My camera originally output very noisy images. I just submit few photos to DT and waiting for review.
In the meantime I've select another image which have a lot of "clear" sky where noise become really obvious.
This photo was taken on ISO 50 and shutter speed 1/500 so on good camera I think noise wouldn't be apparent.
I've attached two images, one is unfiltered with uncorrected WB and filtered one(with neat image), but I'm afraid it's still have a lot of noise.

What do you think is cropped part of filtered have acceptable amount of noise or not?

what is a good camera to you?

As well, I think thats a ridiculous amount of noise in the unfiltered one and shouldn't even be there especially at ISO 50.  I think that you're exposure is definitely off and if you correct that you might be able to fix the noise issue, but I can't tell since the crop doesn't give any indication to the rest of the photo.

Using a P&S camera, I find skies particularly difficult to handle regarding noise.  My sunsets/sunrises, although generally beautiful in colors, suffered a lot from that, and rejections are plenty.  Try to stick to more well lit subjects, and apply denoise only in the sky.

Regards,
Adelaide

if that is a 100% view that is probably fine... as long as you didn't take away all detail in other parts of the image (like the ground, or trees or things)

yeah it's 100% crop of image.

It also looks like there is just as much pixelation (from a compact camera that compresses the files) as anything, but noise ninja helped lots.

yeah, when I took this photo I had small SD card at my possession and used standard compression settings instead of fine. Although I have to say that Fine compression doesn't help much anyway, so my only hope is neat image and GIMP.

Try to stick to more well lit subjects, and apply denoise only in the sky.

Indeed, Adelaide, that was sunset time picture, and on daytime I've got less noise and it's more easy to clean.
you've mentioned Noise Ninja, is it works better than Neat Image? As I've tried trial version of NoiseNinja and it seems to work not as effective as NI.

what is a good camera to you?

In time when I bought Dimage Z3 I have Minolta F200 which was very slow zooming and focusing but produce great images(but it have bugs with batteries and keep hanging up), Z3 have very quick focus which was must have feature for me in future camera, have more suitable zoom for closeup work and have possibility to attach filters. I didn't suppose to sell my photos at any point so noise and image resolution wasn't big issue to me.

Now I would definitely go to dSLR as I really wish to have a way to control DOF which isn't possible with P&S, have a way to work with wider lens when needed, have low noise sensor or good processor which in result produce clean images without lot of noise(as I frequently do night shots but they came out very crappy).

As well, I think thats a ridiculous amount of noise in the unfiltered one and shouldn't even be there especially at ISO 50.  I think that you're exposure is definitely off and if you correct that you might be able to fix the noise issue, but I can't tell since the crop doesn't give any indication to the rest of the photo.

yeah, I've messed a bit and didn't have time to setup camera manually as tried to catch bird flight. I didn't upload full picture so it wouldn't use up my bandwidth. But I'll send you  link to it in PM so you can check full image.

That's a ton of noise reduction so unless you just applied applied it to the sky (where I can still clearly see  noise) I would be concerned that it ruined the detail in the other areas. If so, you reduced the noise but now may get an overfiltering rejection.

Hi Nazdravie! I've looked for details and I don't think they are lost but I'm not sure if such kind of picture would actually be interesting for stock, I'll send you PM too if you don't mind

You need a DSLR. Even a cheap used one from a few years ago like a D50/D40 or Rebel XT/350 would be a huge improvement.

Yeah I wish to get either Nikon D50/D40 or Pentax K100D, but any of these cameras would cost me two month salaries that's why I joined microstock.

I used to have a noisy compact camera and I got around the problem by taking two or three photos and joining them together in photoshop and then reducing the image size.

you've mentioned Noise Ninja, is it works better than Neat Image? As I've tried trial version of NoiseNinja and it seems to work not as effective as NI.

I think both are good tools (I tried NI demo version), but I opted for NN because so many people suggested it to me.  I found NI interface easier to understand, however.

