Do you want to deliver quality images for monetization, adventures or even constest purposes? If yes!! This is just for you because the understanding and application of ISO rating is a path to taken better photograph. So, if your motive is to obtain bright, clear and noiseless shot or less grain images. Then, the understanding and application of exposure elements (Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO) is necessary. But in this article, the focus will revolve around one of the three exposure elements I.e ISO.
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| ISO rating (200) |
Now let's get down to business.
1. What is ISO rating?
2. Principle and application of ISO or How it works
3. The Balance of ISO among other two elements.
ISO RATING
Put simply, ISO is an acronym which stands for International standard Organization. This organization introduced the common numbers on digital cameras and even now it is included on mobile phone's camera. So, ratings are the value of the ISO that is selected by a camera operator e.g 100, 200, 400, 800......3200etc depending on the camera manufacturer. The primary role is to determine camera sensitivity to light.
ISO PRINCIPLE
The knowledge of ISO ratings is good but understanding how it works is extremely important. Since, ISO determines camera's sensitivity to light, so, the principle or how it works is a direct relation to the sensitivity to light as shown below.
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| Increasing camera light sentivity from left to right |
That's, the lower the ISO rating(100) the lower the camera sensitivity to light and the higher the ISO rating(400) the higher the sentivity to light. However, high ISO come with both PROS and CONS.
Pros of High ISO rating
1. Gives the camera sensor more light to brighten the image under low lighting condition.
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| Top:lSO 100, Beneath: ISO 800 |
2. It complements the use of fast shutter speed by reducing motion blur.
For more on shutter speed, stay tuned to my next article on this www.merryheartmedia.blogspot.com where the focus will be on Shutter Speed and how it works. You don't want to miss it, Do you?
Cons of High ISO rating.
1. It negatively affect image quality by generating noise signal which is opposite to low ISO rating.
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| Left: low noise Right: More noise |
So, if you are a photographer and find yourself in a dark scene with low light conditions, then raising your camera ISO ratings (with complementary adjustment of Shutter Speed and Aperture) is a good idea as you wouldn't risk losing an important shots due to low light.
ISO BALANCE WITH OTHER TWO ELEMENTS.
The ISO rating that is suitable to obtain a well exposed image (whether 100, 200, 400, 800 etc) is dependent on both the Shutter speed and the aperture of the camera with the level of illumination at that point in time. So, it's important to check and set the other two elements correctly before you release that shutter button. Why? The overall exposure or brightness of an image is determined by ISO, Aperture and the Shutter Speed. While ISO determines the exposure in part in term of camera sensitivity to light.
If this blog has enlightened, reminded or familiarised you with common Photography terms and principles, let's hear from you via the comment section below.
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