Noise

[Fangman]

This is a series taken this morning setting the 350D on programme so theoretically exposure should remain standard and then going through my usual routine workflow. Curves (usually auto as with all these) Shadow highlight (no highlight just about 50% shadow and same setting for all) Unsharp mask (100% at 1 pixel setting for all - I did not bother to go to lighness chanel tfor these) iso setting 100-200-400-800-1600. All full frame.

100

200

400

800

1600

100 cropped

1600 cropped
These would represent an average cropping to fit a visiting blue tit and i would run Neat image, painting back over the main subject with history brush if noise removal had taken detail out. Tried to keep as near to a standard to show noise on the 350D

 

[CT]

Hmmm. I have to say you're getting more noise there than I would have expected from a 350D Phil. I have no qualms at all about bumping the ISO up to 800 or 1000 with the 1DMK2n, and I often don't need to run noise reduction, but when I do I just run it on the bg - not the boyd.

The 20D is much better than your examples too although I haven't pushed ISOs to the same extent - it's taken a bit of a back seat since I got the 1D.

I'd say it's definitely the biggest part of your problem . Perhaps you've just been unlucky and got a noisy sensor?

It was interesting to see you say you run NR on the whole image and then use the history brush to undo NR on the bird. I've meant to ask a couple of times if you use NR. In the very recent Goldfinch pics you posted, it was bugging me that there were areas of the bird showing fine detail and others having that blurred plasticky appearance you get with NR.

I'd try using the magic wand to select the whole bg incrementally. (sing out if you don't know how) That way you get a clean edge to the bird where NR ends and you don't risk missing any bits when you use the history brush. It still wouldn't solve the problem of noise spoiling the feather detail on the actual subjects, but that's preferable to the NR look.

Before you condemn your sensor altogether I'd just take some shots without that converter which just might the culprit, unlikely though it seems. The otber thing you really need to do is beg or borrow another lens from someone just to be absolutely sure you've eliminated all lthe possibilities.

At the range you're getting these shots Phil, you should be getting knockout images and I'm sure it's something kit related stopping you.

 

[Fangman]

These above were taken with a converter, but recently most posted pics were as suggested without and tighter cropping. I will try a few with my old 70-300 sigma and compare with the 70-200 2.8

 

[russdaz]

you seem to have alot more noise at 200 then i get at 800 on my 350d

 

[moomike]

You are actually showing more noise at ISO100 than I get at ISO800 on my original 1D!! (4mp) I think there is definately something wrong with your camera mate!