Grain again! What's the deal?

[malko16]

I seem to be having the hardest time w/ grainy photos lately. I took this one of my daughter yesterday and yet AGAIN I have nothing put pure grain. Any thoughts on how to smooth this out?? My ISO was set on auto and I did not use a flash. It was at night while she stood under the lamp. I'm not sure what I keep doing wrong. SHould I be using the flash w/ a diffuser on it?

EXIF
Model: Canon Rebel XSi
ISO 1600
55mm
f/5.6
1/40sec

[VegasMike]

Without seeing the image, your EXIF data shows a high iso and a slow shutter speed. This would account for the noise. If it was a low light shot you were trying to get a flash might have been used. Apparently the lamp she was standing under did not give off much light.

[Sterling]

^^^ I agree. You can't expect a super smooth image at ISO 1600. Obviously, you need way more light.

[malko16]

I can not attach my picture for some reason.... i've restarted my computer and everything and its not working. Maybe this link will work..

Picasa Web Albums - Danielle

[VegasMike]

Originally Posted by malko16

I can not attach my picture for some reason.... i've restarted my computer and everything and its not working. Maybe this link will work..

Picasa Web Albums - Danielle

It's not your computer. There have been reported problems with members uploading their images. I went to your link to see your image. I'm sure it is your iso being too high. Of course if you lower it you would also need to slow your shudder speed or open your aperture. If you are using the kit 18-55mm lens then at 55mm you already have the aperture as open as it will go. If you slow your shudder speed down too much you may get some blur from camera shake but I think that lens has the image stabilization that you can try. Otherwise you'll need some other light to help you.

[TerryMC]

Canon XSi at ISO 1600 is noisy. Just check out Canon EOS 450D / Digital Rebel XSi Review: 19. Photographic tests (Noise): Digital Photography Review.

For low light photography without flash, you should invest in a fast lens such as the 50 f/1.8 lens.

[BCampbell]

Everyone else already gave you the basics, just adding a couple thoughts.

It is your ISO. If you are happy with grainy pics, it's no problem. I took the below photo at a friend's show, and yes the entire shoot is horribly noisy, but I'm okay with that especially at smaller sizes:

Note that redicing the image size will help smooth out the noise, so you could resize and then try a light unsharp mask. There are noise reduction tools, too.

Other than that, you should get off of auto ISO first. If she can stand still for you, you can drop the ISO and the shutter speed also to compensate. Going to ISO800 would only require you to double the shutter speed to 1/20, probably needing a tripod but not so slow that she can't stay still long enough for a clean shot. ISO400 would mean 1/10th, and you might start running into problems there.

A faster lens would surely work, f/4 (one stop) would let you drop to ISO800 as well, and f/2.8 (two stops) to ISO400. Below f/2.8 I think you'll run into issues with too shallow a DOF, if her eye is in focus something like her ear might not be.

Good luck, I think you may, at this point, just have to learn to love noise.