or else set the Auto ISO range to be unnecessarily higher. Without the EXIF in the photo, it's hard to say, but at the posted size, the picture doesn't actually look particularly noisy to me. I'm sure it looks worse viewed at 100%. But I'll guess that's actually only ISO 400.

misscream · 09-04-2010, 02:28 PM

I have a K-m and when my ISO is set to auto it usually jumps up to 800-1000. I always switch it to 200-400 and I never really have a problem with noise. If you have your camera set to Auto then you probably just have the ISO set to that as well.

crossmr · 09-07-2010, 09:28 AM

I never let my KM auto choose the ISO. I pretty much always keep it set to 200 unless I'm doing some action or something like that. If it's a really sunny day I'll set it to 100. I also found that it would start to auto-choose unnecessarily high ISOs.

09-03-2010, 07:32 PM	#1
mwc New Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 1	K-m model - grainy photos I have a Pentax k-m DSLR. It is about 1-1/2 years old. Took great photos for first year or so. Lately all photos have come out grainy. Usually solid colors are the worst. Like the sky or background of trees. Any suggestion as to what the problem may be? I attached a photo taken the other day on the automatic sports setting. Usually use the auto settings. Attached Images

09-03-2010, 07:56 PM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,608	I bet you the ISO is set to a high setting- could you please re-post the photo with exif data embedded? Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Nooby with grainy photos	plucci	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	9	01-04-2010 02:35 PM
For Sale - Sold: Bogen Manfrotto Monopod (Model 680) with Swivel/Tilt head (Model 3229)	Schleiermacher	Sold Items	1	09-30-2009 12:21 PM
Grainy Viewfinder	ingi	Pentax DSLR Discussion	8	06-25-2008 04:21 AM
grainy photos	strictlypentax	Photographic Technique	21	06-10-2007 08:45 AM
Help! why is this photo so grainy?	NaClH2O	Pentax DSLR Discussion	25	01-05-2007 11:53 PM

09-03-2010, 08:59 PM	#3
aleonx3 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brampton, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,996	Looks like you are not using the lens hood, as it looks like vignetting at the corners; or may be the way you are holding the camera/lens. Check the iso setting on the camera.

09-03-2010, 09:02 PM	#4
knoxploration Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 846	Originally posted by aleonx3 Looks like you are not using the lens hood, as it looks like vignetting at the corners; or may be the way you are holding the camera/lens. Check the iso setting on the camera. Having done the same thing myself, I'd say the vignetting is simply that he/she's shooting through a chain-link fence. And I'll throw in a vote for "Check the ISO sensitivity", too.

09-03-2010, 09:05 PM	#5
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,482	Sports mode no doubt increases the ISO to get a higher shutter speed. And, yeah, that's fence, not vignetting.

09-03-2010, 09:05 PM	#6
aleonx3 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brampton, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,996	Originally posted by knoxploration Having done the same thing myself, I'd say the vignetting is simply that he/she's shooting through a chain-link fence. And I'll throw in a vote for "Check the ISO sensitivity", too. That explains..

09-03-2010, 09:12 PM	#7
knoxploration Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 846	Originally posted by SpecialK Sports mode no doubt increases the ISO to get a higher shutter speed. And, yeah, that's fence, not vignetting. Good catch, didn't notice the sports mode reference.

09-04-2010, 09:14 AM	#8
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	While sports mode would indeed be likely to push ISO higher higher given the chance, the OP says they usually use Auto, and I assume they have the issue there too. So I'd say they either inadvertently set a high ISO, or else set the Auto ISO range to be unnecessarily higher. Without the EXIF in the photo, it's hard to say, but at the posted size, the picture doesn't actually look particularly noisy to me. I'm sure it looks worse viewed at 100%. But I'll guess that's actually only ISO 400.

09-04-2010, 02:28 PM	#9
misscream New Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: New Brunswick Posts: 10	I have a K-m and when my ISO is set to auto it usually jumps up to 800-1000. I always switch it to 200-400 and I never really have a problem with noise. If you have your camera set to Auto then you probably just have the ISO set to that as well.

09-07-2010, 09:28 AM	#10
crossmr Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Liverpool, UK Posts: 318	I never let my KM auto choose the ISO. I pretty much always keep it set to 200 unless I'm doing some action or something like that. If it's a really sunny day I'll set it to 100. I also found that it would start to auto-choose unnecessarily high ISOs.

K-m model - grainy photos

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!