ISO is the measurement of the camera's sensor/film sensitivity to light. It is one of the 3 ways to create a well exposed image (The other two being Aperture and Shutter Speed). Typically, a higher ISO for a correctly exposed image will result in the image being more noisy/grainy.
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2answers
489 views
How did film photographers overcome constant ISO/ASA values in low light situations?
Today in Digital SLR era, when I find myself in low light situation in a place that I can't use my tripod or I don't have it, and still don't want to get blurry images, I use the widest aperture which ...
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4answers
144 views
What is the best order to set exposure parameters (ISO, aperture, shutter)?
Let's say that you're in a very controlled environment, there is no hurry to get the shot, and you're shooting manual.
In order to correctly expose the photo, what order should you alter the ISO (if ...
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6answers
6k views
What are some common ISO, aperture, and shutter speed settings for street photography?
I recently purchased a Panasonic GF1 with the 20mm pancake lens. It's by far the nicest camera I've ever owned and I'm really excited to learn the basics of digital photography (primarily street ...
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2answers
1k views
What is the quantative relation between flash guide number and ISO?
I found that formula on the Internet:
Guide Number = (Shooting Distance * Aperture) รท ISO Sensitivity
Is it correct? If it is could someone please explain why ISO is related to guide number in this ...
4
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3answers
754 views
Does a high ISO generally result in bad dynamic range and less accurate color?
I have a Pentax K-x. I've had it set on "auto ISO up to 6400" for a while now, and I'm starting to wonder if this is making my images worse. Honestly I don't trust myself to tell.
Does a high ISO ...
12
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7answers
813 views
Can someone give a simple explanation of ISO?
Can someone please explain to me what ISO means in the camera settings.
In an answer to a question about taking pictures at a dance party, I was told to use ISO 1600. What does that number really ...
19
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8answers
857 views
Should higher ISOs really be preferred (all other things being equal)?
My understanding of the ISO setting on digital cameras is that, unlike film-cameras, changing the ISO does not evoke any physical change in the camera. Rather, it simply tells the camera to multiply ...
2
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2answers
142 views
Image stabilization versus ISO speed
I want to do hand-held, natural-light photography in low-light situations, e.g. inside a room with a small window on a rainy day. No tripod, no flash.
I assume that compared to a tripod, image ...
3
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4answers
225 views
Does micro 4/3 have an advantage in low light due to aperture equivilence?
Recent Micro Four/Thirds sensors seem to have improved their noise performance significantly.
I own a Canon 5D Mark 2 full frame DSLR and am considering purchasing an Olympus OM-D EM5 micro four ...
0
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1answer
148 views
Why doesn't the Nikon D90 use ISO lower than 200 in very bright areas? [duplicate]
I've got a D-90 Nikon and a f1.4 lens and I've found in very bright areas like beaches in the Caribbean, when I have the camera doing auto ISO and speed and fixed f-stop, sometimes I get overexposed ...
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1answer
90 views
Why is high speed (ISO) film more expensive than low speed film?
And why is film much more expensive than paper?
Is it the silver content? Production volume? Does is it take more effort to produce larger grain?
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1answer
93 views
What are the biases in daytime and nighttime landscape mode?
What are the biases in day and nighttime landscape auto modes in terms of aperture, iso and shutter speeds?
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2answers
210 views
Why isn't expanded ISO settings (L / ISO50) enabled on Canon DSLR's by default?
It bothers me a bit when I have to hunt through menus to find the 'enable expanded ISO settings' setting in my 5D mkIII.
I'd like to know why the low ISO's are disabled however and if there is any ...
9
votes
8answers
731 views
Is it better to shoot with a higher ISO, or use lower ISO and raise the exposure in post-processing?
Suppose there are two photos taken in the following scenario:
Scenario 1 - Photo taken using ISO of 3200.
Scenario 2 - Photo taken using ISO of 100.
Both photos are taken in a medium light ...
3
votes
5answers
205 views
Why is a low base (minimum) ISO desirable in stills cameras?
Why is low base ISO so desirable in stills cameras, when the opposite seems to be true for digital motion picture cameras, for instance Arri Alexa, Sony F65 and F55, Canon C300, C500?
As an amateur ...
3
votes
7answers
277 views
Can ISO vary on different cameras?
