What Is Noise?

Noise in photography is basically the grainy effect you see on your pictures.

This usually happens when you increase the ISO of your camera. This is because as you increase the ISO, you are increasing the light signal. However, when you increase the light signal, you also increase the electrical noise in your digital camera.

However that also depends on your camera performance. DSLR camera will have less noise compare to compact digital camera at the same ISO level.

Why is that so?

This simply is because DSLR has a larger image sensor.

There are a lot of light sensors on your image sensor. When you are taking picture, these light sensors will produce electrical noise and transfer the noise to the neighbors.

Now, imagine that these light sensors are pack together in the image sensor. So, if you have a big image sensor, these light sensors can be loosely packed. Since there are more spaces between the sensors, the sensors are less likely to contaminate each other.

That is why a DSLR with a larger image sensor will have less noise than the compact digital camera with smaller image sensor.

Then how do you remove noise from the picture?

Digital camera manufacturers nowadays have built in an algorithm to reduce noise when it happens. However, the algorithm can only work so much. Then, you will need a noise reduction software to remove the bothering noise from your picture.

Hope that clear some of your question noise. Do leave a message if you need more information.

Have fun photographing,

Michael Wong. :-)