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07/22/2006 12:44:48 AM · #1 |
OK - I am a fairly new photographer and I thought I understood ISO until I started researching for my upcoming trip. I am going to the San Diego Zoo and I started looking at exif data of other photographers work at the zoo.
The ISO settings are all over the place from 100 to 800, etc even though the pics were taken in the same setting, location, etc
Can someone give me a quick pointer on what to look for so I will know what to set my ISO on during the shoot?
Thanks,
RP |
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07/22/2006 12:47:48 AM · #2 |
To keep the noise down you want to shoot at as low an ISO as possible.
Where you may want to boost the ISO is if you want faster shutter speeds than what you can manage at the lower ISO using the aperture you want.
Outdoor in bright light should not pose much of a problem so shooting at the lowest ISO of the camera will be managable. Where you may need to boost the ISO is for indoor shots that you want to hand hold the camera for. |
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07/22/2006 12:57:30 AM · #3 |
| Thanks - that is what I thought. I just didn't understand why a picture of a gorilla in the sun required ISO of 800 in many pics I saw. |
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07/22/2006 12:59:19 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by robpom:
Thanks - that is what I thought. I just didn't understand why a picture of a gorilla in the sun required ISO of 800 in many pics I saw. |
I can answer that.... it could be a case of not paying attention.
Of course I only know that from hearsay, I'd never forget to check my ISO on a regular basis ;-) |
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07/22/2006 01:01:54 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by Beetle:
Originally posted by robpom:
Thanks - that is what I thought. I just didn't understand why a picture of a gorilla in the sun required ISO of 800 in many pics I saw. |
I can answer that.... it could be a case of not paying attention.
Of course I only know that from hearsay, I'd never forget to check my ISO on a regular basis ;-) |
I'm tellin' ya! If they just made an idiot alarm on cameras I'd buy it in a heart beat. I always forget to change my ISO :( |
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07/22/2006 01:04:47 AM · #6 |
ISO is the sensitivity setting of the camera's sensor. The higher the number, the more sensitive it is to light -- doubling the amount of light captured with each doubling of the ISO number (50, 100, 200, 400, etc).
What this means is at 200 ISO you will only need half the light that would be needed at 100 ISO to get the same exposure. So, for instance, a faster shutter speed could be used to let half the light in or the aperture could be made half as big -- and the exposure would be the same at 200 as it would be at 100.
The penalty for this is when the sensitivity is ramped up, the noise increases. The higher the sensitivity, the greater the amount of random noise.
David
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07/22/2006 01:05:00 AM · #7 |
| Also, if the camera is set on auto (heaven forbid ;o)) havoc will be played with the ISO as you don't know what settings will get shaken up for you. |
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07/22/2006 01:05:00 AM · #8 |
When I'm shooting with the long lens handheld, and I want decent DOF, I'll use manual mode to set the shutter speed and aperture I want to work with and check the pointer in the viewfinder to see if I am underexposing. If I am, I'll dial up the ISO by as many stops as I'm underexposing, in order to center the needle in the exposure indicator. But I don't have to do this very often.
And I always, always, always drop the ISO back to 100 as soon as I'm done shooting...
R.
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07/22/2006 01:10:22 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by robpom:
Thanks - that is what I thought. I just didn't understand why a picture of a gorilla in the sun required ISO of 800 in many pics I saw. |
In bright light noise is less noticable, so a higher ISO can be used without the noise penalty being so obvious. This allows for a smaller aperture giving a larger DOF or a faster shutter speed to make a sharper picture.
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07/23/2006 08:01:51 AM · #10 |
I can't imagine why someone would shoot at 800 in the sun in a zoo unless there is more to the story then what we are being told. As has been reiterated here, slower is better.
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07/23/2006 10:16:34 AM · #11 |
Ah but I have shot the Gorillas at the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park. There isn't as much sun as you'd think. As a matter of fact the brightest subjects are the humans that are walking in the streets and on the paths. The animals are smart and will be lurking in dark shaded areas.
And with the Pandas you are in for a real treat. The viewing area is a dense area of trees at the bottom of a canyon. The 10-2 sun will filter through in spots causing all kinds of fun effects... Pandas are the easiest to both over and under expose. Too dark no eyes, to bright severly blown white fur.
The hummingbird Aviary you will want no less than ISO 400 and still won't get the shutter you need to stop the action. The Snakes and Reptiles all very dark in an enclosed area.
The Polar Bears, Flamingos, Tram/Bus Ride, Shows and People shots are propably the only time you will have enough light to use ISO 100 with great results. The new area where you are at tree top level with the monkeys you will have plenty of light as well.
The SD Zoo has some North/South canyons with plenty of tree cover to provide the animals with shade. Depending on where you are at what time will decide which ISO to use.
You will not want to be using ISO 100 the entire day.
Tiger, Okapi, Snow leapord and such are on darker sides of these canyons. The Gorillas are on Top but like to sit the shady side. The (Brown) Bears are on a East facing slope so get those in the morning before the sun is behind them.
The Koalas and Tree Kangies all have nice little thatch huts and enjoy the shade... I end up using ISO800 for these guys no matter what time of day it is.
Isn't digital wonderful? If we were shooting film we would have to find a happy medium (in this case ASA400) when we load the film up for a day shoot.
The SD Zoo is a great shoot and you will come back with some nice shots. Did you get the Double deal (might even be a Triple deal right now) with a pass to the Zoo and Wild Animal Park? (They might even have one with SeaWorld added as well.
The Wild Animal park is a great shoot as well. It is more open areas where animals roam about freely. Closer to animals in there native habitats. The Park is open til late (til sept) so we can shoot some cool stuff in the dark.
When you coming to SD?
Andy
Message edited by author 2006-07-23 10:18:01. |
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07/23/2006 10:35:29 AM · #12 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
And I always, always, always drop the ISO back to 100 as soon as I'm done shooting... |
I try that all the time, but the camera won't let me. ;)
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07/23/2006 02:58:40 PM · #13 |
When you coming to SD?
Andy [/quote]
We will be at the zoo on Tuesday. Thanks for the advice! We did get the triple pass. I am having a hard time planning the day so that I get some good shots, but don't drive my family crazy. |
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07/23/2006 03:11:26 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by robpom:
... I am having a hard time planning the day so that I get some good shots, but don't drive my family crazy. |
The longer I'm married the more I agree part of the secret to a happy family life is to take seperate vacations. :)
Message edited by author 2006-07-23 20:30:11.
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07/23/2006 08:01:16 PM · #15 |
I usually shoot at 100. When I increase the ISO, i always forget to lower it to 100. :( |
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07/23/2006 08:13:46 PM · #16 |
Auto ;)
Seriously, though, I do shoot on auto quite a bit, and the camera always seems to pick 50, with good results. Left to my own devices I generally pick 100, but end up running the photo through Neat Image when I get home since the higher ISO also increases noise levels a bit.
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07/23/2006 08:23:06 PM · #17 |
| I tend to leave the ISO on auto, but use manual for everything else, unless I deliberatly need the higher iso, like at my son's band concerts, which were in a dark theater (and MAN was it nice to have the high ISO then!!) |
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