ISO

[Chris Andreae]

Not entirely an Affinity query but do some camera models produce more grainy images than others using the same ISO setting? I was talking to a colleague who was using the same Nikon D7000 as I do and he suggested that was the case. Judicious use of Affinity tools can improve results but only to a limited extent.

Chris

[Old Bruce]

15 minutes ago, Chris Andreae said:

Not entirely an Affinity query but do some camera models produce more grainy images than others using the same ISO setting?...

Assuming that by "grain" you mean noise. I would expect this to be the case. It isn't so much the camera model but the actual scene.

[Dave.Kelly]

There are apps/plugins which can reduce noise On1 and DXO have these also Topaz and Luminar but you have to buy the whole thing from them so they are more costly than On1 and Pureraw dxo.

[Meliora spero]

1 hour ago, Chris Andreae said:

Not entirely an Affinity query but do some camera models produce more grainy images than others using the same ISO setting? I was talking to a colleague who was using the same Nikon D7000 as I do and he suggested that was the case. Judicious use of Affinity tools can improve results but only to a limited extent.

Are you asking if identical cameras can have different ISO noise levels? That shouldn't be the case, but many factors can affect how much noise appears in an image. The amount of noise at ISO 1600 can vary greatly across different camera models and brands for many, many reasons.

The Nikon D7000 handles noise reasonably well for most purposes, but there are many ways to manage noise as a photographer - through technique, settings, choice of subject, choice of environment, timing, and especially by accepting it as part of photography’s history. Noise doesn’t worry most professionals or top art photographers, like Magnum photographers, for many subjects. Letting go of ‘ISO anxiety’ is an important step toward a higher level as a photographer.

But what problem are you trying to solve with your photos?

[Chris Andreae]

I was just curious to know if different models of cameras using the same lens/lens settings, the same aperture/shutter speed/image size etc etc, produced images with different levels of noise/graininess, using the same ISO. My friend, who also uses a D7000, suggested that was the case, that the D7000 became 'noisy/grainy' at a lower ISO than did some other cameras, ceteris paribus so to speak.

[bestman 8]

20 minutes ago, Chris Andreae said:

I was just curious to know if different models of cameras using the same lens/lens settings, the same aperture/shutter speed/image size etc etc, produced images with different levels of noise/graininess,

in short yes some camera's do handle higher iso's better than others but how much does it matter

 

[Meliora spero]

12 hours ago, Chris Andreae said:

I was just curious to know if different models of cameras using the same lens/lens settings, the same aperture/shutter speed/image size etc etc, produced images with different levels of noise/graininess, using the same ISO. My friend, who also uses a D7000, suggested that was the case, that the D7000 became 'noisy/grainy' at a lower ISO than did some other cameras, ceteris paribus so to speak.

Yes, there are physical and technological differences between classes of cameras, and additionally, differences in the algorithms and chips that produce the JPG files. Fundamentally, it's the sensor that matters most. The D7000 is a prosumer camera with great performance, though. 

Only keep the following in mind if you encounter what’s often the case: Be wary of the obsession that emerged when cameras became mainstream, particularly among men, where non-photographers focus primarily on gear - comparing ISO, bokeh, aperture, sensor size, and all kinds of measurable specs - yet they’ve never had their photos published or praised. You can’t sit in a café discussing aesthetics or composition with them. And that is what photography is really about.

Give your camera a hug. It was outstanding when it was released, and it still is. Nikon’s sensors in that type of camera have been excellent since 2008, and there haven’t been revolutions since then, just small improvements. Investing large sums in high-end cameras is generally foolish, as the differences are ones the audience will never notice—and, frankly, don’t care about when the photos are remarkable. It’s doubly foolish because, with software from Topaz, DxO, and Noiseware, noise can be removed very effectively with minimal to moderate effort. In other words, the conditions for photographing with full focus on the subject, even in the evening, have never been better. I wouldn’t use Affinity Photo for noise reduction, though. The algorithms aren’t great. Give the DxO trial a test run.

I’ve heard engineers from camera manufacturers openly admit that most improvements in cameras are just to drive sales because the media compares specs, and men buy like crazy to get a higher number on some parameter. It’s the same everywhere. I could easily write my thesis in 1995, 2005, 2015, or 2025 in the same word processor from 1995. The peak was reached in many industries years ago.

Focus on finding a favorite lens for your D7000 - after getting it, you’ll only come home to sleep. 🙂

[Old Bruce]

3 hours ago, Deperditus Cliens said:

Focus on finding a favorite lens for your D7000 - after getting it, you’ll only come home to sleep. 🙂

Took me a lot of years to learn that I should spend money on good glass, not so much on the camera with bells and whistles. 

[Meliora spero]

1 hour ago, Old Bruce said:

Took me a lot of years to learn that I should spend money on good glass, not so much on the camera with bells and whistles. 

I was lucky; I learned it early on. I’ve enjoyed cameras, but the best lenses have brought me to a state of mental ecstasy.

[Chris Andreae]

Thank you all for comment. The answer to my query appears to be rather as I suspected. For my purposes the issue is not too important but one wonders why Nikon made higher ISOs available in their D7000 if the results of using them are not what they might be.

[Meliora spero]

It’s just like the poorest mobile or radio-based phone connections, where the sound is barely audible. The point is to have the option to take the shot or make the call, rather than not being able to at all. The sensor supports these values, and they are offered to the customer. The extreme ISO values are intended for photographers in challenging light conditions, like photojournalists, sports photographers, and nature photographers who need to capture the moment even with added noise. They're also useful for night or astro photography, where light is minimal. For hobbyists, high ISO may not often be needed, but it provides the option to shoot in low light when necessary.

If you regularly need to use the highest ISO values and require less noise, then a (much) more expensive camera is the way to go.