Iso auto

[Kaye]

I hope someone can give me some advise on the ISO Auto. I take almost all my pictures in Aperture and have the ISO set to Auto, but I'm not real happy with the photo's that the ISO is 800-1600. Was just wondering what you guys set your ISO MIM and MAX on Auto. Thanks

PS: Nikon D90

[Wylde007]

not sure if i understand correctly, but i personally wouldn't bother with ISO Auto i would favour your cameras base rate of 100 or 200 ISO, all depends on what you're photographing though i guess like hand held @ night/low light ISO increase would help.

Are you not happy with them because of the noise? If so, then that's the obvious answer. Set your ISO lower.

*shrug*

Pretty simple fix.

~Eric

PS - on my D3, I set the max ISO (when shooting sports) at 3200 or 6400 depending on conditions. But, the D3 is much better at high ISO than your D90.

[kirbinster]

I used auto ISO when I got my first D40 and was learning. I quickly learned that there are few situations where it is worth using. Its best to keep the ISO as low as possible and only raise it when you have no more room to adjust with shutter or aperature - IMO.

[AdamR]

There's a good bit about ISO auto in the manual for the D90, basically, you can set the max ISO you're willing to let the camera use, for a given minimum shutter speed.

An example:

You can say "I don't want to shoot handheld slower than 1/30 and don't want to go above an ISO of 400."

In Av mode: you set your aperture to f/4, the camera will look at the light available, and will decide if it can properly expose the image at a shutter speed of 1/30 with the minimum ISO (say L1). If it can't, it bumps up the ISO to 200, if it still can't it'll go up to 400.

To overcome the problems you're having, set the min. shutter speed to what you're comfortable shooting with handheld, and then set the ISO to 400 max.

If you're in Av mode, you've got to be willing to sacrifice shutter time or ISO in order to properly expose the image in low-light.

Hope that helps!

[Sterling]

...only raise it when you have no more room to adjust with shutter or aperature - IMO.

That's what Auto ISO does, no?

It's my understanding that if I set, for example, Auto ISO at 200-1600 with a minimum shutter speed of 1/60, then the camera will use ISO 200 until the light is reduced so much that it cannot maintain a 1/60 shutter speed. At which point it will progressively ramp up the ISO until it reaches 1600. Only if ISO 1600 is insufficient will it allow shutter speeds below 1/60.

[AdamR]

Originally Posted by Sterling

That's what Auto ISO does, no?

It's my understanding that if I set, for example, Auto ISO at 200-1600 with a minimum shutter speed of 1/60, then the camera will use ISO 200 until the light is reduced so much that it cannot maintain a 1/60 shutter speed. At which point it will progressively ramp up the ISO until it reaches 1600. Only if ISO 1600 is insufficient will it allow shutter speeds below 1/60.

That's correct, as I understand it. In-camera (on the D90) you're able to set the range of ISO that's acceptable to you, as well as the min-shutter speed.

If you're unsatisfied with the noise in images @ ISO >= 800, set the max to 400.

[Sterling]

If you're unsatisfied with the noise in images @ ISO >= 800, set the max to 400.

This is what the op should do. However, they will have to be aware that shutter speeds may no longer be fast enough to capture what was being shot at ISOs over 400 (assuming they are already wide open).

[Kaye]

Thanks for all your advise. I like my photo's being really really sharp. Most of the photo's I take are sport (outside like bb, and softball) and potraits (love the kids). After reading some of your advise I think I will set the camera:
Ap Mode:
ISO Auto: On
ISO Sensitivity: 200
Max Sensitivity: 400
Mim Shutter Speed: 1/30

And just play with it and practice, practice, practice in all types of situations.

I think I might also start trying a little manual settings as well. Would love to be as good as some of you guys and practice is the only way I see getting there.
Thanks again,

[Sterling]

Just remember you may want to adjust your minimum shutter speed depending on the lens focal length you're using. 1/30 may be sharp at 18mm and not as sharp at 105mm due to increased camera shake with the longer lens.