Noise in 550D video
 

I have been experiencing some noise in my 550D video, in average to low light situations.
I run the camera in ALL MANUAL settings with highlight tone priority, Peripheral illumination correct, and Auto Lighting Optimizer all disabled.

I just posted a clip online using 3 different lenses to show my point.
If you look closely at the clip, especially on the Tamron lens sample at 400/800 ISO, take a look at the frame with the black (darker) border on it on the far right, and notice the color noise that I'm experiencing.

There was no color work done to any of the clips, and the noise is more noticeable at full frame 1920 x 1080 30P footage.

As it gets scaled down, the noise is less and less, so at 720P it's noticeable, and at SD it's practically gone. Also, some of the recompression has taken some of the grain out as well.

My concern is at HD not SD though.

Any ideas or suggestions anyone.

Hi Michael!

You might want to try dropping the sharpness in the presets. I have it all the way down in all my picture profiles.

Isn't it normal at higher ISO to have noise?

Looks more like compression artifacts.
Stop looking for it.
As suggested, lower sharpening.
You wanted more for $800?

Thanks Joel, I didn't think about the sharpening. I'll give it a try.

It's funny that many want sharp HD image.
But if they want to get a cinematic look, then it's not about sharpness, but lighting and exposure.

Oh and Don, I didn't expect the world for $800, but was trying to figure out why some are getting very clean black (darks) areas, while I was seeing noise. =)

I've found that crushing the blacks with something like Magic Bullet is essential.

Yeah I am able to crush the blacks, which does help, but I was wondering if there was a way that I could get a cleaner image out of the camera.

Guess h.264 compression doesn't help any... =(

BTW, Joel do you have the sharpness all the way down in your custom presets, or ALL of your camera presets?

Hey,

In Movie mode all except Landscape have the sharpness at its lowest setting. Standard (S) is 0 for everything - default, User Def. 3 is contrast down a click, User Def. 2 contrast down 2 clicks, and User Def. 1 is down 3 clicks. I could be totally wrong, but it seems like reducing the contrast opens up the blacks and makes dark scenes seem brighter, so having profiles with less contrast available makes sense. With those main ones I also have Portrait set up with a little less Saturation and Contrast and Landscape with a big boost in Saturation and normal Contrast. I see myself mostly shooting in User Def. 3 though - with just slightly less contrast and sharpness way down.

Joel. thanks for the reply.
I'll give it a shot.

Michael,

what are your findings with the noise issue? I am planning on getting a T2i...

I came to the realization, that I was being to critical. When I showed the footage to others, the response I got was this is normal at the ISO that I was shooting at, and especially flat large gray areas.

If I keep my ISO around 200-400, I am fine, and happy with the results.

How are you enjoying the camera Michael? Hope you can make the next BVA meeting. We maybe talking about DSLR's. Pretty high possibility.

I'm loving it, when I gt the chance to use it. =(

Been so busy lately, that I haven\'t had time to play with it.
But I finally just finished off my backlog, and am free and clear.

That is until this Saturday, when I start up with weddings again.

Aye karumba.

I hear ya there. My season started early in March. May was pretty decent and I\'m chucking away at the backlog. I\'m enjoying it as well and have shot 7 jobs with it only. I\'ll be talking about all my frustrations if we talk about DSLR\'s at the next meeting.