ISO settings

[handicap18]

Great images!! I so want to get the D300.

I think I have figured a way for me to get. I can save a bit of money each month on the side. At work we're due for a "bonus" in March '09 of $1200. After taxes thats about what, $850 or so. With that I think I can get DW to alot me about $800 from our '08 tax return. Then I can get the D300 and battery grip.

Though maybe by then they'll have a lesser expensive D80 replacement with similar specs. I do like the 6fps on the D300.

Ok, only 14 months to go! Let the countdown begin!

 

[praline3001]

Pretend for a moment you are Barney.. yup that big purple dino...
and you were trying to explain ISO to someone not so smart about cameras...
Now explain it to me

I have a sony cyber shot (7meg resoultion) one of those point and shoot cameras with some really cool little gadgets on it but I have no idea what most of the gadgets do!!!

It has a twilight setting but whenever I take a pic it comes out super blurry... I told you I was dumb but am trying to learn. I am guessing because the ISO is low for this setting?

My manual setting for ISO says 100-400 and I get to pick one inbetween.... oh joy.

I don't have a tripod so I am guessing I should stay away from this twilight or high ISO?

i am so confused and I leave in a day and a half.
I should have stuck with my disposable cameras

 

[gruZ]

Read some of this thread. While it is written for Digital SLR's, the same concepts apply to all cameras. Scroll down a bit and you'll see a section on ISO! The deeper you get into this thread the more you will realize that it is WAAAAY more information than you need, but still a good source.

To summarize the thread:
All else being equal, a lower ISO (100) will capture a cleaner (less noise) image, but will require a longer shutter speed to do so. This longer shutter speed might mean a blurred image if the shutter speed is long enough and you don't have a way to hold the camera perfectly still (like a tripod).

All else being equal, a higher ISO (400) will allow you to capture the image with less likelihood for blur, but will come at the cost of potentially more "noise" in the final image. The amount of noise also has a lot to do with the exposure of the image (generally a darker or underexposed image will have more noise).

With a week to go before your trip, you have plenty of time to play with each setting and see what produces the best images under a variety of conditions.

Enjoy your new camera!

 

[YEKCIM]

ISO is, simply, the sensor's sensitivity to light. A low ISO is less sensitive to light; a high ISO is more sensitive to light. So, why don't we use one or the other all the time? In simple terms, low ISO does not have the ability to capture a good image in low light; high ISO does have that ability, but at the expense of digital "noise", which appears as graininess in the photo.

Does that help?

~Y

 

[seashoreCM]

Taking a picture successfully requires getting enough light into the camera.

This can be accomplished by using a larger lens opening (but sometimes the lens doesn't go large enough).

This can be accomplished by using a slower shutter speed.

This can be accomplished by waiting until the sun comes out to make the scene brighter (but you can't do that indoors or at night).

Or you increase the ISO which means the camera doesn't need as much light to begin with.

Digital camera hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/digicam.htm

 

[praline3001]

Read some of this thread. While it is written for Digital SLR's, the same concepts apply to all cameras. Scroll down a bit and you'll see a section on ISO! The deeper you get into this thread the more you will realize that it is WAAAAY more information than you need, but still a good source.

To summarize the thread:
All else being equal, a lower ISO (100) will capture a cleaner (less noise) image, but will require a longer shutter speed to do so. This longer shutter speed might mean a blurred image if the shutter speed is long enough and you don't have a way to hold the camera perfectly still (like a tripod).

All else being equal, a higher ISO (400) will allow you to capture the image with less likelihood for blur, but will come at the cost of potentially more "noise" in the final image. The amount of noise also has a lot to do with the exposure of the image (generally a darker or underexposed image will have more noise).

With a week to go before your trip, you have plenty of time to play with each setting and see what produces the best images under a variety of conditions.

Enjoy your new camera!

A week? I have 1 day to figure this out

Thanks everyone... I am going to go read those links now!

 

[boBQuincy]

Technically, ISO is the amount of amplification applied to the signal from the sensor. The sensor captures light and turns it into an electrical signal, the camera amplifies that signal to a usable level.

Noise is amplified along with the signal so less light = more amplification = more noise. This doesn't really matter to most of us.

Whether your ISO is 100 or 400 probably does not help much with twilight photos, there is still not enough light to get a decent shutter speed, = blurry photos. The disposable camera would not do any better either. If your camera displays the shutter speed beware of anything slower than 1/30 second.

Bottom line, use a tripod, GorillaPod, monopod, or something to support the camera.

 

[mabas9395]

Good morning boys and girls. Today we are going to play with sponges!!

This first sponge is super absorbent (can you say "ab-sor-bent"? I knew you could), it can soak up lots and lots of water really fast. Let's give it a score to tell us how ab-sor-bent it is. How about "400"? That's a good score, it makes me happy.

