Noisy Images with Canon R6 (Concert Photography)

[sandrajamphoto]

Hi all,

I’m a concert photographer and I recently upgraded from the Canon 5D Mark IV to the Canon R6, mainly for improved focus capabilities (like the advanced eye tracking) and the ability to shoot in lower light with a high ISO. I’ve heard that with a mirrorless body like the R6, photos can be taken at an ISO of up to 10,000 (or higher) without an insane amount of noise.

I shot a concert a few days ago and noticed that my photos were significantly more grainy with the R6 than with my 5D Mark IV DSLR camera. Below are three RAW files for reference (both shot under ISO 3000). Am I doing something wrong?? I feel like my settings were standard but the photos are so noisy. I can’t even imagine what they would look like at an ISO of 6,000+. Thanks in advance for any help!!!!

Note: I used a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens with the EF to EOS R adapter. 

Example 1: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10MEWSx2XwPWHHPm5jBQBcQH5GawK76Df/view?usp=sharing 

Example 2: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U1l3W596U3bSkVydbmC60M_qVcr-rxb7/view?usp=sharing 

Example 3: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IGxqTkv_Tg7qpxQWV8ydOUUFO5TBhlXQ/view?usp=sharing 

[sandrajamphoto]

Thanks so much for all your help, Peter!!

[FloridaDrafter]

Sorry I'm late to the thread but I downloaded your shots and then had to run to an appointment.

Anyway, I opened them all in DPP 4 and they look pretty clean using it, even with the lighting conditions and zooming to 400%.

Here are a couple of jpg's zoomed to 100%, which are pretty small in width. All I did was adjust white balance. Other than that, it was in and out using DPP's "Convert and save" command. I did have to d/l your lens profile, but I let DPP adjust that (I used it's defaults) and the same with NR.

100% zoom.100% zoom.

I ran this one through Topaz Sharpen because it has a tendency to reveal noise (using a very light setting). The only thing I saw were some hot pixels, which I've found to be common with my R cameras.

100% zoom - Topaz Sharpen AI.

As you can see, these are pretty clean and typical of my R5, R6 cameras. Now, my R6 mark II takes it another notch 🙂

Newton