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What is ISO? The Complete Guide for Beginners • Landscape Photography
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Camera ISO is a critical setting, but it is NOT part of exposure • Portraiture
BY NASIM MANSUROV | 170 COMMENTS
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LAST UPDATED ON JANUARY 26, 2024
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By using a high ISO setting here, I was able to select a fast shutter speed and freeze the birds in
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ISO is one of the three pillars of photography (the other two being shutter speed
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and aperture), and it has a major effect on your images. How does camera ISO
affect your images? In this article, we will introduce ISO for beginners and explain PHOTOGRAPHY TUTORIALS

how to use it effectively for the best possible results.

Table of Contents
1. What is ISO? PHOTOGRAPHY LANDSCAPE
1.1. What is the Meaning of ISO? BASICS PHOTOGRAPHY

2. Common ISO Values

3. What is Base ISO?
4. Low vs High ISO Noise Visibility
5. How to Change ISO
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6. What Camera ISO Should You Use?
PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY
6.1. When to Use Low ISO
6.2. When to Use High ISO
7. Minimizing Noise and Maximizing Image Quality
8. Common ISO Myths and Misconceptions
9. Conclusion COMPOSITION & BLACK & WHITE
CREATIVITY PHOTOGRAPHY

What is ISO?
In very basic terms, ISO is simply a camera setting that will brighten or darken a
photo. As you increase your ISO number, your photos will grow progressively
NIGHT SKY PORTRAIT
brighter. For that reason, ISO can help you capture images in darker
PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY
environments, or be more flexible about your aperture and shutter speed
settings.

However, raising your ISO has consequences. A photo taken at too high of an ISO
will show a lot of grain, also known as noise, and might not be usable. So, STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTOGRAPHY VIDEOS
brightening a photo via ISO is always a trade-off. You should only raise your ISO
when you are unable to brighten the photo via shutter speed or aperture instead
UNIQUE GIFT IDEAS
(for example, if using a longer shutter speed would cause your subject to be
blurry).

Note how much brighter the image gets when ISO is increased from 100 to 1600 SUBSCRIBE VIA EMAIL

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What is the Meaning of ISO? the link below:

The acronym ISO stands for “International Organization for Standardization”.

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However, camera ISO does not directly refer to the organization that creates
various technology and product standards. Ever since two film standards called
ASA and DIN were combined into ISO standards in 1974 (later revised for both
film and digital photography), they were referred to as one word “ISO” from that
point on. Although ISO initially defined only film sensitivity, it was later adopted
by digital camera manufacturers with the purpose of maintaining similar
brightness levels as film.

Common ISO Values

Every camera has a different range of ISO values (sometimes called ISO
speeds) that you can use. A common set is as follows:

ISO 100 (low ISO)

ISO 200
ISO 400
ISO 800
ISO 1600
ISO 3200
ISO 6400 (high ISO)

Quite simply, when you double your ISO speed, you are doubling the brightness
of the photo. So, a photo at ISO 400 will be twice brighter than ISO 200, which
will be twice brighter than ISO 100.

What is Base ISO?

The lowest native ISO on your camera is your “base ISO”. This is a very important
setting, because it gives you the potential to produce the highest image quality,
minimizing the visibility of noise as much as possible. Some older DSLRs and a
number of modern cameras, such as the Fuji X-T2 have a base ISO of 200,
whereas most modern digital cameras have a base ISO of 100. Optimally, you
should always try to stick to the base ISO to get the highest image quality.
However, it is not always possible to do so, especially when working in low-light
conditions.

Side note:

Some cameras have extended “HI” and “LO” values for ISO that might
stretch beyond their native range. However, these are completely simulated
and lower your image quality. We recommend avoiding them.

Low vs High ISO Noise Visibility

To give an example of two photos taken at different ISO values, take a look at the
comparison below. Pay attention to the level of noise (graininess and blotchy
colors) in the images:

The difference is clear – the image at ISO 3200 has much more noise than the
one at ISO 200 (which I brightened with a long shutter speed instead). This is
why you should avoid high ISOs whenever possible, unless conditions require
you to use them.

