Well, you are correct at a certain level. According to Canon's white
paper on the design points of the 5D is says: "Also significant are the
large microlens array that gathers light for the photodiodes with great
efficiency and the second-generation, on-chip, noise reduction circuit
that effectively minimizes random noise and eliminates fixed-pattern
noise." The only other noise reduction that Canon admits to is long
exposure (> 1 second) noise reduction which is done by subtracting a
dark frame. This setting can be on, off or automatic but is only done
on long exposures. I believe that the on-chip noise reduction is
something much different than the large pattern noise reduction done by
the likes of Noise Ninja, etc. The large scale software pattern
analysis ultimately ends up mistaking some image detail for noise and
ends up softening the image. I don't think that's what's going on
on-chip and that's why you don't see something that looks "processed".
Although that certainly happens in JPEGs.
Chuck Norcutt
Ken Norton wrote:
>> I have never applied noise reduction to my 5D's ISO 3200 images. Nor
>> does the camera. They're all shot in raw.
>>
>
>
> I beg to differ. All DSLRs apply some form of noise reduction to the images
> prior to the RAW file being written. Canon, in fact, is very clear about
> this as they apply substantial noise-reduction right within the CMOS and
> initial data processing. The sensor, in Canon's case, is "profiled" as to
> the specific noise characteristics and this is taken into account during the
> initial bit-bending that goes on. Raw is not Raw. Camera companies spend
> millions of dollars in very very careful color profiling to get the files as
> close to a desired "look" as possible. You think those Digix or whatever
> processors are just sitting in the cameras to give you faster autofocus? :)
>
> Now, to be clear about one thing--Some cameras do this better than others.
> Frankly, when it comes right down to pixel-peeping level, I will suggest
> that the original Canon 5D is best-of-breed and the images don't look
> processed at all. The Sony A900--even at base ISO is OBVIOUSLY doing
> noise-reduction. The same is definitely true with the Nikon D2X (yes, I
> know, an ancient camera) and the Olympus E-3. But the Sony A900 takes this
> to a level that I can't believe people aren't making a big stink over. Even
> the D700 has obvious cleaning marks from its own noise-reduction broom.
>
> Which brings me to a prediction: The Canon 5D will be recognized as a
> "legendary" digital camera--highly sought after and holding its own long
> after 100+ MP are the norm. (we're only three-four years aways from a 5D
> Mk4 with 98 MP with ultra-clean ISO 25600).
>
> In the meantime, we're seeing people madly dashing out to buy the 5D Mk2
> even though it has known flaws, which to me, would be immediate and total
> show-stoppers. Canon never did fix this black-dot problem with the 1DsMk2,
> and they still haven't gotten the 1Dmk3's auto-focus to work totally correct
> yet. The 20D was plagued with back-focus and electronic problems. Canon has
> made a few boners in the past few years and it's obvious that some models
> will stand the test of time, while others are destined for the scrap-heap of
> history. The 5D will be one that stands the test of time. Frankly, one
> reason is because the camera is really at that sweet spot of really being
> all-there in image-quality. The pixel-count is truely at the
> maximum-usability point. I try to move around 35mm scans and I can't
> efficiently do it--imagine trying to process a wedding shoot of 1600
> pictures taken in RAW at these ungodly pixel-counts. I can't even get
> Lightroom to handle 5MP files in a timely manner. 300ppi for A0 prints is
> not normal people.
>
> Can you believe it? The Schnozz is praising the 5D????
>
> Run for the hills, it's the end of the world!
>
> AG (don't get me started on the D3X) Schnozz
--
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