Grainy Noisy Photos ?? with examples Help Required.

Nikon Newb

Senior Member
DSC_1750.jpgDSC_1799.jpgDSC_2031.jpgDSC_2134.jpgDSC_2170.jpgDSC_2189.jpgplease read my username might be the most important detail.

i recently bought new from my local jessops A Nikon D3200 & kit lens 18-55mm VRII F3/5 - 5/6 which the photos attached where taken on.
memory card used was a Sandisk Extreme Class 6 (8GB 20MB/s)

i went on holiday in Belgium & France for a world war battlefield tour & bought the above camera to take with me & try & capture some nice shots during my trip.

problem i have is everything i seem to shoot ends up grainy almost all the photos attached where taken with the camera on a Manfrotto tripod & using the camera in built timer to try & eliminate camera shake when pressing shutter.

the only handheld photo was the poppy wreaths.

like my username says i'm new to photography any assistance would be great.

photos are of Menin Gate Ypres Belgium.

i understand the kit lens is what it is a cheap lens but i would imagine you should still be able to shoot clear photographs with it.

is it user error plain lack of photographic knowledge ?

further info available if required.
 

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Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
It would help immensely if you uploaded those shots directly instead of attaching them so we could see the EXIF data. The EXIF data would show the settings you used to take the shot and would help us troubleshoot the problem, if there is one.

To upload directly, click on the "Insert Image" icon on the tool bar (third icon from the right), make sure you're on the, "From Computer" tab. Click on "Select Files" so you can navigate to your photo and "Open" it, which will insert the photo into your post.
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Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
I'm guessing the OP is shooting in JPG and probably needs to adjust the in-camera "Sharpness" setting to +7 as I so often suggest and yes; I too suspect the camera is in Auto, using a small aperture and driving the ISO to 3200 or so. A setting of JPG "Small" would only exacerbate the issue of course.
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SteveL54

Senior Member
exacerbate


tr.v.


1. To increase the severity, violence, or bitterness of; aggravate.

a speech that exacerbated racial tensions; a heavy rainfall that exacerbated the flood problems.
[MENTION=13090]Horoscope Fish[/MENTION]
You got me on this one, Paul. I actually had to look it up.
 
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You cannot make adjustments in Auto you need to go to P ...
P mode ,sharpness +9, Large image but fine normal or basic will make no difference.
Auto iso 100-3200 min shutter 1/60
 

10 Gauge

Senior Member
I'm guessing the OP is shooting in JPG and probably needs to adjust the in-camera "Sharpness" setting to +7 as I so often suggest and yes; I too suspect the camera is in Auto, using a small aperture and driving the ISO to 3200 or so. A setting of JPG "Small" would only exacerbate the issue of course.
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I think you nailed it.
 
If you are shooting JPG I would suggest that you use the Fine>>Large setting and also set your camera for better sharpness.



Go into your Menus and highlight the "Shooting" menu (the camera icon)

Drop down to "Picture Controls" and click right one time.

From here, highlight "Standard" and then click right one time.

From this settings menu, increase the "Sharpness" setting to "7".

Drop down and increase the "Saturation" setting +1 notch on the slider.

Press "OK" to exit the menus and you're done.



 

Nikon Newb

Senior Member
It would help immensely if you uploaded those shots directly instead of attaching them so we could see the EXIF data. The EXIF data would show the settings you used to take the shot and would help us troubleshoot the problem, if there is one.

To upload directly, click on the "Insert Image" icon on the tool bar (third icon from the right), make sure you're on the, "From Computer" tab. Click on "Select Files" so you can navigate to your photo and "Open" it, which will insert the photo into your post.
....

thats the images added now on original post Thanks for the replies hopefully save me scratching my head.

no matter if i shot at small jpeg or large jpeg fine the images were still grainy.

no doubt newb error but have to start somewhere & learn from it.
 

Elliot87

Senior Member
The grain is down to high ISO as others have stated. With my D3200 I tried to keep below 800 ISO and ideally shot at 100 or 200. Shooting on a tripod means for most of those shots you could have used much slower shutter speeds, allowing for a lower ISO and much clearer less grainy images.
 

