topic Re: R5 Noise in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

EOS R5 Excessive Noise at High ISOs

roger999webb — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 14:33:37 GMT

I've read multiple posts here about noisy pictures from an R5 and would just like to share my experience with this issue.

Like many others, I moved from a 5D mk4, that I loved, to an R5 because of reviews I read about how amazing it is. I lots of respects that is 100% true for me also. If nothing else the eye-detect autofocus is absolutely unbelievable.

However, my R5 produces the most pretty dreadful noise at anything above about iso 800. I had seen multiple replies to queries about how this can't be true, it's something the user is likely doing wrong, the R5 is the best thing since sliced bread etc. So me being a scientist and a Canon user of over 30 years decided to conduct my own experiments to understand my own issues.

Reset the camera totally to factory settings, set up on a tripod, focused on the same point on a plant on a window sill and snapped away using the holy trinity of lenses, namely 15-35 f2.8, 24-70 f2.8, 70-200 f2.8. All L series lenses, which as you know, are spectacular! Tested 3 f stops for each, 2.8, 5.6, 16 and the limits of the zoom for each e.g. 15mm and 35mm etc.. Maintained the same exposure using a combination of iso and shutter speed. I varied the iso from 100 to 51200 and altered the shutter to maintain exposure. Shot in RAW. So in total I took over 500 pictures in RAW and compared in PS zoomed to 100%.

As I knew, noise was very obvious at iso 800 but not too bad, but at 2500 it was borderline but nasty in the shadows, at 8000 I found the pictures to be totally unacceptable. Aperture and lens seem to have no impact on the noise levels, reproducible between each lens, aperture and focal length.

I can't say how disappointed I am with this aspect of the R5. I so much want to love this camera, it has so many outstanding features, but this noise issue has just left me wishing for my 5D again. Is it possible that, like cars, there are just some 'lemons'? If so, I'm done making lemonade!

Re: R5 Noise

Peter — Sat, 02 Mar 2024 21:52:34 GMT

You forgot to share some of your raw files, including exported tiff from PS without NR. Use a filehost.

Re: R5 Noise

roger999webb — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 00:37:44 GMT

Thanks for reading my wows and for replying Peter. I didn’t (don’t) see any value in uploading pictures. I can see noise. Either my expectations are too high or I truly have a sensor that isn’t as good as some. In some conditions I’ve had excellent results. It’s just not the low light panacea I was expecting.
cheers. Roger.

Re: R5 Noise

johnrmoyer — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 02:39:56 GMT

With IBIS, it is more difficult to cool the sensor. For each increase in temperature of about 6 degrees C, the noise doubles.

What was the camera temperature?

Was "Auto Lighting Optimizer" enabled in the camera menus? https://cam.start.canon/en/C003/manual/html/UG-03_Shooting-1_0080.html

Caution
Noise may increase and apparent resolution may change, under some shooting conditions.
If the effect of Auto Lighting Optimizer is too strong and results are not at your preferred brightness, set to [Low] or [Disable].
If a setting other than [Disable] is set and you use exposure compensation or flash exposure compensation to darken the exposure, the image may still come out bright. If you want a darker exposure, set this function to [Disable].

Was Peripheral Illumination correction enabled?https://cam.start.canon/en/C003/manual/html/UG-03_Shooting-1_0190.html#Shooting-1_0190_1 "

Depending on shooting conditions, noise may appear on the image periphery.

What camera are you comparing the EOS R5 to? With increased resolution, the photo sites on the sensor will be closer together. When the photo sites are closer together, there is higher probability that an unexpected number of photons will be measured.

Re: R5 Noise

rs-eos — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 03:45:20 GMT

Without images to analyze, there will only be guessing. And that won't be helpful.

Re: R5 Noise

Peter — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 09:54:57 GMT

If you check the other noise threads here you will see that the culprit some times have been under exposing, heat and post processing.

https://community.usa.canon.com/t5/EOS-DSLR-Mirrorless-Cameras/Noise-on-EOS-R8-Image/m-p/454431/highlight/true#M109745

https://community.usa.canon.com/t5/EOS-DSLR-Mirrorless-Cameras/EOS-R5-Noisy-Photos/m-p/458160/highlight/true#M110747

I don't own R5 or 5D IV, but I own R6 and 6D. They both have 20 mpix so it is easier to compare. Hard to see the difference at ISO 3200. Raw samples https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_aQmGvoGVrfycp0CFwhDhe6Q5TxyqDcC/view?usp=drive_link

Re: R5 Noise

Waddizzle — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 09:52:53 GMT

“ I can't say how disappointed I am with this aspect of the R5. I so much want to love this camera, it has so many outstanding features, but this noise issue has just left me wishing for my 5D again. Is it possible that, like cars, there are just some 'lemons'? If so, I'm done making lemonade! “

“ I didn’t (don’t) see any value in uploading pictures. I can see noise. “

Help someone to help you. Post a RAW file so that we can all be on the same page.

Unfortunately, it would appear that you are not seeking assistance. You are only here to rant. Good luck resolving your issues with the camera..

Re: R5 Noise

roger999webb — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 12:22:09 GMT

Not a rant. And I apologize if you took it that way. My intention was solely to state in my case, as with a few other folks, that in some instances there is a noise issue. So, as a user, it’s not something you’re doing.
Again, apologies if I seemed ungrateful, not the intention.

Re: R5 Noise

roger999webb — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 12:24:47 GMT

Appreciate it Peter. Unfortunately I had completely reset all settings in my camera. Only change I made was to shoot in Manual mode. No post processing. 68f ambient temperature.

Re: R5 Noise

Peter — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 13:01:29 GMT

You wrote that you used PS. Wrong tool if you want to turn off things. Have you checked the links yet?

Re: R5 Noise

wq9nsc — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 21:28:04 GMT

Roger999,

I noted in one of your posts you stated you weren't doing any post-processing. What do you have noise reduction set for in the RAW converter you are using? Compared to prior sensors, the design intent with newer sensors is to start applying noise reduction even at low ISO so if you got in the habit of setting NR to 0 by default, the results won't be good with later generation sensors. I have DPP set to apply camera settings as default NR so it uses the values Canon intended (based upon exposure ISO) by default for the starting value which is usually a very good choice.

For studio stuff, I use multiple studio strobes with ISO fixed at 100 for my 5DS and 1DX series bodies but with the 1DX III for sports I let ISO float based upon my manual aperture and shutter speed and DPP creates very usable images for those types of photos.

Examples photos 1 through 3 are a capture at ISO 6,400 with the 1DX III with the first image using camera default values for NR, the second at 1/2 of default, and the last with 0 NR. The fourth was captured at ISO 25,600 with NR set to camera default, it was a quick reaction capture of a teammate on the poorly illuminated sideline seeing his sibling running for a TD. I was cutting between the runner and the sideline so I didn't want to chance my usual use of the programmable button on the 1DX III to jump between two exposure settings, something I normally do for non-action shots to allow for a lower ISO. The basketball image is cropped from about 40% of the sensor area, the football is from close to 50% of the full sensor area.

DPP plus current sensors does a very good job of balancing noise reduction and detail before you even consider going with the enhanced NR available now. My first 1 series Canon digital (1D Mark II) was basically unusable even for less critical sports photos at ISO 800 and was a joke at ISO 1,600. Now I rarely do anything with sports photos below ISO 3,200 and it often climbs into the 5 digit ISO range.

Give DPP a fair shot at using Canon's camera default NR and see how it looks to you with your R5.

Rodger