ISO in photography: A camera’s three most important settings are the aperture, speed, and ISO. Once you master the correct settings in a different situation, you have little to worry about.
ISO In Photography: Table Of Content
- WHAT IS ISO
- IMPORTANCE OF ISO IN CAMERA
- COMMON ISO RANGE/VALUE
- WHAT ISO SHOULD I USE
- EFFECT OF ISO ON IMAGE
What is ISO?
We can simply define ISO as camera settings that contribute to how bright or dark your image can get when you shoot with a digital camera. e.g., Canon and Nikon. What does ISO mean in photography to you?
Importance of ISO in Photography & Digital Cameras
The primary function of ISO in a camera is to determine how sensitive it is to light. It helps you determine the amount of light you want. The ISO value you use in a dark environment is different from the one you would probably use in a brighter environment.
Common ISO Range/Value
Not all cameras have the same ISO range. Some cameras’ values are most likely different. These are the common ISO values for most cameras.
- 100 (low ISO)
- 200 ISO
- 400 1SO
- 800 1SO
- 1600 ISO
- 3200 ISO
- ISO 6400 (high ISO)
What ISO should I use?
It is only natural that there will be more sunlight outside than indoors. Using a low ISO (100 or 200) is best when you already have nature at your back (the sun). Sometimes it might be cloudy; raise the ISO to 400 or 500. Doing this will give your image more luster.
Furthermore, the indoor space needs more light. Maybe you are the type who doesn’t use flash, which is not advisable. But still increasing your ISO might do the work. Even perfectly with the right settings.
When am in a tight situation such as this, all I do is raise my ISO to about 700. My APERTURE is set to the lowest value with a lower shutter speed.
- Outdoor Photography: 100 or 200
- Indoor Photography with flash: 400 or 500
- Indoor Photography without flash: 800
- 1000+ in a very low-light situation
Effect of ISO on Image
Increasing your ISO value has some side effects. The higher the ISO, the brighter your image will appear. But your pictures are likely to have noise, sometimes called grain. Correct color and exposure are not achieved when your image has noise.
The visible visual distortion you notice in your picture is called “noise.” When you raise your ISO to about 1200 0r 1600, the ISO might affect your image, especially in a low light situation.
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