Auto ISO - Yay or Nay

[sovietdoc]

I read people's photoblogs and they always say "use full manual, don't use any auto settings." While this may be true and good in some exteme cases where you can't rely on camera's built in meters, I had a question about Auto ISO.

So, I played around with it a little bit and found that for me it makes no sense to set it manually because if I do, it's just an extra parameter to keep track of, while if set to auto, it does the same thing. It always defaults to the lowest ISO setting while having my shutter speed limited manually.

The question is, is there a particular reason why I wouldn't want to use it? Besides when I really want to keep it down for IQ's sake? I generally don't like the camera doing things automatically for me but in this case I don't see how it can do harm unless like I said, I just wanna keep the noise down in dim lighting conditions..

 

[DiskoJoe]

Manuals setting are when you want to shoot something carefully and get consistency. This is not always possible depending on what you are doing and sometimes what you are shooting is not really important enough to bother with all the extra mess. Set everything manually for the really important stuff and use auto more for leisure.

 

[murklemark]

I use auto ISO, I set the maximum I want to the camera to go to depending on the location I'm in (I never go above 1600 on my camera though) and then that lets me be in manual mode and change my shutter and aperture to get the shot I want. I have no issue with it, my images don't come out poorly exposed, and it saves me time to get my shots.

 

[SCraig]

There are three variables that govern exposure: Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO. I have no problem with the camera picking ONE of those three since I know what range it is going to be in (it will be an aperture change if I'm shooting shutter priotirty or a shutter speed change if I'm shooting aperture priority). I do not want it picking two of them and me not knowing which is changing without having to look each time (it might be shutter speed but it might be ISO or it might be both!). I tried auto ISO once and did not like the way it behaved so I've had it disabled since.

 

[markj]

murklemark, do you get noticeable noise at 1600?

 

[Trever1t]

There is a time, and a place to use each auto setting, Aperture/Shutter/ISO. Tools in the bag are for using.


I might use Auto ISO if I need to keep my speed at a minimum setting or faster, say inside a dark hall or church. If I have time to use a tripod or for most anything else I set my ISO manually.

 

[bhop]

I don't really agree with the 'use full manual' mindset. Sure it's good to know how to do it, and maybe to learn exposure by using manual, but the way I see it, you're paying for this technological wonder that is the modern dslr (or late gen film slrs) and all the features that go along with it, so why would you want to treat it like a basic no-frills camera? If you wanted that, then buy a cheap Pentax K1000 or something.

That said, I don't ever use full auto on my SLRs either, that's giving up too much control. I like aperture or shutter priority (depending on what i'm shooting), because then you can still have creative control, and I trust my cameras meters enough to get many keepers. Combine those with the EV adjustment buttons and you can be set up for shots faster than you could if you were shooting fully manual. (unless you're zone focusing)

To answer the original question. Auto ISO? I think it'd depend on the camera. The reason is because some cameras have good higher iso IQ than others, but generally I think it's fine.

 

[murklemark]

murklemark, do you get noticeable noise at 1600?

Depends what you mean by noticeable? My D3100 does show grain at 1600, not so noticeable on a standard printed photograph, but you will notice it when viewing it on a monitor or large print out. It's a little bit higher than I would like to go but required for some indoor shots.

 

[MReid]

I always have it on.
Only time I turn it off is indoors if I am using flash then I go full manual and set to one ISO.
I have a little different philosophy however. I set my camera settings before I leave the house and never touch them again. The only thing I ever adjust is the exposure compensation dial....which is not much since the auto Iso keeps the exposures in the pocket for the most part.
I spend all my mental effort and energy on light, compensation and interfacing with my subject, be it animate or inanimate.

 

[DScience]

It totally depends on the camera. If I had anything less than a Nikon D700 then I wouldn't use auto ISO. However, since the D700 takes great photos even at ISO 3200, I usually leave it on. Why? Well it doesn't change the settings for most of my shooting. It only changes ISO in certain situations like indoor/night shots. In those cases it almost always turns out great when using auto ISO and aperture priority mode.

 

[tirediron]

Nay! ISO is the one parameter that, IMO, should NEVER be set to Auto. There's nothing wrong with using Auto exposure if the occasion calls for it, but the dange with Auto-ISO is that it can drive the ISO up to an undesirable/unusable range without the photographer noticing. Granted, like every "rule", there are exceptions, but for 99.999% of work, choose your ISO yourself.

 

[MReid]

Have to disagree.
Set the ISO range and minimum shutter speed to the conditions you are shooting in and have at it, you are still controlling the ISO yourself.

 

[DScience]

Nay! ISO is the one parameter that, IMO, should NEVER be set to Auto. There's nothing wrong with using Auto exposure if the occasion calls for it, but the dange with Auto-ISO is that it can drive the ISO up to an undesirable/unusable range without the photographer noticing. Granted, like every "rule", there are exceptions, but for 99.999% of work, choose your ISO yourself.

What camera do you use? Please tell me it's a crop sensor??? The reason I ask is because when you use Auto ISO you can select the highest ISO that will be used. Like I said, if you set this to 3200 on D700 then you won't get unusable images! LOL

 

[Trever1t]

he did say for .01% it's ok to do.....

I will only use AISO for demanding situations and even then it's probably not necessary. I do use a D700 and yes, ISO 3200 is very usable if your exposure is good. My Roman Pool image is ISO 3200

 

[murklemark]

Nay! ISO is the one parameter that, IMO, should NEVER be set to Auto. There's nothing wrong with using Auto exposure if the occasion calls for it, but the dange with Auto-ISO is that it can drive the ISO up to an undesirable/unusable range without the photographer noticing. Granted, like every "rule", there are exceptions, but for 99.999% of work, choose your ISO yourself.

I don't agree, the camera will only drive the ISO to the limit you set, so if you've tested your camera and know the ISO limits, the camera won't drive the ISO any higher than you yourself would drive it. So the images are no worse than if you setting the ISO yourself.