How to Change ISO

Changing ISO varies from camera to camera. Here are some common ways to
change ISO:

To start, enter a mode that lets you select the ISO yourself. Get out of Auto
mode, and go to Manual, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, or Program (we
tend to prefer Aperture Priority or Manual).
For entry-level DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, you probably need to open a
menu (possibly the “quick menu”) and find the section for ISO. Select the
value you want, or set it to Auto.
For higher-end cameras, there may be a dedicated “ISO” button on the
camera. Press it while spinning one of the wheels to change your ISO setting.
If you don’t see a button labeled “ISO”, it is still possible that your camera will
let you program one to perform this task.
Other cameras may have a dedicated wheel that already has various ISO
settings marked. This makes things even easier.

Check your camera manual if you still aren’t sure. However, it is worth being very
familiar with how to change your ISO setting quickly, since it’s something you will
likely be adjusting quite often, especially if you shoot in low light conditions
without a tripod or flash.

What Camera ISO Should You Use?

Many photographers understand the basics of ISO, but they aren’t sure which
ISO value to actually pick in the field. In practice, there’s a reason why your
camera allows such a wide range of ISO settings: Different situations call for
different ISOs. Below, we will cover some of the common scenarios you may
come across.

When to Use Low ISO

As discussed above, you should always try to stick to the lowest ISO (base ISO)
of your camera, which is typically ISO 100 or 200, whenever you can. If there is
plenty of light, you are free to use a low ISO and minimize the appearance of
noise as much as possible.

Even in dim or dark environments, you still might be able to use a low ISO. For
example, if you have your camera mounted on a tripod or sitting completely still
on a table. In that case, you can safely use a low ISO and brighten your photo via
a long shutter speed instead, since you won’t introduce camera shake. However,
keep in mind that if your camera does use a long shutter speed, anything that is
moving will look like a ghost:

Oh No! It’s a GHOST ATTACK!

Just kidding, of course! That’s my lovely nephew being the subject of my long
exposure test. I set the camera to the lowest ISO to retain the detail, which
required a long shutter speed of five seconds in order to capture a bright enough
photo. My nephew sat still, while my friend stepped in for a brief moment to
introduce the ghost.

When to Use High ISO

Even though it is ideal to use low ISOs, there will be plenty of times when a high
ISO is necessary in order to take a good photo in the first place. The simple
reason is that you are often fighting against motion blur, and you will need to pick
between a sharp photo at a high ISO, or a blurry photo at a low ISO. Take a look
at the image below:

An image of Black Skimmers captured at ISO 800 and 1/2000 shutter speed

I captured these Black Skimmers at 1/2000th of a second and ISO 800. Here, my
camera needed 1/2000th of a second to fully freeze the birds while they were in
flight. What would have happened if I had set ISO 100 on my camera instead? I
would have needed a shutter speed of 1/250th of a second to capture a bright
photo. At that setting, there would have been a lot of unwanted motion blur in the
picture, since the birds were moving so fast. In short, I would have ruined the
picture.

The bottom line is that you should increase the ISO when there is not enough
light for the camera to capture a sharp, bright photo any other way. When I shoot
handheld photos indoors without a flash, I always set my ISO to a higher number
to capture the moment without introducing blur. Or, when photographing ultra-
fast action like in the bird picture above, raising your ISO is often necessary.

On most cameras, there is a setting for Auto ISO, which works great in low-light
environments. The beauty of this setting is that you input the maximum ISO you
are willing to use, so that the camera does not cross that limit. Personally, if I
want to limit the amount of noise in a photo, I will set my maximum ISO to
something like ISO 800, 1600, or 3200. The downside is that the camera will
start using progressively longer shutter speeds if it reaches these ISO limits,
which leads to more motion blur. Everything is a trade-off!

Minimizing Noise and Maximizing Image Quality

Some photographers think that the best way to capture high-quality images is to
use Base ISO 100% of the time. However, as demonstrated above, that simply is
not true. Sometimes, you’ll be in dark environments when you have no choice but
to use a higher ISO.

You should only use base ISO when there is enough light to do so. Don’t try to
force ISO 100 in a dark environment, or your photos will come out way too dark.
Similarly, if you’re using a fast shutter speed to capture action, it’s essentially the
same as taking pictures in a dark environment (since you strictly limit the amount
of time your camera sensor is able to capture light). So, for certain types of
sports and action photography, a high ISO might be your only option.

