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As an adjunct to the Tangents blog, the intention with this forum is to answer any questions, and allow a diverse discussion of topics related photography. With that, see it as an open invitation to just climb in and start threads and to respond to any threads.
Hello All,
I am finally addressing my weakness this year. Post Processing high ISO images. I have always been happy with the results from my Canon's. The only downfall I find is that I struggle with high ISO processing. I can never find a happy balance between sharpness and noise reduction. It came to a head last week. I went out and purchased a Fuji Xt-2 and I am really liking it. I used it in conjunction with the 5D Mark III last week at a wedding. I used it at ISO 1250 and the Canon at ISO 1600 during the church service. I had a few slightly underexposed XT2 shots because the damn flash didn't fire all the time. Gotta get one thats compatible:) Anyway, I processed them in lightroom. I know lightroom is not the best for fine details on Fuji's etc,, but it should do a halfway decent job. The point I am making is that they look fine at 100 percent view, but as soon as I view them at 200 percent they fall apart and look not so hot. Am I pixel peeping here? What is acceptable for viewing high ISO images here? Don't get me wrong, I am not just talking about the Fuji here either. I even struggle with the Canon files on high ISO. I am just curious here. I have attached a SOOC jpg from the Fuji for example. This one looks great at viewing but zoom in on it. Am I worrying over anything? Could be the lens? Just needed some feedback. Thanks everyone.
-Jay
Comments
I didn't download it, or do anything besides clicking on it to make it bigger. I know from a camera-technical standpoint, you want to know what's going on. I don't think I can help you there. From a client-satisfaction viewpoint? Nothing to worry about in my view.
Dave
If you look at even 100% and it does not 'look' good on screen, there really is nothing to worry about, view the image @ 50% (I never go 100% regardless of all the 'gurus' out there and Adobe giving us 'reminders' to look at 100%) as a full res file @ 'viewing size' looks fine and most certainly will print fine.
I do all editing on a 'full view' of image, then zoom to 50% and if happy, then I know it's perfect.
If you view at 200% you are most certainly 'pixel peeping' because that's precisely what you are looking at, pixels, and when you hold say a 12x18 print in hand, you cannot 'zoom' in and say, wow, my image 'falls apart @ 200%', just never happens.
The image you posted above is fine to me like Dave says.
I keep saying this to many people, get the image printed even at 12x18 and see what it looks like, then just forget the bloody 200% 'view', your screen is square pixel orientated, your print is round dots condensed.
Remember, if you view the image at 'fit screen' size also, it may be an odd 33.3%, so go to 50% to see it properly on your screen, or 25%.
A full res image @ 50% on your screen will be in physical dimensions if you got a ruler out and measure your screen at least 12x18 inches.
I have seen images so noisy on screen they look stuffed, but when printed and *importantly* viewed at a proper distance, not right up with your nose virtually contacting the paper, you cannot see the noise. However, those images would not maybe look so good at 20x24 or larger, but certainly absolutely will be fine at around the 10x8 or even 12x18 size.
Just my 2 Cents worth - you surely are pixel peeping.
A magnification beyond 100% tries to show more Information than there is, i.e. is "inventing" (ok, extrapolating ;-) pixels beyond the resolution of the pic in question. You will not gain any additional information.
Reducing to say 50% evens out some noise between neighbouring Pixels, therefore delivers a smoother pic, which will look better.
So, just follow Trevs advice above ;-)
-Mike