Grainy pics?

[chengjoo]

ah..hi everyone..

just bought my 1st digital camera, Canon PowerShot A710IS.

Not a very "powderful" camera..i know..

Just a question out of my arsenal of many:

How can I take low-light pictures without my picture getting grainy?

For example:
dark
bright

(sorry for the hyperlink and not the actual picture...)

The brighter picture was taken using the Auto mode, while the darker pictures was taken using the manual mode. However, the dark picture turned out to be very grainy even though that IS the actual darkness of the surroundings. So how can I take a 'dark' picture, without it getting grainy?

Do i need any special filters of sorts?

 

[limyouliang]

longer exposure time............. mount on tripod

 

[ExplorerZ]

tripod...

 

[night86mare]

Grain is to do with ISO, USUALLY.

So if you want minimal grain/noise have lower ISO, and exposure must be LONG, depending on your aperture settings, anywhere from 1+ second to 15 seconds. Which is why tripod is almost a must-have. Of course if you want to be like me when I first started out and use makeshift surrounding objects as base, also can, just bring something to lay on whatever object you use to minimise dirt/water contact with your beloved cam. =D

 

[chengjoo]

so..as i gather from you all..just set a lower ISO, abt 100-200? or higher? and use a tripod to minimise movement..right?

 

[obewan]

so..as i gather from you all..just set a lower ISO, abt 100-200? or higher? and use a tripod to minimise movement..right?

ISO 200 and below should be ok. Depends on your camera brand and models. Some will have better noise control than others.
When using a tripod, try to switch off the IS function.

 

[CT 3833]

judging from your brighter photo, it does not look like a ISO problem. If you could show the Exif info of both shots, people would be able to provide more precise advice.

 

[chengjoo]

ah..okok..

info on the dark image:
exposure time - 1/640 sec
lens aperture - F/4
exposure compensation - 0 step
focal length - 6mm

info on the bright image:
exposure time - 1/20 sec
lens aperture - F/4
exposure compensation - 0 step
focal length - 6mm

eh..is it enuff info? sorry..i still v noob..

 

[Scaglietti]

ah..okok..

info on the dark image:
exposure time - 1/640 sec
lens aperture - F/4
exposure compensation - 0 step
focal length - 6mm

info on the bright image:
exposure time - 1/20 sec
lens aperture - F/4
exposure compensation - 0 step
focal length - 6mm

eh..is it enuff info? sorry..i still v noob..

Strange... the EXIF does not contain ISO information.

It seems that the dark photo was taken with a higher ISO. Both photos are taken at about the same time, but the shutter speed of the dark picture is very much higher... probably taken with high ISO... thus, you get grainy pictures. To avoid grainy pictures, set to a lower ISO.

The dark photo was also not exposed correctly. I am not sure how your camera works in manual mode. I guess you have to read the manual in how to get the right exposure in manual mode. There should be some kind of meter for you to judge the exposure... adjust your shutter speed and aperture to get the right exposure using the meter.

BC

 

[fullerms]

Same problem here too. But the camera is a S3IS. Even daylight photos are turning out grainy at ISO 80. Tripod mounted, with IS enabled.

Shutter speed 4.97 sec
Exposure time 5 sec
Aperture f/3.5
ISO 200

Shutter speed 1/403 sec
Exposure time 1/400 sec
Aperture f/3.5
ISO 80

Image size on both photos is 2272 x 1704 pixels
Ideas anyone?

 

[leyo04]

fullerms, I also own an S3, for night shot iso200 is already grainy. try lower it for night shot.

as for the daytime shot, try f5 or f6. My cam is always set to iso100. I don't know if it's just me, but your 2nd photo is pretty much ok.

 

[ziploc]

Same problem here too. But the camera is a S3IS. Even daylight photos are turning out grainy at ISO 80. Tripod mounted, with IS enabled.

Shutter speed 4.97 sec
Exposure time 5 sec
Aperture f/3.5
ISO 200

Shutter speed 1/403 sec
Exposure time 1/400 sec
Aperture f/3.5
ISO 80

Image size on both photos is 2272 x 1704 pixels
Ideas anyone?

Your pics are fine and not grainy at all.

 

[genegoh]

Worry less on the grain and work on things like composition and exposure.
Know your camera and maximise it.
That was what I did when I started with a panasonic prosumer.
Shoot more dude!