To maximize your image quality, here are the four steps you need to follow:

1. Select the aperture setting that will provide your desired depth of field.
2. Set your ISO to its base value, and put your shutter speed to whatever
setting provides a proper exposure.
3. If your subject is blurry, progressively raise your ISO and use a faster shutter
speed until motion blur disappears.
4. If your ISO is getting too high and you still have the ability to use a wider
aperture, open it up until the ISO gets to a more manageable level, even if it
means sacrificing some of your desired depth of field.

That’s all it takes! If you follow these steps, you’ll capture the maximum image
quality each time. You’ll find the ideal balance between noise, motion blur, and
depth of field.

Common ISO Myths and Misconceptions

ISO has a lot of myths surrounding it, including some that are quite common to
hear. In this section, we will quickly address some of those concerns so that you
are not misled about this topic in the future.

Is ISO “Sensor Sensitivity”?

This is the most common myth related to ISO. It is something you will see all
over the web (and in print). However, although it may help you to think of ISO as
“acting like” camera sensor sensitivity, that’s not what it actually does. Instead,
digital sensors only have a single sensitivity, regardless of your ISO. It is more
accurate to say that ISO is like a mapping to tell your camera how bright the
output photo should be, given a particular input exposure.

Is ISO Part of Exposure?

No, ISO is not part of exposure. Shutter Speed and Aperture brighten your
photo by physically capturing more light. ISO doesn’t do that; instead, it
essentially brightens the photo you already captured. So, photographers don’t
consider it to be a component of exposure.

Is Raising ISO Just Like Brightening Your Photo on a Computer?

This is a clever question, but, again, it is simply a misconception. Brightening a
photo on your computer can act in many ways like raising your ISO, since it
does make noise more visible (and it leads to a brighter image). But the simple
difference is that raising your ISO in the camera nearly always provides better
image quality than brightening a photo on your computer. In other words, it is
better to use ISO 800 when necessary, rather than brightening an ISO 100
photo to a huge degree in post-processing software like Lightroom!

How Does ISO Affect a Photo?

ISO increases or decreases the brightness of a photograph, but also affects
both grain / noise levels and dynamic range. At the lowest (base) ISO setting,
your images will have the least amount of noise and the highest dynamic range,
giving you the most flexibility in post-processing. As ISO is increased, noise
levels increase and dynamic range typically decreases as well.

What is the Best ISO Setting for Low-Light?

When shooting in low-light conditions, your shutter speed will typically
decrease, resulting in camera shake or motion blur. To avoid such issues, you
should increase ISO setting to a higher value, such as ISO 1600. Depending on
your aperture and light conditions, you might need to increase ISO even more.

What is the Best ISO Setting for Landscape Photography?

When photographing landscapes, you should use a tripod and set your ISO to
your camera’s base ISO, which is typically 100.

Conclusion
If you have any questions, comments or feedback, please post them in the
comments section below.

Take me to Chapter 6: Composition

1 Photography Basics Introduction

2 What is Photography?

3 Shutter Speed

4 Aperture

5 ISO (You are here)

6 Composition

7 Metering

8 Camera Modes Take me to Chapter 6: Composition

9 Focusing

10 Flash

11 Camera Settings

12 How to Take Sharp Pictures

13 Photography Tips for Beginners

14 Photography Ideas

RELATED ARTICLES

Understanding Metering and How to Get Sharp Photos Introduction to Shutter Speed
Metering Modes in Photography

Indoors Flash Photography - Understanding Digital Camera Common Camera Settings for
Off-Camera Flash Modes (PSAM and More) Beginners

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TAGGED WITH: DSLR CAMERA, ISO, PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS, TIPS FOR BEGINNERS

About Nasim Mansurov

Nasim Mansurov is the author and founder of Photography Life,
based out of Denver, Colorado. He is recognized as one of the
leading educators in the photography industry, conducting workshops,
producing educational videos and frequently writing content for Photography
Life. You can follow him on Instagram and Facebook. Read more about Nasim
here.

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170 COMMENTS Newest

Matt
March 5, 2024 10:36 pm

Very informative articles for an amateur like myself. In words I can understand too, lol. Thank
you!

