A Noisy Evening for soccer

[photog1107]

Hi... I am wondering about noise reduction and graininess problems with my evening shots of sports. This is taken with my Canon XTi at ISO 800 with a 1/400 2.8 exposure (70-200 IS zoom). I keep reading about higher-end cameras' ability to have much greater ISO settings, like 2000, 3200, etc... which obviously helps with exposure, but wouldn't that just introduce more grain/noise? Would the technical results be better than what I am getting here with my XTi?



Thanks for any/all comments advice. Am trying to understand the limitations of my current camera body and when/if it makes sense to take it up a notch.

Deb

[jdepould]

Not all cameras are created equal. The current generation of full-frame or near-full frame bodies can handle 3200+ pretty easily. I shoot my D700 up there all the time.

Moved to technique.

[nathanbarlow]

the noise isnt too bad on that shot.

[FormElement]

Originally Posted by photog1107

Thanks for any/all comments advice. Am trying to understand the limitations of my current camera body and when/if it makes sense to take it up a notch.

Deb

That's a nice shot. I refer to dxomark.com for my camera dreaming moments. They have data that will hopefully help answer your question. Specifically, look at the low light ISO tab. Be warned, if you are a gear geek, you will fall in love and never be fully happy. (Just looking at the performance of Phase 1 and Hasselblad bodies is practically pornography, and completely out of the financial reach and photographic skill of most people anyway)

For example, on low light noise, the D700 is pretty much the cat's meow at the moment on a dollars for noise quality basis. The 5D MKII comes in an extremely close second, and has almost double the pixel density (21MP vs 12MP). It's an even split depending on who you ask and what you own already.

If it matters, and you have a few dollars to blow, the 7D is a very (very) nice balance between cost and speed. I'm agonizing about my next body already. It's looking like next spring for me. Since I already shoot Canon, It will probably be the 5D MKII.

Oh...noise reduction. I tried several professional programs, and was impressed enough to actually purchase Nik Dfine.

[FormElement]

I keep reading about higher-end cameras' ability to have much greater ISO settings, like 2000, 3200, etc... which obviously helps with exposure, but wouldn't that just introduce more grain/noise? Would the technical results be better than what I am getting here with my XTi?

Yes you can get substantially better performance for a lot more money. The 5dMKII or D700 will produce less noise at 3200 than the XTi does at 800. That's a full two stops faster, for at least five times the price, and an additional investment in full frame lenses for many thousands more (which you have clearly already started with your 70-200 f/2.8).

[photog1107]

As I suspected, money will solve all my problems...haha. Seriously, however, if I did pull together enough to go for the 7D (the MK series is way out of the question), can I expect similar ISO performance results compared to the higher end cameras? I am leery of the claim that it has 100-6400 normal range, that is "expandable" to 12,800. Right now, with my XTi, I almost never go above 800 for grain/noise factor. 1600 is pretty awful. Do you think the new 7D would allow that additional capability at 3200/6400/12,800 and still provide quality shots?

Thanks for any additional thoughts. This is a big decision!