Noise Reduction??? Lumix Camera???

Question

What is noise reduction in a camera?

Has anyone tried the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30?

Have a good one!

TW

Answer 1

Noise Reduction is an electronic process to reduce/remove video noise from a digital image. The camera's processor goes thru the image and replaces noise pixels with pixels the same color as surrounding pixels.

Noise shows up in some pics, especially when taken in low light. Usually it looks like tiny colored dots sprinkled thru the high contrast areas of the pic. Noise appears when there is not enough light for the camera's pixel sensors to decide what color those pixels should be.

I have tried the FZ30 and really liked it, especially the zoom and focus rings on the lens barrel. However, I didn't want the larger size and weight of this camera compared to other similar cameras. I ended up buying the Sony DSC-H1.

Some pro reviews of the FZ30 have complained about higher noise levels from this camera. However, I could not find any in pics taken in good light, without magnifying the pics on a computer screen. And these would not show up in prints.

All comparable cameras have some noise in low light. The FZ30's may be higher, but if it doesn't show unless you look for it, I don't think it's a real problem.

But everyone has to decide for themselves. If you want the lowest noise levels, you have to use d-SLR's.

Good Luck

Answer 2

Well even though the Panasonics look great, I myself wouldnt buy one because of the noise issues they have.
I expect a digital camera to be noise free at lower ISO and they don't.
Canon, even Sony...is a better choice