Canon 7D image noise in M-RAW

[Brachytron]

Hi

Does anyone know if image noise levels on the 7D are reduced when using the M-RAW mode, equivalent to ~10MP (not saying they are bad in full RAW mode, of course!)?

Thanks

 

[u8myufo]

(not saying they are bad in full RAW mode, of course!)?

Thanks

Ummm Well if you are not saying that they are bad in full Raw Mark why do you ask? :shrug: Have you read or been told that noise is less @10MP?

 

[arad85]

A quick google suggests that yes, it does improve the noise at a given ISO. It will be creating "superpixels" in downsizing the original image which means you have more light gathering ability for each output pixel.

You'll lose resolution, but hat may not be as important as lower noise (and, by the look of it, a brighter image)

 

[Brachytron]

Ummm Well if you are not saying that they are bad in full Raw Mark why do you ask? :shrug: Have you read or been told that noise is less @10MP?

Hi Rich. Fair question. I remember reading that to get the lower resolution, the pixels are grouped which theoretically increases the effective pixel size and therefore lowers the noise. I don't really need the 18MP that the 7D offers but could do with the other benefits over my 40D such as improved AF, so was just wondering if I dropped the resolution to what my 40D gives, would I gain even more noise reduction.

 

[Brachytron]

A quick google suggests that yes, it does improve the noise at a given ISO. It will be creating "superpixels" in downsizing the original image which means you have more light gathering ability for each output pixel.

You'll lose resolution, but hat may not be as important as lower noise (and, by the look of it, a brighter image)

Thanks Andy. Looks like I responded to Rich just as you were answering. As you have a 7D, have you used this mode and noticed a difference?

 

[arad85]

Thanks Andy. Looks like I responded to Rich just as you were answering. As you have a 7D, have you used this mode and noticed a difference?

Not got the 7D just yet (on order) but I've not used it on the 5D2 either. I think I'll be doing some investigation now you have planted the seed in my brain

 

[mrgubby]

I would guess that it uses maths to "average" the results from adjacent pixels so it is probably the same as in camera noise reduction then a resize to 10M.

It would be interesting to compare the straight from camera 10M to a full res shot put through PS

 

[u8myufo]

Hi Rich. Fair question. I remember reading that to get the lower resolution, the pixels are grouped which theoretically increases the effective pixel size and therefore lowers the noise. I don't really need the 18MP that the 7D offers but could do with the other benefits over my 40D such as improved AF, so was just wondering if I dropped the resolution to what my 40D gives, would I gain even more noise reduction.

A fair answer Mark and tbh I have not given it any thought untill you brought it up :shake: You can check out some of my shots in the bird section if you wish. Up till now I have always shot on full Raw, I do sometimes use noise reduction but that is mostly to clean the bg up a little which is done selectively. When light is really bad then I might use it on the subject as well.

 

[Brachytron]

Not got the 7D just yet (on order) but I've not used it on the 5D2 either. I think I'll be doing some investigation now you have planted the seed in my brain

Would be great if you could post some examples here if you do look deeper.

 

[arad85]

OK - will do...

 

[arad85]

So, I had a spare 30 minutes. On the 5D2 there are 3 raw settings, RAW, sRAW1 and sRAW2. I took one image at each setting (f4, 105mm, 1/400, ISO 6400) and then resized the RAW to sRAW2 size in photoshop. These are then 100% crops uploaded to

First, the raws:

RAW:

sRAW1

sRAW2

and finally the downsized RAW->sRAW2 vs sRAW2

What do you think?

 

[artyman]

I think you could have used a better target

 

[artyman]

What do you think?

I think you could have used a better target

 

[arad85]

I think you could have used a better target

Perhaps you'd like to repeat the experiment with a better target

 

[Buggerlugs]

I think the un-downsized sraw2 looks the best, bit sharper, bit brighter, bit better contrast, more detail. Hmmm....looks promisisng.

 

[Brachytron]

It certainly looks like there is less noise in the shadow areas on the SRAW images, with a higher dynamic range too - the SRAWs look generally cleaner and brighter. Thanks for doing this.