This other sponge is not as absorbent as the first. It takes longer to soak up water, but that's OK, it is still a special sponge to us. Let's give this sponge an absorbent score. How about "100". It has a lower score than the first because it does not soak up water as quickly. In fact boys and girls, you could say that the first sponge is 4 times more absorbent as the second because the score is 4 times as big.

My purple brain hurts from all this math, but let's take an easy test. I like tests, don't you? If you were to dip both sponges into a bucket of water for 1/100 of a second, which one would soak up the most water? You're right, it's the first sponge with the higher absorbency score. You are so smart, you are super-d-duper!!!

Now imagine we had a sponge with an absorbency score of 1600 or even 3200. We sure could soak up a lot of water with that, couldn't we? You bet.

So you may be asking yourself, why don't we just throw away that sponge that only has a score of 100 if it doesn't soak up as much water? Golly kids, I'll tell you. Each of us is special with our own talents. Some of us are good at one thing while our friends might be better at something else. And our sponges are the same way. Even though a sponge with a 1600 score might be better at soaking up water than a sponge with a score of only 100, did you know that the 1600 sponge will actually leave little tiny specs all over the place when you try to use it and the 100 sponge will do a nicer, cleaner job? Its true.

So which sponge is better? Jeepers, it depends. Do you want to soak up a lot of water, or do you want to keep your area clean without any specs? Sometimes you want one, and sometimes you want the other. See, sponges can be different, just like you and me, but we are all special in our own way.

That's all for now. God bye kids, I'll see you tomorrow. I love you, you love me......

And while this example may not be technically correct, if you just substitute light for water and sensors for sponges, you'll have ISO all figured out.

 

[seashoreCM]

The same ISO numbers (formerly called ASA numbers) are used with film for film cameras.

>>> sponges

The quicker-picker-upper left all that lint behind on the mirror or the polished table top while the chamois with several wipings left the surface nice and clean?

 

[praline3001]

Good morning boys and girls. Today we are going to play with sponges!!

This first sponge is super absorbent (can you say "ab-sor-bent"? I knew you could), it can soak up lots and lots of water really fast. Let's give it a score to tell us how ab-sor-bent it is. How about "400"? That's a good score, it makes me happy.

This other sponge is not as absorbent as the first. It takes longer to soak up water, but that's OK, it is still a special sponge to us. Let's give this sponge an absorbent score. How about "100". It has a lower score than the first because it does not soak up water as quickly. In fact boys and girls, you could say that the first sponge is 4 times more absorbent as the second because the score is 4 times as big.

My purple brain hurts from all this math, but let's take an easy test. I like tests, don't you? If you were to dip both sponges into a bucket of water for 1/100 of a second, which one would soak up the most water? You're right, it's the first sponge with the higher absorbency score. You are so smart, you are super-d-duper!!!

Now imagine we had a sponge with an absorbency score of 1600 or even 3200. We sure could soak up a lot of water with that, couldn't we? You bet.

So you may be asking yourself, why don't we just throw away that sponge that only has a score of 100 if it doesn't soak up as much water? Golly kids, I'll tell you. Each of us is special with our own talents. Some of us are good at one thing while our friends might be better at something else. And our sponges are the same way. Even though a sponge with a 1600 score might be better at soaking up water than a sponge with a score of only 100, did you know that the 1600 sponge will actually leave little tiny specs all over the place when you try to use it and the 100 sponge will do a nicer, cleaner job? Its true.

So which sponge is better? Jeepers, it depends. Do you want to soak up a lot of water, or do you want to keep your area clean without any specs? Sometimes you want one, and sometimes you want the other. See, sponges can be different, just like you and me, but we are all special in our own way.

That's all for now. God bye kids, I'll see you tomorrow. I love you, you love me......

And while this example may not be technically correct, if you just substitute light for water and sensors for sponges, you'll have ISO all figured out.

The funny thing is all of the techie stuff I have read cluttered my poor brain and scared me away from playing with my ISO I was just going to keep it on point and shoot.... YOU MADE SENSE .... NOW I GET IT

I know I have a few blonds in the old family tree... it must be a genetic thing.
I really want to take FAB pics but messing with any of those little techie gadgets scares the daylights out of me

 

[praline3001]

OKAY here is my very first attempt at playing with my ISO...
No editing and took it of my doggie who was looking at me like I was nuts cause I kept telling him to hold still
what did I do wrong (I wasn't trying for the ROT... heck I was just doing good trying to get him to sit still for the shutter

 

[PhotobearSam]

My photography instructor said it this way on our first day of class and I never forgot it.

The best way to remember what ISO to use is like this.

If you have a dark room and you need a light bulb to light it, you won't pick a lower wattage...well, you won't pick a lower ISO either.

The more light you need, the more wattage you will need in a bulb...

It's a simple way to look at it without being technical.

If it's low light and you would really like to have more light, put in a brighter bulb with a high number...same goes for ISO...Use the higher number.

