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eric s · Mar 29, 2003, 7:14 PM

A question in another forum here (canon SLR) got me thinking.

What are the major causes of noise at higher ISO settings on digital camers? I seem to remember reading that it was the CCD/CMOS heating up.

Is that it? Is there another cause?

BillDrew · Mar 29, 2003, 8:30 PM

There isn't more noise with a higher ISO. You are using less light to get the image so there is less "signal". It is the signal/noise ratio that really matters - you don't care if there is more noise so long as there is also much more signal.

Mike_PEAT · Mar 30, 2003, 2:11 AM

People say there's more noise because it's the K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple S(fill in the blank)) method of explaining it. Just think of the human eye, in a dark room with very little light you will see less colour because the colour sensive rods are less sensitive to light then the cones, and you will see a grainy image as well. Also people are used to higer ISO film being grainy so that's another way to explain it.

So why have higer ISO's on a digital camera? Basically so you can take a handheld shot in lower light (keeping the shutter speed at 1/30 of a second or less).

Mar 29, 2003, 7:14 PM	#1
eric s Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 5,803	what causes noise in higher ISO? A question in another forum here (canon SLR) got me thinking. What are the major causes of noise at higher ISO settings on digital camers? I seem to remember reading that it was the CCD/CMOS heating up. Is that it? Is there another cause?

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Mar 29, 2003, 8:30 PM	#2
BillDrew Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hay River Township, WI Posts: 2,512	There isn't more noise with a higher ISO. You are using less light to get the image so there is less "signal". It is the signal/noise ratio that really matters - you don't care if there is more noise so long as there is also much more signal.

Mar 30, 2003, 2:11 AM	#3
Mike_PEAT Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 1,910	People say there's more noise because it's the K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple S(fill in the blank)) method of explaining it. Just think of the human eye, in a dark room with very little light you will see less colour because the colour sensive rods are less sensitive to light then the cones, and you will see a grainy image as well. Also people are used to higer ISO film being grainy so that's another way to explain it. So why have higer ISO's on a digital camera? Basically so you can take a handheld shot in lower light (keeping the shutter speed at 1/30 of a second or less).