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Nikon D200: Does it have much noise?

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Brandon26

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I currently have a Konica Minolta Dimage A200 and want to upgrade to the Nikon D200.

On my Dimage I notice when I use a high ISO at night (say up to 800), I get a very grainy photo with LOTS of noise.

Obviously the Nikon D200 has a MUCH MUCH higher ISO..................however, how does it perform at the high ranges? Do you have alot of noise?

How high can you go on the ISO before you start noticing alot of noise?

Also, on the longer zoom lenses, do you have problems with the light going dark (say in the day) when zooming all the way?
 
The noise performance of all of the current cameras with aps size sensors (or larger) will be much better because of the larger sensor (and thus the size of the photo sites). The noise on the D200 at ISO 800 is very good. At ISO 1600, the noise is more visible, but still very good. The D200 applies noise reduction in camera at ISO 800 and higher, but it is not overly aggressive. Check out Page 5 of Bjorn's review here :
http://www.naturfotograf.com/D200_rev03.html#top_page

--
http://www.dustandrust.com/photoblog
 
You can look at some of my Hi ISO samples here if you wish:

http://www.pbase.com/john651/shoemakerwedd

and here

http://www.pbase.com/john651/d200

I used to freak out about noise, simply because it did not look natural, it looked patterned and you could see the color noise. With the D200 I noticed that the noise is more monochromatic (like film grain) and is not unbearable to look at.

But if you want super silky smooth HI ISO, check out the Canon Line. I think they do a great job of handling the noise, although there is more color noise and it is not as monochromatic. It all depends on your final output. I printed a 13x19 of this shot (ISO 3200)



and it looked better than shots I had at the same ISO from the 20D my assistan uses. But it all boils down to your exposure. When shooting that High, make sure you overexposed by at least a half stop or more, shoot in RAW and pull your exposure comp back down.

FWIW

--John
 
Ok, now this makes perfect sense now. In your photos I see the "noise" you are speaking of and I don't mind that noise at all quite frankly as you said, it looks like natural grain.

I don't like noise where you take a photo at high ISO and all dark areas (especially blacks) are colored with noise.
john651 said:
You can look at some of my Hi ISO samples here if you wish:

http://www.pbase.com/john651/shoemakerwedd

and here

http://www.pbase.com/john651/d200

I used to freak out about noise, simply because it did not look
natural, it looked patterned and you could see the color noise.
With the D200 I noticed that the noise is more monochromatic (like
film grain) and is not unbearable to look at.

But if you want super silky smooth HI ISO, check out the Canon
Line. I think they do a great job of handling the noise, although
there is more color noise and it is not as monochromatic. It all
depends on your final output. I printed a 13x19 of this shot (ISO
3200)



and it looked better than shots I had at the same ISO from the 20D
my assistan uses. But it all boils down to your exposure. When
shooting that High, make sure you overexposed by at least a half
stop or more, shoot in RAW and pull your exposure comp back down.

FWIW

--John
Click to expand...
 
I use auto iso limit to 400 without thinking about it even in the midday!

For hard lighting situations I set limit to iso 800 with confidence.... I actualy love grain of iso 800!
 
If you do noise comparisons, pls do it in RAW and remove noise SW reduction. Then you will see that D200 cannot even be compared to Canon old generation cameras, like 10D/300D :)))
 
sonton2003 said:
D200 noise handling is not as good as the Canon lineup.
Click to expand...
From what I saw probably this is absolutely correct. However the issue is how much better, if it's really important and if that is a factor in choosing the camera.

I've seen plenty of people who shout about noise but never need it, and, frankly, can't take a good picture no matter what they use :). Others take good pictures and shoot concerts for living, it's far from impossible with any Nikon but I agree to those lower noise in Canons is better, if they think so I can't argue.

And let's not forget that even Canons have noise at high ISO , just a bit less :)
 
What would happen if we could see a Canon image without the on-camera noise reduction software doing it part ?

In my oppinion it doesn't matter where you do the noise reduction, on/off camera. What it matters is the final result, and you can get a reasonably noise free image with a Nikon using off camera noise reduction. On par with Canon in most situations, to say the least.

That's not to say Canon doen't have an edge here at 1600+, but it is not so big as some people like to point out anytime they have a chance :) And yes, 5D is something to consider too.
 
Who cares anyway... I have both! I hate 20D! what can I do? I rather shoot with my old F65 camera then my 20D camera.... awfull... great iso? who cares...
 
The noise reduction feature is even not implemented in dpp ;)

Stupid question : do u know why 99% astronomers use Canon cameras :) ?
 
I just wanted to show the OP some real world tests with nothing touched. Hopefully some Nikon users are interested, after all this is a NIKON forum.

For all you Canon folks please go use your cameras and be happy. I for one don't care if your cameras are better at high ISO. That is only one factor in determining a camera's overall capabilities.

Why do you always feel the need to convince us Nikon users that our cameras are not a good as yours? Are there just as many Nikon shooters on your forum telling you that Canon sucks?

Sorry must have hit a nerve of mine or something. There I feel better now.

--
'There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept.' - Ansel Adams
http://www.pbase.com/nikonsrme
 
Even in RAW Canon has the photosite level Noise Canceling on and he's right you can't choose to shut that off...

Of course, this technology alone is the most favorable aspect of CMOS over CCD...
megane said:
The noise reduction feature is even not implemented in dpp ;)

Stupid question : do u know why 99% astronomers use Canon cameras :) ?
Click to expand...
--

'The probability that we may fall in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just; it shall not deter me.' -- Abraham Lincoln
 
Canon uses hardware level noise canceling but doesn't have sotware level noise reduction... Any loss of detail in a Canon image is most likely due to image format.
bokeron said:
What would happen if we could see a Canon image without the
on-camera noise reduction software doing it part ?

In my oppinion it doesn't matter where you do the noise reduction,
on/off camera. What it matters is the final result, and you can get
a reasonably noise free image with a Nikon using off camera noise
reduction. On par with Canon in most situations, to say the least.
That's not to say Canon doen't have an edge here at 1600+, but it
is not so big as some people like to point out anytime they have a
chance :) And yes, 5D is something to consider too.
Click to expand...
--

'The probability that we may fall in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just; it shall not deter me.' -- Abraham Lincoln
 
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