Noise test on my new PowerShot A570 IS...

[Matt08642]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22324144@N06/sets/72157603648032415/

:eek: What makes the images so terrible at 800 and above?

Is it just because it's a basic point and shoot?

[Rooz]

yes, it's due to the small sensor size.

[Beowulff]

Although not always a fabulous source of quality review material, I think CNET has the A570's noise issue fairy well sussed:

"Image quality was impressive, especially at lower ISOs, though we noticed some slight artefacts even at the camera's lowest sensitivity of ISO 80.....

Canon keeps noise under control through ISO 200. While noise is noticeable at ISO 200, especially on a monitor, it is fairly minor and shouldn't be a problem in prints. At ISO 400, noise turns grittier with more discrete speckles showing up, though shadow detail and sharpness remain fairly intact.

Noise rises precipitously at ISO 800, creating a dense snowy covering over the entire image, obscuring much of the shadow detail and softening finer details.....

We suggest sticking to ISO 400 and below whenever possible....."

Personally, I think, looking at your ISO 800 shot at 100% the noise is not all that bad. But considering the potentially more difficult indoor lighting conditions you've shot under, at least the noise is very evenly and 'smoothly' spread across the image (to my eye, at least), with no (more than would be expected) extreme detail losses in either shadows or highlights.

Cheers :)

[shaolin95]

I am a rookie but from my research, just like the others have said, the 1/2.5 " Type CCD sensor is the one to blame for poor high ISO performance...pretty much every cameras using this size that I have read reviews about have the same issue.
I am almost decided to get the Oly sp-560 and I am planning to try taking pics without Noise Reduction or just RAW and then use some software noise remover like Noise Ninja or Neat Image to clean up...that could work for you maybe...

[griptape]

I think it's pretty clear that you're getting noise because there's a distortion pedal in your image. That's what it's supposed to do is make things fuzzy.

If you're also having the problem in other pictures, then yes, compact cameras have small sensors, and are all fairly noisy. Fuji is the winner for low noise if you can find one with their Super CCD sensor (like the F31). Even though it can make pictures look bad, sometimes using flash is a better option than using high iso.