If it's a bright room, you will only need a low wattage bulb, and a lower ISO will do.

Bright scene...no need for a high ISO
Dark Scene, give me more ISO

Now I am not saying that there is no trade off for using a higher ISO but at least you know.

 

[mabas9395]

It looks like your picture was taken at ISO 100 and a 2 second shutter speed. Nothing stays still for two seconds, not your dog and not your hands holding your camera.

If you would have boosted your ISO to 400, then your shutter speed would have been 1/2 second (if you increase one side, you have to decrease the other to have the light in the picture balance out - 400 is 4x 100 and 1/2 second is one fourth of 2 seconds.)

But even at 1/2 second, you are going to have some blur. You can use a tripod which will reduce camera movement blur but not doggie blur. Better to use a flash in this case.

 

[praline3001]

okay I just found a subject a bit more willing to sit still for me
DS bought me a silk flower the other day while with daddy at wallmart
NOW... the background is almost wiped out. is this an effect of changing the ISO? when messing with the ISO should I not use a flash?
I know I must sound like a complete idiot to you experts and I truly am sorry but I guess everyone has to start somewhere

 

[praline3001]

It looks like your picture was taken at ISO 100 and a 2 second shutter speed. Nothing stays still for two seconds, not your dog and not your hands holding your camera.

If you would have boosted your ISO to 400, then your shutter speed would have been 1/2 second (if you increase one side, you have to decrease the other to have the light in the picture balance out - 400 is 4x 100 and 1/2 second is one fourth of 2 seconds.)

But even at 1/2 second, you are going to have some blur. You can use a tripod which will reduce camera movement blur but not doggie blur. Better to use a flash in this case.

OKAY so I am better off when taking pics of kids to use my 400 ISO speed
but that makes the shot more grainy right? but a little grainy is better than a complete blur job. If I am taking a pic of something STILL in low light use the 100 ISO ... and since I am not a pro... this should be my rule for a while... if it breathes use ISO 400

 

[PhotobearSam]

Are you using a flash? Mist times I find that the flash cancels out changing the ISO in some cases. You can really see the difference in natural light.

 

[praline3001]

Are you using a flash? Mist times I find that the flash cancels out changing the ISO in some cases. You can really see the difference in natural light.

Yeah I was using a flash. I am running around the house in my PJS with my camera just taking pics with the lights down low testing how the ISO is different.

 

[DueyDooDah]

Here's a way that might help you understand what is happening.

In normal room light, set your camera to ISO 100 and turn off your flash. Now, set your camera to the Av mode and set aperture to 8 (use your camera's manual to see how this is done). Using a tripod or having the camera sitting on a hard surface, take a picture of the flower. Now, set the ISO to 400. Without changing anything else, take another picture of the flower. The second picture will look the same as the first, but it will take much less time for the camera to take the picture the second time.

Now, set the camera back to ISO 100. Set the camera to S (or Sv or Tv) mode. Set the shutter speed to 1 second. Take that picture. Now set the ISO to 400 and take another 1 second picture. The aperture will change to give you the same image.

See these examples:

Av mode
ISO 100
Aperture f/8
Shutter speed 1.3 sec

Av mode
ISO 400
Aperture f/8
Shutter speed 1/2 sec

Tv (or S) mode
ISO 100
Aperture f/5.6
Shutter speed 1 sec

Tv (or S) mode
ISO 400
Aperture f/11
Shutter speed 1 sec

After further reflection, this is not a good example for your question. Sorry.

 

[boBQuincy]

After further reflection, this is not a good example for your question. Sorry.

Maybe not, but it's a neat helicopter! Does it fly well?

 

[mabas9395]

okay I just found a subject a bit more willing to sit still for me
DS bought me a silk flower the other day while with daddy at wallmart
NOW... the background is almost wiped out. is this an effect of changing the ISO? when messing with the ISO should I not use a flash?
I know I must sound like a complete idiot to you experts and I truly am sorry but I guess everyone has to start somewhere

I'm not really the best one to answer your more technical questions, but since everyone else is already asleep you are stuck with me.

It looks like you didn't change your ISO much, you went all the way from ISO 100 to ISO 160, not much of a change. You must have changed something and the camera autoselected ISO 160 as the right choice based on your selection. I think you can only choose 100, 200, 400 in manual.

Depending on what you are shooting, you may want to change/mess with the ISO when you use a flash, I think it works best when you can go full manual. It also depends on how smart your flash it. Sometimes if you boost your ISO, your camera will adjust something else down to compensate. I'm not that familiar with your how your camera works, but I think it knows that its flash doesn't reach too far so it only tries to do so much. If it adjusted the settings so the background was properly exposed, your flower would have been totally washed out. I think your twilight portrait mode is designed to light up your subject with your flash while doing the best to expose the dark background. But you are going to get slow shutter speeds so use a tripod if you can.

You can use a photo editing program to fix some of the dark areas, but it never looks as good.