n00b Question.

[RKRAMOS]

Low ISO = best quality pictures
High ISO = cause grain and 'spots' in your photos

Always try to shoot at low ISO's but if you're shutter speed becomes too slow to use then increase the ISO

Noted, thanks!

 

[RKRAMOS]

Backwards. In lower light, up the ISO. In normal/sufficient light, I wouldn't exceed 200 ISO.

Oh, wow, no wonder a lot of my photos from that night came out grainy. Thanks for the info. I'm definitely going to remember this next time.

Sure! Amazon.com: Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera (9780817439392): Bryan Peterson: Books STRONGLY recommend buying this.

I'm sure it wouldn't hurt, I'm going to check to see if my library has this if not I'm probably going to order it! Thanks.

 

[tevo]

Oh, wow, no wonder a lot of my photos from that night came out grainy. Thanks for the info. I'm definitely going to remember this next time.

Sure! Amazon.com: Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera (9780817439392): Bryan Peterson: Books STRONGLY recommend buying this.

I'm sure it wouldn't hurt, I'm going to check to see if my library has this if not I'm probably going to order it! Thanks.

I saw that same link like 40009808t093809534809 times on this forum, and one day I actually ordered it. Best decision ever.

 

[RKRAMOS]

hahaha maybe I'll just order it then, I'm sure it will be a good piece to start off my collection.

 

[DiskoJoe]

The 5100 does not have a good enough sensor for you to shoot at this high an ISO and not get noise. I would not turn it up past 800 unless you have some really nice glass strapped to it. The highest I ever turn mine up to is 1600 and only for shoot at concerts and other events that are really dark. But usually I will have my aperture open to 2.8 to let in more light.

On your shot I would have opened the aperture up all the way and then adjusted the ISO to compensate.

 

[RKRAMOS]

The 5100 does not have a good enough sensor for you to shoot at this high an ISO and not get noise. I would not turn it up past 800 unless you have some really nice glass strapped to it. The highest I ever turn mine up to is 1600 and only for shoot at concerts and other events that are really dark. But usually I will have my aperture open to 2.8 to let in more light.

On your shot I would have opened the aperture up all the way and then adjusted the ISO to compensate.

So would the 1600+ be used with a flash?

 

[shootermcgavin]

A flash is only useful if what you're shooting is close enough for that particular flash, then you can get your ISO back down in the 100-400 range. But if you're using the flash built into the camera you will probably have to be within 5-10 feet of what you're shooting otherwise it's almost like not having it at all. You'll notice most wedding photographers have the best flash because they need it to go very far sometimes to get the shot. I only use the flash on my camera as a fill light, like to light up eyes if someone is wearing a hat or something like that otherwise it's too harsh and weak.

 

[Postman158]

Backwards. In lower light, up the ISO. In normal/sufficient light, I wouldn't exceed 200 ISO.

Oh, wow, no wonder a lot of my photos from that night came out grainy. Thanks for the info. I'm definitely going to remember this next time.

Sure! Amazon.com: Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera (9780817439392): Bryan Peterson: Books STRONGLY recommend buying this.

Yup, this is a great book!

 

[EchoingWhisper]

If you are referring to grain, then your ISO is most likely too high. Either that, or you have a dirty sensor. What camera do you shoot?

I have a Nikon D5100. You say the too high of an ISO, I thought the higher ISO the more clear the picture comes out?

Who thought you that?

 

[EchoingWhisper]

The 5100 does not have a good enough sensor for you to shoot at this high an ISO and not get noise. I would not turn it up past 800 unless you have some really nice glass strapped to it. The highest I ever turn mine up to is 1600 and only for shoot at concerts and other events that are really dark. But usually I will have my aperture open to 2.8 to let in more light.

On your shot I would have opened the aperture up all the way and then adjusted the ISO to compensate.

D5100 has a good sensor in my opinion. If you don't compare it with full frames, I think it has one of the best APS-C/DX sensors in the world.

 

[tevo]

D5100 has a good sensor in my opinion. If you don't compare it with full frames, I think it has one of the best APS-C/DX sensors in the world.

compared to?

 

[EchoingWhisper]

D5100 has a good sensor in my opinion. If you don't compare it with full frames, I think it has one of the best APS-C/DX sensors in the world.

compared to?

Compared to all APS-C/DX sensors tested in DxoMark.

 

[sassygrl]

When working with the lower ISO's then, what would be a good shutter speed to set? I was normally running w/ a auto-ISO or a 800 ish and than a lower/shutter when trying to shoot night time.
But always having to adjust the 2 to get the settings right??

 

[dots]

When working with the lower ISO's then, what would be a good shutter speed to set? I was normally running w/ a auto-ISO or a 800 ish and than a lower/shutter when trying to shoot night time.
But always having to adjust the 2 to get the settings right??

Set your camera to Aperture Priority and choose your aperture..the camera suggests the shutterspeed (you can finetune it using +/- exposure compensation). Rule of thumb for handheld shots (as opposed to using a support): If the shutterspeed drops below the mm focal length, raise the ISO. Image stabilization has improved things but (rule of thumb), at 100mm, you should be using at least ~1/125sec.

 

[EchoingWhisper]

When working with the lower ISO's then, what would be a good shutter speed to set? I was normally running w/ a auto-ISO or a 800 ish and than a lower/shutter when trying to shoot night time.
But always having to adjust the 2 to get the settings right??

Set your camera to Aperture Priority and choose your aperture..the camera suggests the shutterspeed (you can finetune it using +/- exposure compensation). Rule of thumb for handheld shots (as opposed to using a support): If the shutterspeed drops below the mm focal length, raise the ISO. Image stabilization has improved things but (rule of thumb), at 100mm, you should be using at least ~1/125sec.

With VR you could go to 1/20 sec.