High ISO Noise Reduction Tests
Adobe has released an update to Lightroom Classic and Adobe Camera Raw that introduces a new AI based noise reduction system. In this article I have performed a quick test of the new Lightroom Denoise and compared it with the previous manual noise reduction, alongside Topaz Photo AI and DXO PureRaw 3 / PhotoLab 6.
Test image taken in brighter light, 1/10th second at f/5.6, ISO 64
Test image taken in brighter light, 100% crop showing actual texture of label
The photo used for this test is a simple handheld shot of a candle in a glass jar, taken in a dimly lit room to see how the various programs handle the image data. The image won’t win any prizes for subject, composition or lighting but was chosen purely to review the levels of noise.
The test image was taken using a Nikon Z7ii with a Z 100-400 f/4-5.6 S lens zoomed to 400mm. The image was taken in daylight with an exposure of 1/10th second at f/5.6 and ISO 64 to demonstrate the subject in a low noise situation and then repeated later in the day with an exposure of 1/8th second at f/5.6 and ISO 25,600.. The sharpness of the image and text on the jar label is testament to the effectiveness of the vibration reduction system of the camera and lens, achieving these results handheld with a 400mm lens at 1/8th second is quite exceptional.
Adobe Lightroom 12.3 - luminance and colour noise reduction set to zero, ISO 25600.
Adobe Lightroom 12.3 - luminance and colour noise reduction set to zero, 100% crop, ISO 25,600
Considering this image is shot at ISO 25,600 and has no noise reduction applied whatsoever, it is remarkable the performance of modern camera system compared to previous models and this performance would have not been thought possible with film based cameras when ISO 1600 was considered fast!
Adobe Lightroom 12.3 default import settings, ISO 25,600
Adobe Lightroom 12.3 default import settings - 100% crop, ISO 25,600
Adobe Lightroom 12.3 - Lightroom Denoise applied, default value (75), ISO 25,600
Adobe Lightroom 12.3 - Lightroom Denoise applied, default value (75), 100% crop, ISO 25,600
Adobe Lightroom 12.3 - Topaz Photo aI applied, default values, ISO 25,600
Adobe Lightroom 12.3 - Topaz Photo AI applied, default values, 100% crop, ISO 25,600
Adobe Lightroom 12.3 - DXO PhotoLab 6 applied, DeepPrime XD, ISO 25,600
Adobe Lightroom 12.3 - DXO PhotoLab 6 applied, DeepPrime XD, 100% crop, ISO 25,600
The full images and 100% crops show how good all noise reduction methods are in removing the colour and luminance noise from the images compared to the uncorrected version. Adobe Lightroom defaults show a good correction for colour noise which has all but disappeared. Some luminance noise still remains, however, but this is perfectly acceptable for such a high ISO value.
Adobe Lightroom Denoise shows a much cleaner looking image with an almost complete removal of the colour and luminance noise from the image. The texture of the label on the candle jar has been overcorrected though, resulting in a smoothing of the fine detail and generation of artefacts leading to an almost marble like appearance..
Topaz Photo AI has also provided a very clean looking image but again there is a loss of texture on the label and marvelling similar to Adobe Denoise. Additionally, the image has been sharpened resulting in smudges of black pixels in between the lettering of the label.
DXO PhotoLab 6 has provided an image that retains the texture of the label and while it has not completely removed all signs of noise in the background, it has produced a much more realistic looking image without the artificial look of the Adobe Denoise and Topaz AI versions.
These effects are shown more clearly in the 200% crops below.
Image shot at 1/10second, f/5.6 and ISO 64 to show texture of the actual label with no noise
Adobe Lightroom 12.3 - luminance and colour noise reduction set to zero, 200% crop, ISO 25,600
Adobe Lightroom 12.3 default import settings - 200% crop, ISO 25,600
Adobe Lightroom 12.3 - Lightroom Denoise applied, default value (75), 200% crop, ISO 25,600
Adobe Lightroom 12.3 - Topaz Photo AI applied, default values, 200% crop, ISO 25,600
Adobe Lightroom 12.3 - DXO PhotoLab 6 applied, DeepPrime XD, 100% crop, ISO 25,600
The 200% crops show how effective each of these noise reduction techniques are in removing the colour and luminance noise from the images taken by the Z7ii at high ISO values, in this case ISO 25,600. In each case default values were used, with adjustment of these settings the images could undoubtedly be improved (DXO PhotoLab 6 noise reduction has no adjustment).
To my eye, when viewing on a calibrated iMac 5k 27” monitor the colour noise is completely removed by all techniques. The Adobe Manual Noise Reduction default settings leaves a little too much luminance noise for my liking and the Adobe Denoise and Topaz AI seem to remove too much luminance noise, resulting in a plasticky look to the background and marbling of the texture in the label. The printing dots on the label have been completely removed. Topaz AI also introduced sharpening artefacts around the lettering of the label.
This leaves DXO PhotoLab 6 as my choice as the best balance between noise removal and retention of detail in the image.