Regards,
Adelaide

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You need a DSLR. Even a cheap used one from a few years ago like a D50/D40 or Rebel XT/350 would be a huge improvement.

Yeah I wish to get either Nikon D50/D40 or Pentax K100D, but any of these cameras would cost me two month salaries that's why I joined microstock.

Used Canon Rebel 300D on Ebay = $250US
Used Canon 50mm f/1.8 = $50US

Your job pays $150 per month?  Time to ask for a raise...

Used Canon Rebel 300D on Ebay = $250US
Used Canon 50mm f/1.8 = $50US

300$ + custom taxes which doesn't define whenever equipment is new or used. From what I know it would add 50% from the item price(customs define the price). Also from experience I can tell that most sellers won't ship in xUSSR countries anyway or shipping price would may reach very high numbers for new camera(Last time I've checked Nikon D40 on Ebay and shipping was $89 to my country).

Your job pays $150 per month?  Time to ask for a raise...

it's around 300$ right now and I'm self employed so can't ask myself to raise my salary I'm working on the web and people in my city earn even less than this

Okay, that makes sense. You should be able to give yourself a raise pretty quickly with microstock. 

Not everybody lives in the USA!

Yes, a lot of people forget that, and that in some countries import taxes are very high, making items very expensive.  That's the case here in Brazil.  A Canon 400D kit costs over US$1000 here.  We do have our local e-Bay, but quite frankly I would never buy something so serious in a place like that.

Regards,
Adelaide

I think the  problemhere is  underexposing the image, with shutter speed at 1/500 and ISO at just 50 you need hell lot of light, and that seems too be an evening/morning sky. So I think you should try to to shoot (raw if possible) over exposing a  bit (like a very tinyyyyyyyyy bit, without blowing out your highlight) and bring back darks afterwards in your raw editor.

Quote from: vikavalter on January 28, 2008, 10:36

I think the  problemhere is  underexposing the image, with shutter speed at 1/500 and ISO at just 50 you need hell lot of light, and that seems too be an evening/morning sky. So I think you should try to to shoot (raw if possible) over exposing a  bit (like a very tinyyyyyyyyy bit, without blowing out your highlight) and bring back darks afterwards in your raw editor.

Hello Vika! Thanks for suggestion, and I know it wasn't properly exposed but since I was photographing bird I wouldn't be able to choose longer shutter speed, I also wish it look like silhouette.


BTW I've uploaded whole filtered picture: http://www.flcd.net/Photo/temp/1.jpg
I've already submit it to DT but now have doubts if I did correctly or it would be rejected right away and affect my approve ratio, if possible I'd like to heard advice whenever it's suitable for submission or not?

using flashes would have helped, of course not if it was an improvised  shot.  I also spotted a dust grain on the upper side  that you should take care of the next time. Sorry to tell you, but it still is quite underexposed, but bumping the exposure up would bring only  more artifacts and noise 

Quote

Used Canon Rebel 300D on Ebay = $250US
Used Canon 50mm f/1.8 = $50US

300$ + custom taxes which doesn't define whenever equipment is new or used. From what I know it would add 50% from the item price(customs define the price). Also from experience I can tell that most sellers won't ship in xUSSR countries anyway or shipping price would may reach very high numbers for new camera(Last time I've checked Nikon D40 on Ebay and shipping was $89 to my country).

Quote

Your job pays $150 per month?  Time to ask for a raise...

it's around 300$ right now and I'm self employed so can't ask myself to raise my salary I'm working on the web and people in my city earn even less than this

well i hope you managed to get some images online and eventually upgrade your equipment so start a serious microstock income.  I keep thinking to myself that microstock would be the PERFECT job for people in countries where the earnings are very low.  it would be very simple to earn $1000/month if you put in a bit of work..... The problem often is (as ist he case with you) technology is so much more expensive (relativly speaking compared to how much you are currently earning)