The Fujifilm X-H2 High ISO Noise vs the X-T2

Thank you for a very interesting and useful video link. The follow-up on processed photos will be even more interesting and I eagerly await it as it is the processed images which are critical in practice.

However, the key to the whole problem is to find a solution which gives more than acceptable results with the minimum of expenditure and if you can find a way to make any image look up to your standards at the size you print or view without upgrading to FF or MF then this should be thoroughly explored first in my view.

Jerry has mentioned Topaz Denoise AI and this is a really excellent approach which gives better results than LR.

There are other avenues well worth exploring and I’ve found that Deep Prime, as used in DxO’s Photolab 6 (as a LR plugin), produces outstanding results as it maintains sharpness and can virtually banish noise, especially on very high ISO images such as ISO 3200 and 6400. (The cheaper version, DxO pure RAW) doesn’t have the important flexibility of changing the amount noise reduction applied at different ISOs and, while worthwhile, it isn’t as good as the more flexible version in PL6 which I reckon can give up to an extra 2 stops!

DxO often has free trials and it is really well worth trying it out. It’s not dirt cheap but it is hugely less expensive than upgrading a camera or a whole system (as is Topaz).

Perhaps as important though is the need to maximise S/N by exposing to the right!

However, I regret to say that giving in to GAS is often far more exciting in the short term than upgrading the S/W!

Disclaimer: I have no relationship of any sort with DxO but you’ll have gathered I find it invaluable.

Phil