DSLR Camera ISO Settings

ISO rocks!

 ISO Auto can work great, but having more control of these speed settings (100, 200, 400, 800 and 1600+) can help you achieve better exposure. I set my camera to a low ISO speed for bright light situations and a higher ISO speed for low-light situations. The higher the ISO number, the more sensitive to light your camera becomes, and the faster the shutter speed will be. Here are some general rules to follow: An ISO of 100 is perfect for very sunny environments. ISO 200-400 works for overcast outdoor daylight, outdoor shade, or indoors where the scene is well-lit. ISO 800 can sometimes be used in low light outdoors or indoors without a flash. Mind the shutter speed — if it gets too slow you can either increase ISO to make it faster, use a tripod to accommodate the slower shutter speed, or use flash. Indoor and outdoor low-light situations without a flash often call for an ISO speed of 1600 or more. Beware though, as your photos can become grainy with a high ISO (I try not to go higher than ISO 400 for that reason). To avoid graininess in these low-light situations, set the ISO low and mount your DSLR on a tripod to get a clear shot. Or, you can always use a high ISO (to increase shutter speed enough for a handheld shot) and enjoy the creative grain! I like to convert low-light grainy photos to black and white in Photoshop and call it “film grain.”