Nikon Newb

Senior Member
If you are shooting JPG I would suggest that you use the Fine>>Large setting and also set your camera for better sharpness.



Go into your Menus and highlight the "Shooting" menu (the camera icon)

Drop down to "Picture Controls" and click right one time.

From here, highlight "Standard" and then click right one time.

From this settings menu, increase the "Sharpness" setting to "7".

Drop down and increase the "Saturation" setting +1 notch on the slider.

Press "OK" to exit the menus and you're done.




i have done that in the menu now i will be taking more photographs today in good light & see if it makes a difference if so i will post the results in this topic.

i don't believe i was in auto i'm near sure i shot in aperture priority & also manual i did shoot a lot in small jpeg but also some in large jpeg fine with not great results either way with all on a tripod & using in camera timer to take 3 shots each time.

thanks for the reply
 

10 Gauge

Senior Member
As @Elliot87 it's your ISO setting causing the grain in your photos. 3200 is really pushing it on a D3200, so is 1600. Your jaw will probably hit the floor when you get a chance to review a days worth of photo's shot at ISO 100. :) Look forward to hearing back on your results.
 

10 Gauge

Senior Member
For example, here is DP Review's test image from the D3200, ISO 100 side by side with ISO 3200. Huge difference! You'd be able to make up a bit more for the ISO if you shoot in RAW and then reduce noise in post. Here's how it handles JPG's however....

D3200ISO.jpg
 

Nikon Newb

Senior Member
As @Elliot87 it's your ISO setting causing the grain in your photos. 3200 is really pushing it on a D3200, so is 1600. Your jaw will probably hit the floor when you get a chance to review a days worth of photo's shot at ISO 100. :) Look forward to hearing back on your results.

when i can figure that out i will post some images i know how to lower the iso 200 400 800 etc I just need to figure out my shutter speeds etc then so my image is properly exposed & keep my iso as low as i can.

i try & learn as i go with manual settings it's trying to find the magic blend between iso shutter Aperture so my images are properly exposed yet not the grainy crap i have been getting due to high iso.

i have done the menu adjustment mentioned in the previous post for sharpness etc & plan to shoot at as low an iso as possible & post results.

I also have menu set large size jpeg & fine quality,crosses fingers for results.

only way to learn is trial & error.

thanks for replies.
 

10 Gauge

Senior Member
The viewfinder has an exposure meter on the bottom, that's a huge help on figuring out the proper exposure. As you adjust your ISO/Aperture/Shutter Speed the exposure meter will tell you if you're in the prime range for a properly exposed photo (as long as your meter mode is set correctly and you know how each metering mode works).
 

Bill16

Senior Member
I agree with everybody who talked about being too high iso for that model! I don't own that model but I once had a D3100 and I think it had a way to set the max iso that the camera is allowed to go to. In less than great light you'll need a flash to even attempt going so small an f stop! The shutter speed can often stay around 1/125 if your using vr on your lens, or if your using a tripod (be sure to turn vr off when using a tripod or that will also cause poor focus)!
For general shooting outside, I often start at F/11 shutter speed at around 1/125 if vr or up to 1/400 if you don't have vr, and iso at 100-400 depending on shutter speed! Others may use completely different setups, but as long as it balances out then it's great! I'm still learning myself so others might have better advice for you! :)
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
If you are shooting JPG I would suggest that you use the Fine>>Large setting and also set your camera for better sharpness.



Go into your Menus and highlight the "Shooting" menu (the camera icon)

Drop down to "Picture Controls" and click right one time.

From here, highlight "Standard" and then click right one time.

From this settings menu, increase the "Sharpness" setting to "7".

Drop down and increase the "Saturation" setting +1 notch on the slider.

Press "OK" to exit the menus and you're done.




Copyright infringement has just taken place,i can never remember this or know where to find it when the question is ask, so i have copied it to to paste later,all credits will be given to Don and publication fees paid :D
 
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