Filters and Grainy images

[rickp1]

I was down in the Florida Keys yesterday just relaxing an i took some pictures with my 50D. However most of the images came out somewhat grainy. The one thing I did do that I haven't done in the past was to stack 2 Singh Ray filters, a LB Color Intensifier and an LB Warming Polarizer. As a result I had to increase the exposure and sometimes the ISO, but with the ISO i never went over 400, as a matter of fact I usually shot at about 100 or 200.

So the question is can stacking the filters case the grainy effect if not what could have?

Thanks

[OsmosisStudios]

It's all ISO, but you could also simply be seeing softness (from the filters). Can you post a 100% crop of an offending image?

[rickp1]

Here is one image. I've done no PP on any of them at all. This image has ISO 100. I also included the link to a few more I posted with higher ISO's as comparison.
I feel the grainy look is still unacceptable with such a low ISO in this example, but what do I know. LOL
Any input would be really appreciated.

GOT IT!!!!!

The rest are here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rickima...7624079208536/



Shot in RAW
Exposure: 1/30
Aperture: f/9.0
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 50mm

[dcclark]

Looks like your upload didn't work. I'd like to see it, too, since this sounds a bit strange...

[dcclark]

OK, I checked out the flickr set. I don't see any grain to speak of in those sets, but those are NOT viewable at 100% (only up to "large" size). If the images are scaled, then the scaling algorithm could easily overwhelm whatever it is that you're seeing. You really need to post a 100% crop from an image and point out exactly where the problem is.

[rickp1]

Got it. Sorry guys!!

[dcclark]

I still can't see anything "grainy" about the images. Can you point out exactly where you're seeing this?

[rickp1]

Ok!!! NOW i think I got it. I'm really sorry guys for for turning this into a soup sandwich of a question. I hope this is what you need to help me out.

What I'm looking at as grainy is the face, actually all the faces. To me they don't look clear, even at ISO 100. When my girlfriend and I were reviewing these last night that was the first thing we both noticed. She even used the word grainy.

Again thank you.

R.

[dcclark]

I don't recall the name, but Canon has some equivalent to Nikon's ADR, which "enhances" shadows and generally pretends to improve the dynamic range of their sensors. Someone else may be able to tell you the exact name. It's possible that that's what's causing the noise -- since your subject's face was in shadow, the camera may have bumped up the ISO for that area only, causing noise.

Incidentally, that wolud have been a great time to use fill-flash to fill out the shadows a bit!

[rickp1]

So i'm not seeing things, you agree about the noise? Would you say that amount of noise is normal for that ISO setting?

The reason I thought it might be the filters was because it never happened before. The only change was the stacking of the filters.

I even have a setting in the camera called "High ISO speed noise reduction" set to Strong.

I'll call Singh Ray as well to see if they have any input on this.

Good point about the fill flash

R.