ISO Ramblings

Have you heard of an ISO? Have you heard of film speed?  Brace yourself, I'm going to get into it here. Ready?  No?  Ahem. OK, You could go places like this to try and get some answers or you can read my ramblings. Your choice.

Well, when we used to use film, the ISO (or ASA) used to refer to the speed film you were using. Like with my very first ever SLR camera (a big, hefty Pentax), when I would shoot a certain film speed (100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 or even 3200) I would have to remember to set me manual ISO setting to whatever number matched my film. Then with my bells and whistles SLR (still a film camera at that point) any film I put in would be automatically read by the camera and it would set itself accordingly. Well, now we've got the digital world upon us where there is no more film. And no more film means you don't have to premeditate your shooting conditions. With film, you would kind of have to decide what speed worked best for what you were shooting before you loaded up. Now, that kind of planning isn't necessary. It doesn't matter anymore because you can decide for each shot what speed you want to use. But that doesn't mean that ISO are obsolete. You still can make choices for the settings you're shooting in. But in the digital world you can change your ISO from shot to shot. FREEDOM!

If any of you are lost, I am sorry. Perhaps you have no idea what I am talking about. Perhaps you do. Either way, I'll put it to you this way, every camera shoots at a "speed" (they still call this the ISO). On many cameras, especially the point and shoots, they will give you the best one for where you're shooting so you don't have to think about setting it (most are automatic these days anywhere from 100 to 400 ISO). BUT, like all auto settings, it isn't fool proof. Auto settings can really rock (I use them quite often) but they are not always right. But, that's not really my point. My point (I get to it eventually) is that with Digital SLRs, the does ISO needs to be set. Right out of the box, I think it's set at 100. Which is best for outdoors (lots of sun) or with a flash blast. Quite personally, like my film preferences, I never shoot at 100 speed. Ever. I like the fastest speed possible. I am known to shoot low light scenarios most often. You know that about me by now. So, for the most part, my ISO is set at 1600. GASP! That blows people's mind, I know, but it's what I do. It's what works for me. And I very rarely feel like there is too much "noise" (something that photographers will talk about but it's an issue that doesn't really effect me and my eye). It may sound like a lot of long winded tech talk (even when I bring it down to Tracey Talk) but it's a really important setting. And truthfully, I am ashamed I never brought it to your attention. So, I'm doing it now. Especially because as I've gotten to know all of you, I know that many of you use Digi SLRs.

OK, so what? What's it all really mean? Um, when you're camera is set at a fast ISO--the higher the number, the faster the setting--it means that you can shoot with less light and the camera acts quickly and gathers up as much light as possible. And when you pair that up with a fast lens---fast meaning it allows you to shoot with the aperture as open as possible--smaller number means bigger opening--you can still get a good exposure without a flash. That's pretty much what it boils down to. Whew, you're going to have to read that through a few times I'm thinkin'.

Why all this talk about fast shootin' and low light when I'm supposed to be dealing with photos of newborns? Well, unlike shooting photos of older children that are old enough to be out and about in brighter areas (like outside for instance) the newborn is, for the most part, in a bassinet or all snuggled up somewhere where the light is limited. Or you're zooming in really close to some delicious tiny toes for the close up shot and you're camera is yelling, "not enough light!". To that I would hope you can reply, "HUSH CAMERA! I have you set at 1600...it's cool." I don't know. It makes sense to me.

Comments

[Leah]

Hee, "Hush camera," made me laugh. It's so true - sometimes my camera is too smart for its own good...

[Stacy]

Add me the 1600 ISO group! *waving hand wildly* I live in Minnesota so we are pretty much inside from November until April and I need that setting or I would be using my pop-up flash constantly.

With that said, the noise is greatly reduced if the picture is properly exposed (not too dark, not too light...just right).

[Alissa]

I had my camera for a few months before it ever occurred to me to change the ISO. Hello, can you say NEW to photography? It was like a whole new world opened up, and everything was brighter and happier :-)

I tend to leave mine on 100 or 200 when I'm shooting landscapes or sunsets, but indoor I'll keep it at around 800. Fast enough to deter the blur, but not quite so noisy.

[xixi]

I <3 my new camera so much BECAUSE the ISO can be set manually up to 1600 - (my previous one only went to 800) hurrah low light shots! In fact, I just recently discovered that there is a secret setting where you can get it to do 3200. I thought I was going to pass out.

I got this one for xmas so I am still playing with all the features. I am pretty sure it will make breakfast for me if I hit the right settings.

[laura]

Boo! My camera's ISO menu maxes out at 400 ...

[maile]

i love it! i wish you had been around 15 years ago to de-mystify everything I was originally so intimidated by. And I have to give a shout out for the 1600 setting too! =) WOOT!

[Mommy Jen]

I'm fairly new to your site and haven't checked all the archives so you may have done this already, but it might be helpful if you could post a picture taken at, say, four different ISO speeds to show the difference? Also, I'm really interested in achieving bacground blur (more depth of field) in my photos. I know a little, but could you direct me to a post you may have done on this. Or to a web site! I have a Canon Digi Rebel XT. Thanks! :-)

[Island jen]

I don't have an SLR but I have manual settings on my camera. If I use anything over 400 ISS there is too much colour noise in the dark areas.

But it's nice to know when I upgrade, I won't have these problems!!

[Island jen]

I don't have an SLR but I have manual settings on my camera. If I use anything over 400 ISO there is too much colour noise in the dark areas.

But it's nice to know when I upgrade, I won't have these problems!!

[melody]

I'm imagining that you talk at the speed of lightning much like myself. But I always understand what you say, pretty much.

[Christie]

huh, now I feel like I get some noise at 800. Any ideas about that? I ususally go 400 outside (it's Oregon, so bright sun is usually only out of s months and I never remember to take it down any further!) and 800 inside. I'd never considered (gasp!) 1600.

[Murray]

Where was this post last Christmas? I wanted to take one of those stroke of midnight, "...not a creature was stirring…" photos of the tree, with lights and presents all visible, but not washed out from a flash.

But now, having been motivated by your ISO post, I took another look at my little digital point & shoot. Lo and behold, it seems you can change the ISO setting, plus tinker with the “exposure compensation” all while switching from “Auto” to “Night” or “Landscape” (or whatever), and get a multitude of reasonably stable low light photos. (Stable, as in not necessarily a lot of blur.)

As for “noise”…some people may call it that but I prefer to think of it as a “performance art” opportunity. :-) Thank you very much for sharing your experience and knowledge!