We all know that [ISO] + [shutter speed] + [aperture] = a great picture.
Now, let's take two different (very!) cameras: Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D800 and set them on Aperture priority.
Settings for the ...
2
votes
1answer
162 views
Why is my ISO so high in auto mode?
New user of a Canon 7D - less than 50 shots taken.
Last night, I needed to take a quick picture of something that was on my cell phone with my Canon 7D
I propped the phone up against a white pillow ...
36
votes
6answers
2k views
How is ISO implemented in digital cameras?
If I change the ISO settings on my camera, obviously the gain of the system is increased, amplifying the signal from the sensor. What's not clear to me is where the amplification takes place. I see ...
9
votes
4answers
706 views
Why is sensor sensitivity called “ISO”?
I was curious to know how the term "ISO" was coined for referring the image sensor's sensitivity. Is there any reason or circumstance that contributed for terming "ISO"?
Also, does ISO has a literal ...
16
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4answers
493 views
What is ISO and how does it affect my photos
What is the ISO setting on my camera? What does it represent? What should I be aware of with regards to ISO when taking photographs
0
votes
1answer
182 views
What does ISO stand for? [duplicate]
I've recently been learning how to use a camera, and was wondering what ISO stood for?
0
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2answers
151 views
Why does a higher ISO hinder higher video bitrates in Magic Lantern? [closed]
With Magic Lantern it's possible to increase the video bitrate up to a point your memory card can no longer keep up and Magic Lantern will notify your recording has stopped.
While i can understand ...
6
votes
5answers
317 views
When determining exposure, is ISO typically taken into consideration secondary to aperture and shutter speed or is it equally as important?
In other words, do professional photographers typically pick the aperture and shutter speed they want and then after those are picked adjust the ISO until their exposure meter shows the shot as being ...
2
votes
2answers
234 views
Why does EV increase as ISO increases?
From what I understand, the lower the EV value, the more exposed (bright) the image is.
EV decreases as aperture decreases. More light gets in with lower apertures.
EV decreases as shutter speed ...
2
votes
2answers
546 views
If I need the higher ISO anyway, is there any downside in using Fujifilm's extended DR mode?
Fujifilm has an extended dynamic range mode, which is in some way linked to ISO. The X-Pro 1 has a sensor with a base ISO of 200; if I enable "DR 200%", the minimum possible ISO increases to 400, and ...
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2answers
11k views
In Canon EOS 1100D how do you manually set shutter speed and ISO in M mode?
Can someone explain how to set the shutter speed and ISO in M(manual) mode in a canon EOS 1100D.?
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1answer
308 views
Why doesn't the Nikon D90 record ISO in EXIF?
Why is there no ISO data in EXIF of images taken with Nikon D90? I'm using exiftool.
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votes
2answers
131 views
Why does the ISO change with the shooting mode when the aperture and shutter speed are constant and using a flash?
I have a canon 60d, Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM lens, and a Canon Speedlite 430EX II TTL flash. I like to use the manual modes, such as Av and Tv but I am having some difficulties when using the ...
8
votes
2answers
352 views
Why doesn't a Medium Format camera exist with good performance at high ISO?
I have had a look at enough medium format offerings, but all the products seems to offer many megapixels and poor performance at high ISOs.
Why doesn't a brand exist to offer slightly lower ...
11
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5answers
701 views
Do ISO values for Film and DSLR cameras have 1 to 1 correspondence?
For example, if we have a film with ISO/ASA speed of 100, is it equivalent to setting ISO = 100 on DSLRs?
6
votes
1answer
288 views
Film ISO and Push/Pull Processing
I am looking to start shooting film and have been having a look a different 35mm film. What confuses me is film that can be shot at different ISOs/exposure bias. For example Kodak says that Portra 800 ...
4
votes
2answers
173 views
Wedding cameras - disposable or ebay compacts + film
For a wedding I was thinking of trying to get some better quality disposable cameras. The highest ISO disposables seem to be 800 colour or 400 B&W (I would like to get a mix of colour and ...
6
votes
3answers
868 views
Why shoot a daylight outdoor photo at high iso? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Are there any situations in which it makes sense to raise the ISO in bright daylight?
I was looking at this image (from From Reuters blog ...
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votes
3answers
1k views
Noise Issue / Canon 5D Mark II
Just curious if anyone can help with this?
