Nikon SLR Cameras

Maximum noise reduction with Nikon D3000?

missc
missc

I've slowly been learning how to use my D3000 properly after 2 years of point-and-shoot in auto mode, and I particularly enjoy night time or sunset/evening photography. I'm just wondering if anyone has any tips for achieving the maximum possible noise reduction with this camera? My lenses say 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 and 55-300mm 1:4.5-5.6 (if that helps?)

Tonight I was practising with some night time shots and I had changed my ISO to 100 (and used my tripod), is this pretty much all I can do? The noise wasn't terrible but since I was capturing moonlight through clouds etc, it was really noticeable.

Any tips would be appreciated!

Added (1). I was using the 18-55mm lens tonight

fhotoace
fhotoace

Look on page 122 to see how to use the on-board noise reduction.

Long exposures can cause noise, so more advanced cameras have special noise reduction for long exposures.

If you want the best performance under low light conditions, look at the new Nikon D3200

Here is how the D3200 and D3000 sensors compare

http://www.dxomark.com/...nd2)/Nikon

If a major part of your photography includes low light photography, it may be time to upgrade.

NOTE:

When shooting the moon, without clouds, the exposure is the same one you would use for shooting in bright sun. After all, the same sun shines on the Earth as the Moon

Tim
Tim

How are you metering? Remember the meter on the camera works on a 18% grey value! For instance, if you point your camera onto white it will meter that and make it 18% grey. On the other hand if you are metering on black it will make that 18% too bright! Meaning it will make that grey). If you get the exposure perfect this should help with minimising noise. Check histogram after the exposure and make sure you have details in the high area.
Hoe that helps you.

Sound Labs
Sound Labs

You don't want to perform noise reduction in camera, I'm not sure why anyone is giving advice on how to do this.

To get the most out of any dSLR, you should stop shooing jpeg, and shoot RAW. Shoot RAW+jpeg if it makes you feel safer.turn all noise reduction off. Shoot at the lowest ISO that you can.

Then apply noise reduction on your own with Photoshop Elements, or Lightroom 4. If you don't have money for this, both offer free 30 day trials, no CC required. The noise reduction is better in lightroom.

Ignore ACE telling you that the D3200 is the greatest, he doesn't know how to interpret the numbers. Here's what he is not looking at

From the link he gave you, click on 'measurements' and then "18 percent SNR", then change from "PRINT" to "SCREEN"

Screen is the real number, notice the D3000 and D3200 are nearly identical. The 'print' number that DxOmark uses and ACE is so fond of, is noise being measure after all images are downsized to 8 megapixels and then printed.