How come the quality on this picture looks bad?

maxv8989 · Oct 15, 2011

Earlier today, I was testing out my camera to make sure everything was working alright for when I go to visit family upstate, and for some reason, although the pictures seems sharp, there is still something wrong with the shot. Could it be the lens or wrong sharpness? Or am i just over analyzing the picture?

http://i.imgur.com/aV3LA.jpg

Compaq · Oct 15, 2011

It's pretty noisy. Could you post the exif data? Check for high ISO-values.

marmots · Oct 15, 2011

it's flat and not well composed
its just a snapshot, there is nothing wrong with the camera, it looks fine for what it is

i think what your talking about is the noise.
this is caused by having a high iso
were you using it in auto mode?
if so then it was probably just too dark, so the camera adjusted the censor sensitivity, or iso, to negate this

maxv8989 · Oct 15, 2011

250 Shutter, 1000 iso f/5, for the camera I'm using(7d,) 1000 iso shouldn't create that much noise(I think.)

dots · Oct 15, 2011

Quite high ISO (for the camera's performance)? Noise reduction? Diffraction due to high F-stop? Speed sign looks a bit soft. The EXIF data may help.

dots · Oct 15, 2011

1000ISO and F5 probably the causes. I don't see any chrominance noise but a degree of luminance 'grain'..is NR is on? The luminance looks a bit smoothed-over to me. F5 is softening the image, towards the edges.

Compaq · Oct 15, 2011

I don't know the 7D's high ISO capabilities. Anyway, a quick noise reduction and it would be better. The noise is pretty much not much visible unless you're watching the high res image at full size.

Was this taken as a raw file and converted to JPEG, or a JPEG straight out of the camera? Unedited RAW files tend to be flat and low in saturation. But then again, they're supposed to be edited.

dots · Oct 15, 2011

maxv8989 said:
250 Shutter, 1000 iso f/5, for the camera I'm using(7d,) 1000 iso shouldn't create that much noise(I think.)

Beyond about 650 it will become quite noticeable ..look at SNR18% chart http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Camera-Sensor-Database/Canon/EOS-7D

889Media · Oct 15, 2011

What lenses do you use with your camera? The noise is one thing, but the overall quality of the picture will also be affected by what lens you use. I see great difference from my trying my old 400D kit lens on my 7D, as compared to my newer lenses (specially the L-series).