Is this noise pattern normal?

pre86 · 08-17-2009, 06:15 PM

Hello all,

So I just received my first Pentax =)! It's a K20D with an 18-55WR. I have just been doing some tests with it just to make sure I got a good sample and I noticed an interesting noise pattern. Whenever noise appears it tends to appear heavily at the top and bottom more so than the middle of the frame. I am including a dark frame at a high iso (3200) to show you what I am talking about. Please understand I am just trying to ensure that there is nothing wrong with this camera so I don't have to send it back. I am coming from Nikon and I know that all camera manufacturers have different noise patterns. I just want to know if this is normal. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks much!

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

**Ash** · 08-17-2009, 07:09 PM

Welcome to the forum.
Congrats on the purchase, hope you get lots of enjoyment form it.
Now your picture attachment doesn't tell us much - in fact I can hardly see any noise, what I'm rather seeing is JPEG artifact appearing as slight tonal differences throughout the image running in mottled horizontal bands - this is not noise.

Then, of course, shooting at ISO 3200, you're going to get a significant amount of noise in the shadows of a real-life photo, esp. if exposure is 'pushed' up later...

From what you've given us it appears as if your camera is fine - but this aint for sure until there are some real life images (along with all the EXIF metadata of the images) to see its performance.

pre86 · 08-17-2009, 08:06 PM

Hi Ash,

Thank you for the warm welcome and the comment. Just to clarify I took the picture with the lens cap on. I can see what you mean by the presence of jpeg artifacts. I actually took the picture as a jpeg and it looked like noise (distinct grains) until I resized it for the post at which point it looked blocky like a jpeg artifact. I imagine it is because I resized it that the artifacts emerged. I will take a couple of raw shots and resize then convert them to see if I develop the same results. I will keep you updated!

pre86 · 08-17-2009, 09:32 PM

Okay here is an example shot with the lens cap on Shot in RAW. Same thing. Lots of graininess on the top and bottom of the frame but not as much in the middle (relatively speaking). The image is at ISO 3200 and I added +1.09 exposure comp before converting it to a JPEG in order to accentuate the effect I am seeing. Has anyone else experienced this with their K20D? I am sorry if I sound ignorant I have just never seen this before =(. I just want to make sure I do not have a defective sensor. Thanks again!

Attached Images

pre86 · 08-17-2009, 09:34 PM

Again I don't know why when I upload the image the noise looks like JPEG artifacts instead of grain...but it does.

dlacouture · 08-18-2009, 09:49 AM

Maybe you'll find this of interest : K20 Black pixels...

An application fixing this problem is currently being developped over at DPReview, so be sure something will be available soon.

pre86 · 08-18-2009, 10:21 AM

That is exactly what I am experiencing! I guess I didn't notice it was purple since I am legally colorblind =). So would it be safe to say this is normal? I will definitely keep na eye out for the application from DPreview. Thanks again!

MJB DIGITAL · 08-18-2009, 10:38 AM

we colorblind folk make good photographers

pre86 · 08-18-2009, 11:17 AM

Here here!!! We are the masters of tonal gradations =)...though they banned me from the processing lab at the camera store I used to work at haha...something about the colors being all wrong =P

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08-17-2009, 07:09 PM	#2
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Welcome to the forum. Congrats on the purchase, hope you get lots of enjoyment form it. Now your picture attachment doesn't tell us much - in fact I can hardly see any noise, what I'm rather seeing is JPEG artifact appearing as slight tonal differences throughout the image running in mottled horizontal bands - this is not noise. Then, of course, shooting at ISO 3200, you're going to get a significant amount of noise in the shadows of a real-life photo, esp. if exposure is 'pushed' up later... From what you've given us it appears as if your camera is fine - but this aint for sure until there are some real life images (along with all the EXIF metadata of the images) to see its performance.

08-17-2009, 08:06 PM	#3
pre86 New Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 9 Original Poster	Hi Ash, Thank you for the warm welcome and the comment. Just to clarify I took the picture with the lens cap on. I can see what you mean by the presence of jpeg artifacts. I actually took the picture as a jpeg and it looked like noise (distinct grains) until I resized it for the post at which point it looked blocky like a jpeg artifact. I imagine it is because I resized it that the artifacts emerged. I will take a couple of raw shots and resize then convert them to see if I develop the same results. I will keep you updated!

08-17-2009, 09:32 PM	#4
pre86 New Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 9 Original Poster	Okay here is an example shot with the lens cap on Shot in RAW. Same thing. Lots of graininess on the top and bottom of the frame but not as much in the middle (relatively speaking). The image is at ISO 3200 and I added +1.09 exposure comp before converting it to a JPEG in order to accentuate the effect I am seeing. Has anyone else experienced this with their K20D? I am sorry if I sound ignorant I have just never seen this before =(. I just want to make sure I do not have a defective sensor. Thanks again! Attached Images

08-17-2009, 09:34 PM	#5
pre86 New Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 9 Original Poster	Again I don't know why when I upload the image the noise looks like JPEG artifacts instead of grain...but it does.

08-18-2009, 09:49 AM	#6
dlacouture Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Var, South of France Photos: Albums Posts: 1,074	Maybe you'll find this of interest : K20 Black pixels... An application fixing this problem is currently being developped over at DPReview, so be sure something will be available soon.

08-18-2009, 10:21 AM	#7
pre86 New Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 9 Original Poster	That is exactly what I am experiencing! I guess I didn't notice it was purple since I am legally colorblind =). So would it be safe to say this is normal? I will definitely keep na eye out for the application from DPreview. Thanks again!

08-18-2009, 10:38 AM	#8
MJB DIGITAL Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: st. louis Posts: 1,170	we colorblind folk make good photographers

08-18-2009, 11:17 AM	#9
pre86 New Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 9 Original Poster	Here here!!! We are the masters of tonal gradations =)...though they banned me from the processing lab at the camera store I used to work at haha...something about the colors being all wrong =P

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