All problems
My photos are grainy / noisy
Where grain comes from and how to reduce it
Why it happens
- ISO was pushed high, usually in a dark room.
- The camera compensated for underexposure, which multiplies noise.
- Tiny smartphone-style sensors or heavy cropping enlarge the noise.
How to fix it
- 1
Get more light onto the sensor: open the aperture fully before raising ISO.
- 2
Underexpose slightly and brighten later in editing rather than over-brightening in camera.
- 3
A sharp noisy photo is still better than a clean blurred one — do not fear ISO.
- 4
Full-frame cameras handle high ISO better; if grain really bothers you, that is why.
- 5
Apply modest noise reduction when editing — modern tools clean up ISO 6400 surprisingly well.