GrahamRobinson
Well-known member
Reading dpreview has inspired me to actually try post-processing. I'm still learning, but I've bought a few books and I'm getting there. I'm using Kim's Neat Image workflow, in addition to a number of adjustments I've learned from the Scott Kelby book. My current camera is a Canon S400, which I'm planning to replace.
I'm leaning heavily toward the Fuji F30 as a replacement, because of the ISO performance, but I do need to consider the Canon SD700 as well (I should note that my wife is opposed to the Fuji because she knows the Canon brand name, but ultimately the camera purchase will be my decision). For fun, I've cranked my S400 up to ISO 400, set it to low sharpening, and taken a bunch of pictures. I actually think that the results look decent, but to my surprise my wife is complaining when she sees my 4x6 prints that they are too "grainy". I can see the noise if I look closely, but I think the better lighting more than makes up for it. In any case, I think the higher ISO performance of a F30 will likely make this a far less significant issue.
With my S400, I find that at ISO 400 most of the pictures I'm taking get shutter speeds of either 1/15 of 1/30. Since I'm handholding, I'm needing to really brace myself to get a decent shot. Even still, there's some camera shake, although if I brace myself well in a 4x6 it looks pretty good. I don't really have a subject movement issue at those speeds. I do expect that at a higher shutter speed, or with image stabilization, I would notice a sharper image. I would like to get my shutter speed up to 1/60.
If it's true that image stabilization gives two stops of shutter speed flexibility with respect to camera shake (and I would be interested to hear about disagreement on that point, as I've been trying to see if that's clear or not). As a result, it seems to me that my current 1/15 shots at ISO 400 I would probably shoot at 1/60 at ISO 1600 on the F30, or 1/15 at ISO 400 on the SD700. My current 1/30 shots I would probably shoot at 1/60 at ISO 800 on the F30, and 1/15 at ISO 200 on the SD700. Basically, if IS gives two stops, then on the Canon I would be using a slower shutter speed and two stops lower ISO (we're assuming my subject isn't moving much, which it generally isn't).
So really, it's comparing ISO 400 on the SD700 to ISO 1600 on the Fuji, and ISO 200 on the SD700 to ISO 800 on the Fuji. Note that I am assuming ISO is equal on both cameras, which I've read in some places on this site may be in question, but I'm ignoring that issue because I suspect any difference is likely far less than a stop.
Working from the starting point that post-processed ISO 400 images from my S400 show too much noise for my wife in 4x6 prints, my sense from reading dpreview is that post-processed ISO 400 images from the SD700 may also be too noisy for her, whereas she might be okay with post-processed ISO 1600 images from the F30. But I am looking for some help from owners of the current F10 as to whether they think I'm right about that. I've seen fabulous pictures by Kim and Poochdp, but their subjects are very different than mine (and their pictures far more artistic), so I want to be sure I'm not overestimating what the ISO 1600 shots are going to look like for me.
I suspect the ISO 200 on the SD700 versus ISO 800 on the F30 might be a closer call, but still I would think the F30 will look noticeably, not just a little, better. My sense is also that at least at ISO 800, with Neat Image applied, my wife is likely to be very happy with the 4x6 prints. Let me know if anyone thinks I need to be warned away from this position.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. My wife is saying it's my choice and she trusts me to find the right camera, but she really doesn't want to see any noticeable noise in 4x6 prints. I don't want to wind up having to return the camera (and have my wife tell me she told me so!), so in particlar if anyone thinks I'm hoping for too much from the high ISO performance on the F30, please let me know!
I will try to post a sample of my S400 shots in a subsequent message.
I'm leaning heavily toward the Fuji F30 as a replacement, because of the ISO performance, but I do need to consider the Canon SD700 as well (I should note that my wife is opposed to the Fuji because she knows the Canon brand name, but ultimately the camera purchase will be my decision). For fun, I've cranked my S400 up to ISO 400, set it to low sharpening, and taken a bunch of pictures. I actually think that the results look decent, but to my surprise my wife is complaining when she sees my 4x6 prints that they are too "grainy". I can see the noise if I look closely, but I think the better lighting more than makes up for it. In any case, I think the higher ISO performance of a F30 will likely make this a far less significant issue.
With my S400, I find that at ISO 400 most of the pictures I'm taking get shutter speeds of either 1/15 of 1/30. Since I'm handholding, I'm needing to really brace myself to get a decent shot. Even still, there's some camera shake, although if I brace myself well in a 4x6 it looks pretty good. I don't really have a subject movement issue at those speeds. I do expect that at a higher shutter speed, or with image stabilization, I would notice a sharper image. I would like to get my shutter speed up to 1/60.
If it's true that image stabilization gives two stops of shutter speed flexibility with respect to camera shake (and I would be interested to hear about disagreement on that point, as I've been trying to see if that's clear or not). As a result, it seems to me that my current 1/15 shots at ISO 400 I would probably shoot at 1/60 at ISO 1600 on the F30, or 1/15 at ISO 400 on the SD700. My current 1/30 shots I would probably shoot at 1/60 at ISO 800 on the F30, and 1/15 at ISO 200 on the SD700. Basically, if IS gives two stops, then on the Canon I would be using a slower shutter speed and two stops lower ISO (we're assuming my subject isn't moving much, which it generally isn't).
So really, it's comparing ISO 400 on the SD700 to ISO 1600 on the Fuji, and ISO 200 on the SD700 to ISO 800 on the Fuji. Note that I am assuming ISO is equal on both cameras, which I've read in some places on this site may be in question, but I'm ignoring that issue because I suspect any difference is likely far less than a stop.
Working from the starting point that post-processed ISO 400 images from my S400 show too much noise for my wife in 4x6 prints, my sense from reading dpreview is that post-processed ISO 400 images from the SD700 may also be too noisy for her, whereas she might be okay with post-processed ISO 1600 images from the F30. But I am looking for some help from owners of the current F10 as to whether they think I'm right about that. I've seen fabulous pictures by Kim and Poochdp, but their subjects are very different than mine (and their pictures far more artistic), so I want to be sure I'm not overestimating what the ISO 1600 shots are going to look like for me.
I suspect the ISO 200 on the SD700 versus ISO 800 on the F30 might be a closer call, but still I would think the F30 will look noticeably, not just a little, better. My sense is also that at least at ISO 800, with Neat Image applied, my wife is likely to be very happy with the 4x6 prints. Let me know if anyone thinks I need to be warned away from this position.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. My wife is saying it's my choice and she trusts me to find the right camera, but she really doesn't want to see any noticeable noise in 4x6 prints. I don't want to wind up having to return the camera (and have my wife tell me she told me so!), so in particlar if anyone thinks I'm hoping for too much from the high ISO performance on the F30, please let me know!
I will try to post a sample of my S400 shots in a subsequent message.