7D video : big pixel in low light ! ISO ? or ... at DVinfo.net

Dan Lim · October 29th, 2009, 12:01 PM

Hi!
Here, I bought the EOS 7D and the picture quality is ok but for the video I 'd like to know how in low light i can remove the effect of grain and pixel ?
Is it because of the iso in low light (night time) ?

Big pixel !

Do I put the eos in automatic or manual mode ?
And where can I find good tips for adjusting 7D video ?

Ok thanks !
Daniel

David Chapman · October 29th, 2009, 12:25 PM

I would stay in manual for video, but you might need to check out Philip Bloom's 7D dvd (or digital download) for tips and explanation of settings.

LearnDSLRvideo - Learn 2 shoot great video on your Canon 7D with Philip Bloom (Instant Access Download)

ISO adds noise. The more ISO, the more noise. You need a faster lens, ie smaller f-stop number (1.4, 1.8, 2.8, etc) to allow more light in the lens for the sensor to see. You may have a lens that has a larger number, allowing less light in the lens (4, 5.6, etc).

You have 4 things to change to get more light in:
1. shutter speed (which should remain constant at double or close to double of frame rate)
2. aperture
3. ISO
4. add a light

If you search, people have done tests of ISO settings with less noise. They are:
ISO 160
ISO 320
ISO 640
ISO 1250

Here is the source if you need to take a look:
Canon 7D ISO versus noise test images Marvelsfilm’s Blog

I'm actually purchasing the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 to get more light in:
Canon | 50mm f/1.4 USM Autofocus Lens | 2515A003 | B&H Photo

Dan Lim · October 29th, 2009, 09:33 PM

Many thanks David !
I now understand .... the links and suggestions are perfect for i need !
Thanks
Daniel

Ofer Levy · October 29th, 2009, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Lim

Hi!
Here, I bought the OES 7D and the picture quality is ok but for the video I 'd like to know how in low light i can remove the effect of grain and pixel ?
Is it because of the iso in low light (night time) ?

Big pixel !

Do I put the eos in automatic or manual mode ?
And where can I find good tips for adjusting 7D video ?

Ok thanks !
Daniel

Hi Dan, I also use the 7D for low light situations and I usually shoot at 1250 ISO. I don't think it would be possible to totally eliminate the noise and grain. However, I believe the image quality is better than what any other dedicated video camera is capable of getting due to the fact that the sensor of the 7D is so much bigger.
I am sure there are more experienced people in here who can correct me if I am wrong.

Cheers,
Ofer
http://www.oferlevyphotography.com

Brian Luce · October 30th, 2009, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ofer Levy

I believe the image quality is better than what any other dedicated video camera is capable of getting due to the fact that the sensor of the 7D is so much bigger.
I am sure there are more experienced people in here who can correct me if I am wrong.

Ofer Levy Photography

I'm interested in this too. I'm learning to shoot with the 7d and so far it's easy to get the sexy shallow focus footage, but I haven't been able get the dazzling low light stuff -- it doesn't seem significantly better than my 1/3" 3ccd hd camera. I'm using a fixed 2.8 24-70mm.

Daniel Browning · October 30th, 2009, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Luce

I'm interested in this too. I'm learning to shoot with the 7d and so far it's easy to get the sexy shallow focus footage, but I haven't been able get the dazzling low light stuff -- it doesn't seem significantly better than my 1/3" 3ccd hd camera. I'm using a fixed 2.8 24-70mm.

According to my experience, the XH-A1 needs about 3 stops more light than the 7D to get the same noise level. That means that if the XH-A1 is at f/1.6, I can stop down the 7D to f/4.5. If your experience is the same, and it sounds like it is, then f/2.8 is not enough to blow away the 3-chip. I suggest an f/2 or f/1.4 prime if you can.

Declan Smith · October 30th, 2009, 05:47 AM

If you do still end with some noise you can use neat videos plugin for FCP (Neat Video - best noise reduction for digital video). As a test, I just stuck the 7D in full auto mode (with manual focus) and walked around outside at night, in the house etc. The clips below are not in focus or exposed correctly but do show the effect that the neat video plugin can have. When in focus and correctly exposed the effect is amazing with very little softening of the picture. The two stairs pictures are focused on the carpet on the top stairs. Again, none of these shots are inspiring. I purposely sought out bad in order to see the limits of the camera and how well things could be rescued from a worse case scenario.

Roger Shealy · October 30th, 2009, 03:19 PM

Neat is a great tool, although it slows my system down about 5X. I've been able to improve good video and salvage lousy video. Very good product. Take some time and shoot samples of different scenarios at different setting in controlled situations then store those filters for future use.

