Micro Four Thirds high ISO noise compared - G1, E-P2, E-P3

[Four Thirds User editorial team]

Olympus have told me the LiveMOS sensor in the new Pens announced last week is new and delivers improved high ISO performance and dynamic range. We compare the new E-P3 with some earlier Micro Four Thirds cameras in an attempt to verify Olympus' claims.

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[Ian]

I'm really interested to know what you make of this exercise - compare the different ISO shots from the E-P3 with the E-P2 and G1 reference ISO 3200 shots. You can do it like this:



Looking forward to your opinions!

Ian

[Ned]

I'd say the E-P2 at ISO 3200 looks like the E-P3 at ISO 6400, and the G1 at ISO 3200 looks like the E-P3 at ISO 8000.

So the E-P3 is about a stop better than the E-P2 and 1.33 stops better than the G1?

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Ned

I'd say the E-P2 at ISO 3200 looks like the E-P3 at ISO 6400, and the G1 at ISO 3200 looks like the E-P3 at ISO 8000.

I was looking along those lines, but decided to give the older cameras the benefit of the doubt and settled on ISO 5000 for the E-P2 comparison and ISO 6400 for the G1 comparison. There is actually less noise at your choices of E-P3 ISO, but I think some of the E-P3 details are not as well preserved, although the G1 is terribly blotchy.

Naturally, RAW will be the final test, but I don't think anyone can say there isn't an improvement and nor can all that improvement really be attributed just to TruePic VI.

Ian

[Ned]

Yes, that assessment makes sense, Ian. I must say that the E-P3 at ISO 3200 looks very clean and crisp! I thought I was looking at the wrong picture at first, lol.

[John Perriment]

I spent some time comparing these results and my opinions co-incide almost exactly with Ned's, except that I thought the E-P3 was fractionally better at ISO 8000 thqn the G-1 at ISO 3200, but fractionally worse at ISO 10000. However, from around 6400 I suppose you could say the E-P3 was "less bad" than the others, rather than "better."

What really, really impresses me is just how clean and sharp the E-P3 is at 3200, a vast improvement over the others. It looks like 3200 is now as usable as any other ISO, not "with care" like we've said before with Olympus cameras. That caveat can now be reserved for 6400. In all honesty I think we can forget 12800, but maybe next time!

Imagine the E-P3 with 12mm prime in a dimly lit bar or street scene at night, ISO 3200, 1/15th sec @ f2, knowing IS will keep it sharp at that speed but praying your subject doesn't move until you've released the shutter. One shot, sure you've nailed it, take another while there's still a chance, just in case...whoops he moved. Never mind, sure you got it on the first take. Reveiw the pictures at home, yes first shot nice and sharp but second shot pure serendipity, movement of subject captured beautifully but still sharp enough where it matters. Result!

Ooops, sorry, got a little carried away there, but you can see how much I like the E-P3!

[timg]

Originally Posted by Ian

I was looking along those lines, but decided to give the older cameras the benefit of the doubt and settled on ISO 5000 for the E-P2 comparison and ISO 6400 for the G1 comparison.

Pretty much what I ended up with...

[Neonart]

Thanks for the test! Definitely a marked improvement.

Ian, how about at 1600 against the E5? That would be interesting to see.

[T-Lama]

Comparing E-P3 pictures at different ISO settings, it seems to me that higher ISO means less yellow color on the picture (while blue looks still the same). I wonder if there is some desaturating trick to hide low frequency noise maps.
But even if so, ISO 3200 looks fine to me.
Any rumors on new DSLRs with this sensor/processor combination?

[Ian]

Originally Posted by Neonart

Thanks for the test! Definitely a marked improvement.

Ian, how about at 1600 against the E5? That would be interesting to see.

E-P3 ISO 1600, noise filter off, sharpening: normal


E-5 ISO 1600, noise filter off, sharpening: normal


E-P3 ISO 3200, noise filter off, sharpening: normal

Here you go!

The E-5 is pretty close to the E-P3, and looks better than the E-P2, although I think the E-P3 has better noise in the blue area. The E-P3 has better edge sharpness.

Ian