I am using a Canon 5D Mark II and it seams to be having noise issues at ISO 250 and up and especially at ISO 400? What is going on?
In low light when my ...
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vote
6answers
551 views
Is noise related to shutter speed as well as ISO?
I understand that as I increase ISO, I'll increase the amount of noise in the resulting image. With a constant aperture I can decrease ISO and slow the shutter speed (assume a non-moving subject, ...
17
votes
5answers
2k views
What is so special about ISO 1600?
I have heard many times that to minimize noise, the highest ISO you want to use is ISO 1600, and that no matter what camera or sensor you use, once you have passed this (ISO 1600) threshold, the noise ...
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votes
2answers
390 views
Why is the amount of photos that fit on one card dependent on ISO?
I have a Canon 550D with a 16GB SD card. I noticed that, when in P-mode, if I choose an ISO of 100 I can shoot 595 raw files on an empty card. If I choose an ISO of 200 this is 590. And if I choose ...
27
votes
7answers
5k views
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using auto ISO on a DSLR?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using auto ISO on a DSLR?
Using manual ISO obviously gives you more control, but auto ISO may mean that you get "the shot" under quickly changing ...
4
votes
1answer
199 views
How can a newer camera increase ISO while decreasing pixel size?
I am a bit confused as I am considering to upgrade my canon 350D to 600D. The pixel size has reduced from 6.4 microns to 4.3 microns, however, top ISO has increased from 1600 to 6400. How did that ...
24
votes
4answers
1k views
Why is there an ISO setting when shooting raw?
Raw files are supposed to contain mostly unprocessed data from the sensor. What's the point of having an ISO setting if it doesn't affect the amount of photons counted, but only provides ...
3
votes
1answer
327 views
How does Photoshop/Lightroom process exposure?
Ok, so after reading this it got me thinking... After back and forth of whether ISO increases/decreases noise, does it actually do just that? As explained, the ISO in the camera turns up the amplitude ...
11
votes
3answers
2k views
What settings should I use to photograph aurora borealis with a wide angle f/4 lens?
I've tried my first night photography of the stars last week. Most articles I've seen were recommending a fast lens, fully opened, @ ISO 800 and about 20 - 30s exposure, etc. Unfortunately, my only ...
7
votes
3answers
249 views
Variable ISO Sensor: Possible and/or Useful?
This answer to the question about how ISO is implemented in digital cameras seems to imply that each photosite (i.e., pixel) can have its ISO set independently. If this is true, then I would think ...
6
votes
1answer
143 views
Best film and shutter speed for Mansfield Skylark
My daughter picked up an old Mansfield Skylark camera at a yard sale. Can anyone recommend a film type/speed and shutter speed for overcast daylight conditions? The shutter speeds are simply 'B' ...
7
votes
4answers
279 views
What exercises can I do with a fully automatic compact camera to help me learn?
I own a Nikon Coolpix L120 camera. It's fully automatic. I am really interested in photography. Can anyone suggest me some exercises or experiments to do with this camera so that I can make a good use ...
3
votes
3answers
507 views
Night-time football game under field lights
I am shooting a little league football game at night under the field lights for the first time amd I have a few questions to ask.
I will be using the Canon EOS 60D camera with a Canon 24-70mm 1:2.8 L ...
3
votes
3answers
283 views
Can you tell how effective a camera's high ISO images are from the specs?
My current camera, a Canon 50D has OK image quality at 1600 ISO and its not really very usable above that.
I know that all the manufacturers publish an ISO range for their bodies. But just because ...
4
votes
1answer
191 views
When is high ISO noise not noticeable?
I noticed that sometimes when taking pictures with my D5100, they come out with very little visible noise with ISO 800 and up, for example this picture. It was taken at ISO 1600 if I remember ...
4
votes
4answers
491 views
Is higher ISO noise evenly distributed, or does it affect colors differently?
It's obvious that higher ISO affects the photograph by adding noise or grains.
But will that grain or noise be distributed equally over all parts of the photograph, or will it specifically affect ...
19
votes
8answers
2k views
How can I reduce the noise present when taking pictures without lowering my ISO?
I know that high ISOs tend to produce more noise, and some cameras' software can handle that noise better than others, but are there any other settings or conditions tha affect visible noise?
I'm ...
