Is there a rule of thumb for ISO?

[kgreen]

Can you please tell me what ISO you use for diffrent lighting conditions?
For example I know that on a bright sunny day I would choose an ISO of 100.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

There really isn't a "standard" ISO for different lighting conditions. There is the photographic triangle to obtain the correct exposure. That is a combination of ISO, Shutter Speed and Aperture. For my long exposure night images I very often use ISO 100, the aperture I want depending on the DOF I desire and then a long shutter speed to obtain the look that I'm trying to obtain. I also will use ISO 800-1600 when I'm shooting nighttime auto racing because I need the faster shutter speeds. To get the correct exposure, it is always changing depending on the conditions. I wish it was as simple as just saying 100 for bright daylight, but its not.

 

[photo_chick]

I use the lowest ISO I can get by with while still achieving the shutter speed and aperture I want. Like Gianna's Papa said, it's the all about the exposure triangle.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I use the lowest ISO I can get by with while still achieving the shutter speed and aperture I want. Like Gianna's Papa said, it's the all about the exposure triangle.

That's my rule. I go with L or 100 when I have enough light. I bump it up from there on an as-needed basis.

I'd say that generally speaking, I shoot at 100 in sunlight, 200 in light clouds, 400 in heavy clouds or bright indoor areas, 800 in moderate indoor lighting, 1600 in dim lighting, 3200 when it is dark, 6400 when I have no other choice.

Those guidelines can be misleading. If I'm shooting a f/1.4, I'm probably going to be a few stops lower in ISO that I would be when I'm shooting at f/4. If I want to shoot at f/16, I'll increase the ISO several stops. The same logic applies if I'm trying to get long shutter speeds or very fast shutter speeds.

 

[kgreen]

I have used the auto ISO some on my nikon d-7000 to get the hang of what it would choose for diffrent situations, but I notice it bumps the ISO way up when shooting indoors in low light. And those are the photo's where I can start to see the noise in the photo. So I put it back to where I can choose the ISO. Thanks so much for the advice! I will get the hang of this.

 

[kgreen]

I use the lowest ISO I can get by with while still achieving the shutter speed and aperture I want. Like Gianna's Papa said, it's the all about the exposure triangle.

That's my rule. I go with L or 100 when I have enough light. I bump it up from there on an as-needed basis.

I'd say that generally speaking, I shoot at 100 in sunlight, 200 in light clouds, 400 in heavy clouds or bright indoor areas, 800 in moderate indoor lighting, 1600 in dim lighting, 3200 when it is dark, 6400 when I have no other choice.

Those guidelines can be misleading. If I'm shooting a f/1.4, I'm probably going to be a few stops lower in ISO that I would be when I'm shooting at f/4. If I want to shoot at f/16, I'll increase the ISO several stops. The same logic applies if I'm trying to get long shutter speeds or very fast shutter speeds.

Great advice! Thank you all. I feel like I'm asking dumb questions.. but I am learning more every day.

 

[photo_chick]

Great advice! Thank you all. I feel like I'm asking dumb questions.. but I am learning more every day.

In my opinion the only dumb question is the one you don't ask. There was a time when none of us knew these things.

Honestly, even though I understood how ISO worked and how to shift exposure values accordingly when I worked with film, it took me a while to get used to it with digital. The scale is the same and all, but being able to change it right there in camera took something that was a constant for at least 12 exposures and made it a variable. It's a lot to keep straight in your mind sometimes when you're out there shooting and everything is happening at once.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Great advice! Thank you all. I feel like I'm asking dumb questions.. but I am learning more every day.

Trust me there are no dumb questions!! We all are in a constant learning curve. You do notice that the images displayed her are very good. There's a reason for that! A good photographer friend of mine once told me, "The reason I'm called a good photographer is because no one sees my bad shots!"

 

[mom2rtk]

OP, this is a great place to learn, so ask away!

If you haven't read "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson, it's a great place to learn about the exposure triangle.

 

[kgreen]

You are such a big help! Thank you! Speaking of books, "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson, & the 3 books by Ansel Adams, are on my list to buy. All reccommended here. Thanks again

 

[kgreen]

Trust me there are no dumb questions!! We all are in a constant learning curve. You do notice that the images displayed her are very good. There's a reason for that! I good photographer friend of mine once told me, "The reason I'm called a good photographer is because no one sees my bad shots!"

Too funny! My laugh for this morning!

For as long as I can remember, photography has always had my attention. It's my #1 hobby. It's not like 10+ years ago when I was in school & had to learn things I didn't neccessarily care about. With photography it's my passion, I love it, & I really want to learn every thing I can about it. I don't have any friends or family who do photography to ask questions to, or walk side by side with. I am however taking an online course at the moment, & I'm learning more & more everyday. So I am thankful I can come here & pick you're brains. Thank you all!

 

[seashoreCM]

Also use ISO 100 for shots with the camera on a tripod or firm surface.

ISO 100 will sometimes work for cloudy day (outdoor) shots with not too much zoom. (On most cameras zoom slows down the lens in terms of maximum aperture so a higher ISO or a higher shutter speed is needed in more situations.)