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08-08-2011, 05:29 PM   #1
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What ISO Do You Use?

Without checking my camera, I think I remember that the Kr goes all the way up to 25600. At that setting, you obviously get a lot of noise. At what ISO does the camera begin showing noise?

As a rule of thumb, (if you're using the auto-iso feature) what range do you use on your camera? I haven't been letting it go above 800, but a few times I've gone up to 1600 and haven't really noticed much noise (haven't inspected either).

Thanks in advance for your input.

08-08-2011, 05:55 PM   #2
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For outdoor shoot, I limit my ISO to 1600 (to get a couple of stops faster if object is in motion)
For indoor shoot, I bump it up to 3200 (again helps me avoid blur)

I usually get good quality images till ISO 3200. Nowadays I usually shoot in RAW, so I have enough room for improvement in Post processing.

All that said, it depends on the indoor lighting too, in that case you might need to adjust your ISO setting as per the conditions
08-08-2011, 06:09 PM   #3
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My K20D is often on ISO 320 - a good tradeoff I find, since this older sensor isn't as tolerant as the newer ones. I will go to ISO 800 if I must but not over that, as far as I can remember.
08-08-2011, 06:25 PM   #4
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QuoteOriginally posted by Swapnil Quote
For outdoor shoot, I limit my ISO to 1600 (to get a couple of stops faster if object is in motion)
For indoor shoot, I bump it up to 3200 (again helps me avoid blur)

I usually get good quality images till ISO 3200. Nowadays I usually shoot in RAW, so I have enough room for improvement in Post processing.

All that said, it depends on the indoor lighting too, in that case you might need to adjust your ISO setting as per the conditions
Wow. I feel like I had been limiting my camera too much. I didn't want to raise it above 800 because I thought I would start getting noise.

I'm definitely going to be trying 1600 and 3200.

08-08-2011, 06:36 PM   #5
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200. Period. I find it a bit challenging, but I hate noise, even if it can be reduced in post. I see ISO as the least desirable factor of the three to (ab)use.

In rare circumstances I'll boost it up as much as needed, such as night shots where I can't use a flash, but other than that I really try not to touch it.
08-08-2011, 06:39 PM   #6
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I use whatever ISO is necessary. I try to stay at 100 on my K20D, but 400 or 800 are also common, and I'll go up to 2000 or higher if image content is more important than quality. Speeds of 1600 or more are usually (for me) best in B&W with boosted contrast, for that pushed-Tri-X effect. But the general rule is: Keep the ISO as low as possible.
08-08-2011, 06:44 PM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by reivax Quote
Wow. I feel like I had been limiting my camera too much. I didn't want to raise it above 800 because I thought I would start getting noise.

I'm definitely going to be trying 1600 and 3200.
You will start to see noise even at loser ISOs but a K-r can produce pretty clean images up to 1600ISO. 3200ISO is certainly useable but there is some visible noise.

Unless you are shooting RAW (and even then sometimes) the camera will be applying noise reduction especially at higher ISO. You get less noise at the expense of loss of some detail.

You can adjust your noise reduction settings in the menu. I have mine set as custom and off until ISO 1600

08-08-2011, 06:57 PM   #8
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Checking at my Lightroom stats, 90% of my shots are at ISO 100 and never went up beyond ISO 400. Maybe I mostly shot with K10D...
08-08-2011, 07:01 PM   #9
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On my K-5 I basically just leave it on Auto-ISO 80-3200.
08-08-2011, 07:30 PM   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by RioRico Quote
I use whatever ISO is necessary.

But the general rule is: Keep the ISO as low as possible.

I generally shoot in Av or TAv with no limit on ISO. I tweak shutter speed &/or aperture as necessary and appropriate to keep ISO as low as possible.
08-08-2011, 08:46 PM   #11
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Auto ISO usually at 200-3200 but if i'm shooting indoor sports ill go to 5000 or a bit higher if absolutely necessary. A slightly noisy photo is not even comparable to a blurred out one.
08-08-2011, 08:54 PM   #12
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On an A series lens or newer I auto ISO 100-3200. If shooting in very dim lighting I may bump it to 6400, but noise starts to become unacceptable above that.

IMO, leaving Kr in ISO 200 negates one of the greatest feature of this camera, and will cause undesirable slow shutters to become a problem in low light situations.

Goat in a barn - 6400 ISO with FA 50 F1.4 with ambient tungsten barn lighting (the worst ever)

Kitty in the grass was shot handheld with K300 F4 (manual lens) ISO 3200 to keep the shutter speed above 1/150

Pool shooter is at ISO 6400 with FA 35 F2 with ambient tungsten pool hall lighting.



Last edited by mattt; 01-07-2016 at 05:34 PM.
08-08-2011, 08:55 PM   #13
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I've been bumping up my high limited auto-ISO's as I hate blur even more than noise. 6400 on my K-x, 12800 on my K-5.
08-08-2011, 09:01 PM   #14
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For me, it's not a matter of what ISO I'm willing to go up to. I'll start at base ISO for whatever camera I'm holding and bump up based on motion blur.
So long as nothing is moving, I'm willing to tempt fate with motion blur till about the third or fourth failed attempt. On my first few times out, I pulled very sharp results holding the camera at arms length 1/20s with my 50mm, then I pulled a wonderful 1.3s shot, again with a 50mm, though I was well braced. I do the same thing with my point and shoots.
I don't really have a methodology for shooting moving objects in low light yet.
08-08-2011, 09:40 PM   #15
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I'm another one who, most of the time, leave my K-x (similar performance to K-r) on Auto 100 - 3200.
That said if I have a shot I can take my time with I will set it on ISO 100 (there is a noticeable difference between 100 and 200 on my K-x at least - especially with blues like the sky) and use a tripod if necessary.
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