Tz1 Iso 1600

[Steve40]

Ok here is ISO 1600 from the TZ1. Light source 75w 17 feet away, through a doorway from another room. Something in the range of at least a few candle power (maybe 1 or 2) . Processed through Neat Image, and sharpened a tad with Focal Blade.
Not something I would enter in a photo contest, but if it was for my personal remembrance, and I had no other way of getting it, I would accept this. After I took this I noticed the printer had quite a lot of dust smudging on it, which could account for some of the crap on the image.

And to top that off; I have seen just as bad or worse, from much more expensive cameras @ ISO1600. So some of the bad press about the TZ is un-deserved.

[Steve40]

Re: Tz1 Iso 1600

Since posting the above photo, I found by using the Natural setting on the TZ1, instead of the standard. You can reduce the noise to about half of the above image. Its still no wall hanger, and looks as if shot in a lower resolution but could come in handy in some cases. Panasonic makes no bones about noise in this mode, and readily admits to it in the instruction manual.

[Ian]

Re: Tz1 Iso 1600

Is that the full frame? I don't noise as being a problem for web viewing -although my CRT monitor smooths noise more than an LCD monitor.

Ian

[Steve40]

Re: Tz1 Iso 1600

Thats at full frame, no crop. I use a CRT also, and have no idea how it would look on LCD monitors.

I also found with a little more light, something that gives you a 1/30 or higher shutter speed, there is less noise. Seems like the longer the exposure the more likely noise is present, and I guess that is a reasonable assumption.

Its more the way Panasonic handles the noise than anything else, it produces blotches. But I also have noticed other cameras do the same, in the consumer grade models. Its to bad they didn't include a noise suppression off switch, so you could handle it in your own way.

Maybe that will come on the TZ2 but I doubt it. I have learned they are going to another new processor engine Venus 4, it may be worse?. Perhaps there might even be a firmware up-grade for the TZ1, but I doubt it.