VR Features
Canon EOS 40D
Image noise
Written by tUx and filed under Reviews > Digital Video & Photography
Published on October 18, 2007, 11:52 am
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Let us take a look at the EOS 40D noise performance. We used the same object and shot at the same point to compare the image noise levels at different ISO settings. One side of the small box we are using is brightly lit, while the other side is dark as a shadow is casted.
The box highlighted in red is where we took a 100% crop for review. No processing whatsoever was done to any of the images used.
Images are very clean up to ISO 400.
At ISO 800, there is a very slight bit of noise visible, but probably you wouldn't take much notice of it at all.
The amount of noise seen as the ISO is scaled up in 1/3-stops increases linearly. At ISO 1600, we can see some noise, but well, you could go ahead and use it without any worries. :)
Bumping up to the ISO 3200 setting (ISO expansion enabled in the Custom Function menu), the noise is obvious. However, the image is still usable at full crop, and if you were to scale it down for printing of small photographs or for web use, the noise seen in the image would be minimal.
Very minor detail loss occurs once the sensitivity level reaches ISO 1600 and ISO 3200. The amount of detail retained at these ISO levels is more than what DSLRs of other brands in this category (at least) can offer to the photographer.
The only gripe I have here is the inability to increase the sensitivity in 1/3-stops for the gap between ISO 1600 and ISO 3200.
The box highlighted in red is where we took a 100% crop for review. No processing whatsoever was done to any of the images used.
Image taken @ ISO 100
Image taken @ ISO 200
Image taken @ ISO 400
Image taken @ ISO 800
Image taken @ ISO 1000
Image taken @ ISO 1250
Image taken @ ISO 1600
Image taken @ ISO 3200
Images are very clean up to ISO 400.
At ISO 800, there is a very slight bit of noise visible, but probably you wouldn't take much notice of it at all.
The amount of noise seen as the ISO is scaled up in 1/3-stops increases linearly. At ISO 1600, we can see some noise, but well, you could go ahead and use it without any worries. :)
Bumping up to the ISO 3200 setting (ISO expansion enabled in the Custom Function menu), the noise is obvious. However, the image is still usable at full crop, and if you were to scale it down for printing of small photographs or for web use, the noise seen in the image would be minimal.
Very minor detail loss occurs once the sensitivity level reaches ISO 1600 and ISO 3200. The amount of detail retained at these ISO levels is more than what DSLRs of other brands in this category (at least) can offer to the photographer.
The only gripe I have here is the inability to increase the sensitivity in 1/3-stops for the gap between ISO 1600 and ISO 3200.