Just wanted to check if there are any optimal setting for noise filter/reduction in the EPL2? Would turning it on help to reduce noise in shadow areas of normal shots? Would it help leaving it as Auto or changing it to ON, ie noise reduction for all shots?
Sorry but sometimes I like to enlarge all the way to 100% and can't help but hope to achieve better shots with less noise in dark/shadow areas of my photos.
Thanks in advance!

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Regards,
Michael

...it is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness....

I keep mine on "Auto" with "Low" as I always shoot raw files so I can add or reduce the amount of noise reduction in post processing if needed.

This works for me, ymmv.

I have mine set to Off as I too shoot RAW and prefer to manage noise in PP.

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Bill Shinnick
GH2; X100; RX100; G5(IR).

Flickr.

I realize that this is an old thread, but my question is OT. When shooting raw files, does the E-PL2 apply noise reduction to the file if it is set to On, or does it only apply reduction to jpeg files?

--Ken

There are two things here.

Noise Filter applies noise smoothing algorithms to the camera's JPEGs. The RAW file is not effected, save for the fact that the setting is noted in the EXIF. In most cameras this setting is called 'noise reduction'.

Noise Reduction on Olympus cameras means applying dark-frame subtraction to long exposures (longer than 4 seconds). The camera takes 2 shots, 1 with the shutter closed, and 'subtracts' the noise in the second shot from the first. So it does effect the RAW file just as much as the JPEG.

I'd leave Noise Reduction on, as it is useful for long exposures, and has no effect on short ones. Noise Filter depends more on what you're shooting, and whether you're shooting RAW or JPEG.

DH

Excellent clarification!

Thank you,

--Ken