ISO Problem

[Rossi42080]

I know there are mutiple things wrong with this image. The WB is off for one thing. Also I used manual focus and didn't pay attention to it when I was taking them. But the light was low and I didn't want to use my flash, so I turned the ISO up. Is that why this picture came out really grainy? What else could I have done to make this a decent shot? Higher shutter speed?

Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks



Camera: Nikon D60
Exposure: 0.1 sec (1/10)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 800
Exposure Bias: 0 EV

[inkista]

Um... blown $100 on a 50mm f/1.8 lens?

You're pushing the limits of the 18-55 kit lens in this case. You're wide open at f/5.6, your iso is maxed out to 800, and you're at the limits of stabilized handholding with 1/10s (as it is, a little motion blur still registered).

If you'd used a 50mm f/1.8 instead, wide open, you'd have three and a third more stops to work with. If you shot at f/2, you could throw one stop at the shutter speed, and get it up to 1/20s, and two stops at the iso and dial down to 200, and you'd have a much narrower depth of field with the same exposure you've got here.

[Rossi42080]

Thanks inkista. That makes perfect sense.
I'm slowly gettin better, just need to keep all the different aspects in mind when shooting.

[steelese]

So I am going to explain how ISO works and it will help you understand why the image is so grainy. The closest thing you can compare this to is music. If you have a poor quality music system and you turn up the volume you start to hear a lot of noise in the speakers. Now this could be problems in the recording or errors in how the stereo is processing the music, but once you turn up the volume on the music you also turn up the volume on the errors and they become noticeable. A high end audio system doesn't have that problem at the same volume. However, eventually you will get to a volume where you will notice the noise. There is no perfect system.

Well, ISO is essentially turning up the volume on your sensor. In fact it is exactly like turning up the volume. A good camera combats this in two ways. First, it's sensor creates a minimum level of noise, much like a really good recording. Second, it has filters and processors that remove that noise as you take the picture. That is why the really expensive cameras have such high ISOs.

Now, your D60 is a good camera, but it doesn't have good high ISO performance. That doesn't matter though. What you really want is to keep the ISO as low as possible and open up the f-stop. This is true with any camera. The lower the ISO the better the image.

So just invest a $100 in a 50mm 1.8 and call it a lesson learned.

[kirbinster]

1/10th is too slow for hand-held. You really want to obey the rule of minimum speed being 1/focal length. Why the fear of flash? Bounce it off the ceiling so it does not get in the eyes. Also, you want your focus point to be on the eyes.

[sukanta]

Just a question.. Did you delibaretly make the WB this or it just happen... the warm skin tone of the baby is something that stand out of every tech prob...(the motion blur,noise..)
if you dont mind please tell me what exactly your lighting was...

[Eberbachl]

I agree about the 50mm 1.8 - great lens for low light. I have one, and it's great indoors.

You already know about the focus (and camera shake), and WB.

As for grain - I don't see excessive grain in that image. Sure there is some, but I don't think it's objectionable. The D60 isn't bad at 800 ISO in my opinion.

your iso is maxed out to 800

The ISO on the D60 is hardly maxed out at 800. It maxes out at 3200. I agree performance is poor when you push it that far though.

[Rossi42080]

Originally Posted by sukanta

Just a question.. Did you delibaretly make the WB this or it just happen... the warm skin tone of the baby is something that stand out of every tech prob...(the motion blur,noise..)
if you dont mind please tell me what exactly your lighting was...

Hi Sukanta. My lighting was just from a regular (assuming a 75 watt) lamp within a bedroom. I didn't not have a flash other than my on camera one, the reason why I didn't want to use it. So it came out a little bit darker than this, which I then lightened up a little bit in PP. I might have touched the WB, but if so it was a minor change.

I'm going to take all the advice and get myself a 55mm 1.8 to try out. I'm also getting myself a better flash. Thank you all for the feedback. I feel I'm getting better every day.

[Eberbachl]

Yes - the 50mm f1.8 is lovely.

Get it

....don't be afraid of using the built in flash - it can yield good results.

If you want an external flash - I have the SB-600, which is great - the smaller SB-400 is reportedly excellent also.