I also am an XHA1 user and I find I have preferences for the 7D or the XHA1 depending on what I'm shooting. I think it's easy to forget that the A1 has great, fast L-glass, so if you compare it with 7D kit glass at f3.5-5.6, you have an uneven playing field. Put an f1.2 or 1.4 on the 7D and it cleans it up substantially, although it still has more noise than I expected (and I'm on my 2nd 7D). Neat really helps clean either camera's footage.

Dan Lim · October 30th, 2009, 09:41 PM

Well the video I MADE has still the same grain. even in 200 iso (pixel) in low light, ... how you arrive to avoid this ? i cant !
But I know that 7D is the ability to do that because in error I have managed a superb video test without grain in low light, and thats great !
But i lost the setup !
So here's another question: how to appear on the video viewing all of the adjustments setting to lose nothing of all this ?

Alex Payne · October 31st, 2009, 02:32 PM

Make sure you're shooting in 1080 HD, you might be shooting standard definition which would cause this.

October 29th, 2009, 12:01 PM	#1
Dan Lim New Boot Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 24	7D video : big pixel in low light ! ISO ? or ... Hi! Here, I bought the EOS 7D and the picture quality is ok but for the video I 'd like to know how in low light i can remove the effect of grain and pixel ? Is it because of the iso in low light (night time) ? Big pixel ! Do I put the eos in automatic or manual mode ? And where can I find good tips for adjusting 7D video ? Ok thanks ! Daniel

October 29th, 2009, 12:25 PM	#2
David Chapman Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 346	I would stay in manual for video, but you might need to check out Philip Bloom's 7D dvd (or digital download) for tips and explanation of settings. LearnDSLRvideo - Learn 2 shoot great video on your Canon 7D with Philip Bloom (Instant Access Download) ISO adds noise. The more ISO, the more noise. You need a faster lens, ie smaller f-stop number (1.4, 1.8, 2.8, etc) to allow more light in the lens for the sensor to see. You may have a lens that has a larger number, allowing less light in the lens (4, 5.6, etc). You have 4 things to change to get more light in: 1. shutter speed (which should remain constant at double or close to double of frame rate) 2. aperture 3. ISO 4. add a light If you search, people have done tests of ISO settings with less noise. They are: ISO 160 ISO 320 ISO 640 ISO 1250 Here is the source if you need to take a look: Canon 7D ISO versus noise test images Marvelsfilm’s Blog I'm actually purchasing the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 to get more light in: Canon \| 50mm f/1.4 USM Autofocus Lens \| 2515A003 \| B&H Photo __________________ David Chapman www.davechapfilms.com

October 29th, 2009, 09:33 PM	#3
Dan Lim New Boot Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 24	thanks Many thanks David ! I now understand .... the links and suggestions are perfect for i need ! Thanks Daniel

October 30th, 2009, 05:47 AM	#7
Declan Smith Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Gloucestershire, UK Posts: 187	If you do still end with some noise you can use neat videos plugin for FCP (Neat Video - best noise reduction for digital video). As a test, I just stuck the 7D in full auto mode (with manual focus) and walked around outside at night, in the house etc. The clips below are not in focus or exposed correctly but do show the effect that the neat video plugin can have. When in focus and correctly exposed the effect is amazing with very little softening of the picture. The two stairs pictures are focused on the carpet on the top stairs. Again, none of these shots are inspiring. I purposely sought out bad in order to see the limits of the camera and how well things could be rescued from a worse case scenario. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Declan Smith; October 30th, 2009 at 08:01 AM.

October 30th, 2009, 09:41 PM	#9
Dan Lim New Boot Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 24	no i try but ... Well the video I MADE has still the same grain. even in 200 iso (pixel) in low light, ... how you arrive to avoid this ? i cant ! But I know that 7D is the ability to do that because in error I have managed a superb video test without grain in low light, and thats great ! But i lost the setup ! So here's another question: how to appear on the video viewing all of the adjustments setting to lose nothing of all this ?

October 30th, 2009, 03:19 PM	#8
Roger Shealy Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Fayetteville, GA Posts: 772	Neat is a great tool, although it slows my system down about 5X. I've been able to improve good video and salvage lousy video. Very good product. Take some time and shoot samples of different scenarios at different setting in controlled situations then store those filters for future use. I also am an XHA1 user and I find I have preferences for the 7D or the XHA1 depending on what I'm shooting. I think it's easy to forget that the A1 has great, fast L-glass, so if you compare it with 7D kit glass at f3.5-5.6, you have an uneven playing field. Put an f1.2 or 1.4 on the 7D and it cleans it up substantially, although it still has more noise than I expected (and I'm on my 2nd 7D). Neat really helps clean either camera's footage.

October 31st, 2009, 02:32 PM	#10
Alex Payne Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: new york Posts: 94	Make sure you're shooting in 1080 HD, you might be shooting standard definition which would cause this.