Regardless of whether you have a DSLR or not, the ISO value plays a huge role in shooting in various conditions. Correct setting of this parameter helps to make the picture quality much better.
What is ISO?
In traditional photography, ISO, or ASA, was a measure of how sensitive a film was to light. This indicator was recorded in digital terms. Many could see these inscriptions on packaging with films - 100, 200, 400, 800, etc. The lower the number, the lower the sensitivity of the film and the more grain in the frame when shooting.
In digital photography, ISO measures the sensitivity of an image sensor. The same principles apply here too - the lower the number, the less sensitive your camera is to light and the more grain.
Higher ISO values are generally used when shooting in dark environments in order to obtain faster shutter speeds. For example, when you want to shoot indoor sports in low light, it is recommended that you set the ISO to the highest possible. However, the higher the ISO, the more noise will appear in the pictures.
Questions to ask when choosing an ISO
There are four questions to ask yourself when choosing your ISO setting:
Is this subject well lit?
Do I want to get a grainy image or not?
Can I use a tripod?
Is the subject moving or standing still?
If your subject is well lit and you want to keep grain as low as possible, use a tripod and a fixed lens. In this case, you need to set a fairly low ISO value.
In the case when the shooting takes place in a dark environment and there is no tripod at hand, and the subject is moving, it is worth increasing the ISO. This will allow you to take pictures at a faster speed and better exposure. Of course, the trade-off for increasing ISO is noisier footage.
Situations in which you may need to increase the ISO for better quality shots include:
Sports events where the subject is moving quickly and light may be limited.
Concerts that often take place in poor lighting. It is also prohibited to use flash on them.
Art galleries, churches, etc. Many galleries have a rule that prohibits the use of flash, and of course, these areas are not very well lit.
Birthdays. When a birthday boy blows on candles in a dark room, using the flash can ruin the shot. Increasing the ISO helps to capture this scene in great detail.
ISO is an important aspect of digital photography. It is important to be aware of it if you want to get quality pictures. The best way to find out the ISO values for your camera is to experiment with different settings. This will help you understand how they affect the final image. It is worth finding out as much as possible about shutter speed and aperture, as they directly affect ISO.
