Maybe I just don't get the ISO controversy. To me the ISO is last on the list of image design parameters, as it has the least impact on the image I am trying to create.
First is Aperture for me. I use this to achieve the depth of field I want the image to have. This is an artistic choice.
Second is Shutter Speed. I will either want a shutter speed that is fast enough to freeze any motion in the subject or scene.
Therefore I set these parameter manually to create the image I am looking for.
Third is the ISO value. Because ISO can induce artifacts like noise and lower dynamic range, I pretty much always want the camera to select the lowest possible ISO that gets correct exposure at my set Aperture and Shutter Speed. Auto ISO is very good at doing this. Also in this use, the Exposure Compensation dial is essentially setting the ISO as that is the only parameter the camera is allowed to change.
I often set a maximum ISO value that I don't want the camera to exceed. If that is not high enough then I want the number of stops underexposed to be shown so I can make different choices in Aperture and Shutter Speed.exposure to be taken underexposed.
So, I will set a minimum ISO to the sensor's base ISO. In the case of my A1 that is ISO 100, My Leica M11 that is ISO 64. But I always want the minimum shutter speed as close to base as possible as this yields maximum IQ.
The conversation here seems to be focused on setting Minimum ISO not Maximum. Is this because you guys want to leave the camera to choose two parameters? Such as ISO and Shutter Speed? So by choosing a minimum ISO you are really trying to influence the cameras algorithm to choose a higher Shutter Speed? In that case I want the camera to respect a setting such as ISO Minimum Shutter speed, not minimum ISO. When i use such a setting it is mostly used for fast moving subjects like Wildlife or sports where shutter speed is very important.
The most common setup for me is Manual Mode with Auto ISO. The canmer respects my Aperture and Shutter Speed settings on the dials or rings, and floats the ISO to achieve the closest value to Base ISO possible. I can then bias the exposure with Exposure compensation which in actuality only affects the ISO chosen.
For landscapes on a tripod I will shoot everything in Manual Mode. I don't want the camera to make any choices in setting. I use it simply as a light meter so i can make my own choices on DOF, and Exposure.
One again, why all the focus here on minimum ISO?
Oct 17, 2023 at 11:55 PM
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