1 Reply

Sylvester Arhin
January 30, 2024 8:37 am

Very helpful
I want to join your team

1 Reply

Kelly
August 25, 2023 1:58 pm

I have looked many places for a layman’s explanation of ISO and never really found it. This
was exactly what I was looking for to gain an understanding of how ISO, shutter and aperture
all work together to create a good photo. I hate having to just use auto mode on an SLR
because I don’t know what I’m doing. This article was a HUGE step towards being able to
select the vaunted “M” and USE my camera. Thank you!

7 Reply

Sean
August 11, 2023 12:27 pm

I just discovered this website and decided to look up what you said about ISO. I find this is
one of the most misunderstood concepts in photography and very often outlines
misconceptions as if they are facts. So, it’s a good way to find out if the website knows what
they’re talking about, and this was spot on. The only thing I would add is that high ISO
doesn’t add noise, it just reveals noise that is already in the captured image.

It’s the very difficult concept that most people try to oversimplify, but this article does a
great job of explaining it without oversimplifying by saying things like ISO changes the
sensitivity of the sensor, which this explains well is not the case.

2 Reply

Karen Collier
June 14, 2023 6:30 pm

I understand your request for simpler language. ISO, in the context of photography, refers to
the sensitivity of the camera’s image sensor to light. It determines how bright or dark your
photos will appear, especially in low-light conditions.

When you adjust the ISO setting on your camera, you’re essentially telling it how sensitive
you want the sensor to be. Higher ISO values make the sensor more sensitive to light,
allowing you to capture brighter images in dimly lit environments. Conversely, lower ISO
values make the sensor less sensitive, resulting in darker images but with less noise or
graininess.

To clarify, ISO does not directly affect the live image seen through the camera’s viewfinder. It
influences the exposure and brightness of the final captured image, but the live view remains
unaffected by ISO changes.

-2 Reply

Sean
Reply to Karen Collier August 11, 2023 12:20 pm

“ISO, in the context of photography, refers to the sensitivity of the camera’s image
sensor to light.”

No, it doesn’t. Nasim explicitly said that’s not the case and explained the sensor only has
one sensitivity.

3 Reply

ANDRE TANGUAY
April 25, 2023 12:25 am

In the four steps mentioned, I do not see the relation between ISO and a blurred image in
step 3. After the first two steps, I would use a faster shutter speed to reduce or eliminate blur
and then only increase the aperture and sacrifice depth of field and only as a last resort
increase the ISO bearing in mind that doing so also increases noise.

4 Reply

Kayla
March 22, 2023 9:23 pm

What an amazing free class that is enabling me to know my camera so well and learn at a
fast rate! No photography background but everything is explained so clearly. Will
recommend to all newbies! Thank you so much and God Bless

3 Reply

Tai Kavy
March 21, 2023 7:02 pm

Again, Thank you very much

3 Reply

Patrick
February 3, 2023 4:06 am

I’ve just discovered your excellent site and it is extremely accessible and clear so thank you
for the effort the team have put in to its production.

As an electronic engineer I believe that higher ISO settings result from higher amplification
(gain) of the tiny signals from the sensor. Whenever you amplify a signal you also amplify the
sensor noise caused by thermal and semiconductor shot noise. Thus at higher ISOs you will
see artefacts due to noise. This is why cameras designed for astrophotography have cooling
devices built in to lower the temperature of the sensor therefore reducing the thermal noise
enabling higher ISO settings to be used with less noise.

3 Reply

Pete A
Reply to Patrick February 3, 2023 4:59 pm

Don’t forget photon noise, which is mainly shot noise in the visible spectrum.
Signal-to-noise ratio = √ (expected number of photons)
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shot_noise

The electronic noise you mentioned increases with exposure duration, hence the benefit
of cooling sensors that are used for long exposures.

0 Reply

Sven
February 10, 2022 2:16 am

Well one question remains: Why is it, that rasing ISO in-camera (almost instantly with only a
small processor) produces better results than making the picture brighter later on the
computer with all it’s hi-tech software and offline processing power?
This suggests that there must be more to it, than simply brightening the image after the
shot, doesn’t it?

2 Reply

Sho
Reply to Sven February 16, 2022 11:42 am

ISO is not dependent on processing power, originally it was a physical property of film
rolls used in mechanical cameras that had no electronics at all. So if you wanted to take
a photo with an ISO of 100 you’d use a roll that is graded as 100, if you wanted 1600