Digital Camera Noise Tests![]() Modern digital camera sensors have become incredibly sensitive to light, affording the Cinematographer an unprecedented ability to shoot in low-light or no-light scenarios. Along with the advent of a new generation of low-energy, low-heat, compact lighting technologies (LED, Plasma, etc), the way a modern film set is lit and exposed has shifted dramatically. With this increase in light-sensitivity, however, also comes the increased risk of digital noise — an inevitable side effect of pushing a digital sensor to its limits. Exposing the sensor in a low-light scenario, therefore, becomes a careful balancing act between acceptable noise and needed sensitivity.
ARRIRAW at 200 ISO Testing Methods![]() Archived below is a series of test images of an MSCCC Color Checker Classic color chart, an 18% Grey Card, and a Neat Video Noise Profile Target. The charts have been shot with flat, soft lighting. Exposure and white balance have been normalized. The charts have been shot at various ISO levels, with shutter speed, f-stop, and/or lighting adjusted to bring exposure back to normal. To quantify the noise characteristics of each camera, I've sampled a 200 × 200 pixel portion of out-of-focus 18% grey. I then refer to a histogram of the sample and its standard deviation (SD) from the mean. A perfectly noise-less sample would have an SD of 0, since every pixel would have the same value. This does not account for differences in resolution, however, as the noise within a 200 × 200 pixel sample will constitute a smaller portion of a higher-resolution image versus a lower-resolution image. I also captured a noise calibration target, to be used with the OpenFX Neat Video noise reduction plug-in. I've provided download links to the noise profiles derived from these tests. If you have the plug-in, you can apply the appropriate profile based on your camera and ISO settings to eliminate unwanted noise. You can learn more about the Neat Video plug-in here.
Many thanks to Dani Sanchez-Lopez and Toni Abad. |