noise reduction/filter

[secretlies]

i just got an e510 and and i would like to hear some discussion about the noise reduction and noise filtering aspect. what's the difference between noise reduction and noise filter, and do you have any setting tips concerning this subject? i'm sure i'll get it figured out with some trial and error but if i can limit the error that would be good. thanks in advance for replies.

[Paul Shields]

Noise Filter (NF) is Olympus's term for Noise Reduction . Noise Reduction (NR) is Olympus's definition of dark frame subtraction - i.e. that which is applied after long exposures to remove hot pixels. My personal preference is to not apply any NF as I can do that if needed later. NR can be left on normally as it's not something that will be used unless you go for very long exposures (in which case it will do the job well enough).

[keepright]

Thanks, Paul, I wasn't sure of the difference myself.

Some points from additional research that I just did:

If you leave your E-510 set to sequential shooting, it automatically deactivates the Noise Reduction. (With the E-1, NR automatically deactivates sequential shooting, which is why I leave it off.)

NR only turns on when the shutter speed is 4 second and longer.

NF affects jpegs but is not applied to raw images; NR applies to raw images as well.

[dannn]

Thanks Paul...

[secretlies]

appreciate the info. i didn't realize in cam nf does not work in raw mode as that is what i've been using. my first experimentings with the nf off in cam and off in olympus master has too much noise. nf off in cam and low in olympus master still seems a little bit noisy. nf off in cam and standard in olympus master seems pretty good as far as noise goes with the pics i was taking anyway.
i haven't taken any night pics yet so i had not turned nr on. i did not realize it would not be active unless the shutter speed was over 4 secs, good to know. what are you using for noise reduction paul, mind if i ask? i have photoshop cs2, i wasn't sure if olympus master or cs2 would be better for noise reduction/filter, or something else. the noise reduction in cs2 is confusing to me, not sure how it works very well.
i also wondered, say i am using jpeg setting in cam instead of raw, just for the heck of it. if i have nf set to standard or whatever, then if i turn on nf in olympus master also, would that double the noise filter, or would one over-ride the other? thanks again.

[Paul Shields]

I normally don't use any noise reduction - if I need to then I use the basic tools in Lightroom. It's unusual for me to take a shot that required such a high ISO that noise would be an issue.

[secretlies]

hmm i was using iso 100 and there was too much noise without standard noise reduction in olympus master too. double hmm. guess i need lots more experimenting.

[Paul Shields]

Hmm. I can't say I've seen noise at ISO 100 unless I really boosted the exposure afterwards or was taking a very long exposure. Maybe you could post an example including what settings you were using?

[secretlies]

you know what, that is a possibilty. i did up the exposure a some in raw conversion. i have since set cam to +1.0 exposure compensation as the cam was under exposing about that much. that should help me not have to up exposure in raw convert.

[secretlies]

hi me again. just for fun here's example pics of noise filter raw conversions, iso 100, no exposure adjustment in conversion. first pic is noise filter off, 2nd pic is standard noise filter, 3rd pic high noise filter. noise filter off and low (i did not include low) are pretty noisy i think. there's still some noise in the std and high but not as bad.