Hi all,
Thank you for your compliments, and suggestions !
First of all, I tried to research high ISO capabilities of my K-3 , and found out this facts.
Try to not use L mode for ISO over 1600. Switch to M*** at 3200 , or 1600 depending on how picky you are
M*** mode is enough for me, and you will get less noise. ( depends on camera - I just decide 1600 is top limit for me - so on 3200 I change L*** file size, to M*** )
Never underexposed ( not matter on what ISO )
- of course, try to not get into that field by just bump ISO, try to fast appertures, and lower speed shutter, to usable one.
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This means - if you use 3200, and you're still little underexposed, later in LR. or else, you'll must increase exposure to get things right.
But in this case you will get , picture with more visible noise, almost like you use 6400 .
So it's better to use higher ISO, and get things right. In this case 6400, is more friendly then 3200 or 1600, because you can raise shutter speed for capture movements.
Blury and noisy is always worst, then just noisy .
If you shoot dark stage, people, singers,etc... the best advice is to shoot almost overexpose ( when highlights are turning into white ) ...
In that scenario, you will get proper exposure in shadows, and almost non visible noise in almost overexposed areas... This technique is waaay batter then underexposed.
--- Shooting in RAW- Well, I dislike shooting in RAW, but if necessary I can do that too... / here on boxers I shoot RAW in 15 photos, results are not much better /
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Also I tried to save my images in different JPEG files ( S, M, L ) to find out is compressing algorithm do the better job, and save in final JPEG better pixels instead of false color ones, because in M, and S files, it can reuse all sensor information, to do that...
I find out, this is very good technique also...
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hIGH ISO in darker condition VS high ISO in light
I'm sure, more experienced users, know the difference in visible noise, when you shoot for example ISO 6400 in some darker room and using same ISO 6400 for some sport action like tennis or car races in daylight ... It's obvious, when you have plenty of light, high iso camera capabilities are significantly raised .
And if you know that, you will decide, will you, or will you not try to lower your highest JPEG size, ( because this technique is a little suspicious - you must convince yourself by trying )
If I have a plenty of light, and I want to bump my ISO, because I want less shallower depth of field, and more speed for shutter, I will just go to 3200. or even 6400 - to get things right, and photos in bright, will have a very little noise, because sensor had much light to decide which colors are right,
which it can't in darker conditions. When is dark, it's dark, no matter how you bump your ISO, or put the camera on tripod, and shoot for 5 sec, at iso 100, sensor would not read colors.
Light conditions are very different for your decision for your highest usable ISO.
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So, my final conclusion is to use smaller file size- when I'm on limits with light - always try to bump exposure almost over limit with ALL ( appertures, ISO, and shutter speed )
( but not over the limit! ) and this way you will get better results...
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Reducing noise from RAW, after and turn it into original maximum (L***) file size is not so superb option, over just saving JPEG - if you miss to technique this details ,
remember, you will always get much more noise in shadows... and RAW will not help you much on that... because sensor can not read colors from dark so good.
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Also, shake reduction OFF, Noise reduction OFF... every time you can.
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Also, in output mode, when you shoot M***. or L*** try to lower your sharpness... Adding sharpening, you know that, for sure already, is adding noise also. So avoid to increase sharpnnes , or even lower it a little. Saturation and Contrast also must not be raised. Try to do that in post proccess.
If you have very sharp lens, you will not notice so much less sharpness, and contrast, but you will get less noise.
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I'm planning to do some more sports images in darker conditions, to see my results again. I'm sure positive it would be much more clear then this one.
Cheers !
