HS Soccer at ISO 3200

jonh68

I took these with a Canon MarkIIn, 70-200 2.8, set on manual at 2.8 and 600-800 SS. Post processing was DXO and then cropping, layers, and sharpening in Elements. No flash, although some look like it because I was positioned in a hot spot on the field.

KMCC

I like the action that you've captured in the shots. But there's quite a bit of noise in them.

I shoot a fair amount of high school soccer at night. My normal set up is to shoot in Manual mode at f/2.8, ISO 1600, and a shutter speed of 1/320. Occasionally I go up to 1/400 sec. depending on the stadium lights, but 1/320 usually works to eliminate most action blurring.

Everything is run through Noiseware Standard before cropping and tweaking levels using Photoshop Elements.

Here's a sample from last Wednesday night shot at the settings listed above.

jonh68

There is noise. I was experimenting with shooting at higher ISO. I like noise free as much as anybody, but it just doesn't bother me. I shot the game at your setting as well. When you make 4x6 prints, it doesn't make a big difference.

I am just making a point that if you don't have a fast lens, cranking up the ISO is not a bad option if it's exposed properly.

johng

I'm with Kent on this. Nice action but too much noise. A couple of the shots it's not too bad but on several others it's very objectionable. High ISO can work OK but you have to work on noise reduction to get a good balance of noise removal while still keeping image detail.

jonh68

Well, I am not setting this up as the optimal shooting setting, but I think "objectionable" is a little strong. If I were making posters sure, but for someone who wants to shoot their kids making a play, they may need to dial the ISO up.

Grumpy_one

Before after Noise Ninja
Big difference is in sky, it seems to sharpen it a bit though.


edit: spelling

johng

[quote=but I think "objectionable" is a little strong. If I were making posters sure,.[/quote]
It's all a matter of oppinion but yes, 4 5 & 7 are definitely objectionable with 4 being unusable as-is.

Here are a couple high ISO shots with some noise reduction to compare to:

ISO 3200:


ISO 6400:


6400:


But, the older cameras like the mkIIn dont have the same noise performance. Here are a couple of ISO 1600 shots from the 20d (similar noise performance to the mkIIN) - again with some noise reduction applied. IMO there is a very large difference in noise performance vs the 3200 shots you posted:




The other thing to take into account if your message is: without 2.8 glass, focus performance will really, really suffer. IMO, You're better off using a flash (and it's focus assist beam)and lower iso if you don't have 2.8.