Great Photography and Camera Deals

ISO Tutorial

 You can also say ASA or DIN if you are shooting film.

1. How do numbers look like

 

• ISO 50
• 100
• 200
• 400
• 800
• 1600
• 3200
• 6400
• 12800
• 25600

 

There are lower and higher numbers too. ISO 50 is the least sensitive, while 25600 is the most sensitive speed on the list. So ISO 25600 "sees" more light than 50 or any other speed listed.

So when there is not enough light, all you do is raise your ISO speed. But what happens then?

2. The bad thing

Noise - the higher your ISO speed, the more noise appears on your photos. That is something none of us want; newer cameras with better technology have less and less noise but there is a limit. Some have noise at ISO 400 while some are still usable at 6400.

In sensors, we have megapixels. And these "have" microlenses that receive light. The more light they receive, the better the signal and less noise we have. And bigger sensors also have less noise than smaller ones (that is why DSLRs perform much better than small compact cameras).

3. When to use certain speeds

 

• You are photographing at night but everyone is blurred. Your shutter speed is 1/15, aperture is f/4 and your ISO is 100. What now? Change the speed to ISO 800 and you can use 1/125 which is good (ISO 800 is 3 stops bigger than 100, so 1/125 is 3 stops faster than 1/15).

 

And that is all you should know. It is very important so make sure you know how your camera handles high ISO speeds.

 

 

Jean C. writes about photography tutorials, tips and buying guides on his blog - http://www.the-dslr-photographer.com/

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