Acceptable ISO

**Kerrowdown** · 05-22-2016, 02:05 PM - **1 Like**

So what are we all thinking for a standard acceptable maximum ISO setting for kinda everyday use?

It used to be 400 on my old K20Ds, with the K1... I seem to be getting away with quite daft high settings.

clockworkrat · 05-22-2016, 02:15 PM

What's everyday use? Are you shooting children or trees?

Adam · 05-22-2016, 02:16 PM

Originally posted by Kerrowdown

So what are we all thinking for a standard acceptable maximum ISO setting for kinda everyday use?

It used to be 400 on my old K20Ds, with the K1... I seem to be getting away with quite daft high settings.

1600 and under is what I'd consider "very clean". 3200 is still great but I wouldn't venture higher unless absolutely necessary. Thanks to SR, though, that's hardly ever needed these days!

Unregistered User · 05-22-2016, 02:17 PM - **1 Like**

As always... It depends.

**Quartermaster James** · 05-22-2016, 02:17 PM

Well, I still see it as all interconnected. Sure I can get high ISO shots now that I never would have considered a few years ago, and this is a handy option to have when circumstances warrant. But for "everyday" use I keep it at around 100-200 unless there's a need to push it higher. After all, how often do I need to use ISO 6400 on a bright sunny day?

virusn3t · 05-22-2016, 02:17 PM

I say is up to the minimun quality that i accept for the job, my starndad for family pics the highest ISO was ~6000 for the K30, ~4000 for the K3, ~8000 for the K1, of course if more is needed i go beyond that numbers but that numbers are my high auto-ISO in the semi-auto mode... For product photography ISO100 is the maximun always in any camera.

**BigMackCam** · 05-22-2016, 02:20 PM

I'm fascinated to hear this as well. Of course, "acceptable" will be very subjective... 18 months ago I wouldn't have used my K-5 or K-3 above ISO 1600 except in desperation, as I simply hadn't embraced the fact that a certain amount of noise is fine when viewing an image at typical sizes, and even more so with some gentle post-processing. Now I routinely shoot at ISO 6400 and above with my cameras, and - depending on the subject, and the amount of time I'm prepared to put in with Lightroom 6 - I'm very happy with the results. But, I know there are a lot of people here on the forums who wouldn't accept the levels of noise I'm prepared to work with... Anyway, it's the K-1 you're talking about, so I'll shut up now and read with interest the replies you get

**BigMackCam** · 05-22-2016, 02:22 PM

Originally posted by Quartermaster James

Well, I still see it as all interconnected. Sure I can get high ISO shots now that I never would have considered a few years ago, and this is a handy option to have when circumstances warrant. But for "everyday" use I keep it at around 100-200 unless there's a need to push it higher. After all, how often do I need to use ISO 6400 on a bright sunny day?

But what if your day-to-day photography was indoors... in not-so-well-lit environments?

**Kerrowdown** · 05-22-2016, 02:22 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Adam

1600 and under is what I'd consider "very clean"

What a bonus for my shutter speeds... now I know why they go up to 1/8000.

**Kerrowdown** · 05-22-2016, 02:24 PM

Originally posted by clockworkrat

Are you shooting children

I know a few children I'd like to shoot.

I was thinking more about use in "street" work.

**BigMackCam** · 05-22-2016, 02:24 PM

Originally posted by Adam

1600 and under is what I'd consider "very clean". 3200 is still great but I wouldn't venture higher unless absolutely necessary. Thanks to SR, though, that's hardly ever needed these days!

That's interesting, Adam, and kind of confirms what I said above in my slightly earlier reply - an acceptable level of noise is a very subjective thing. Out of interest, what's your preferred maximum ISO on the K-3 / K-3II? As I mentioned, I routinely shoot at ISO 6400 and sometimes above, with results the I'm happy with - but that's just me!

EDIT: I should add, I'm talking about shooting RAW and post-processing with LR6...

**Kerrowdown** · 05-22-2016, 02:28 PM

Originally posted by Quartermaster James

on a bright sunny day

We all look forward to those in Scotland, it's sometimes a long time between each occasion.

**jatrax** · 05-22-2016, 02:31 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Quartermaster James

on a bright sunny day?

What is that exactly? Rumor has it there was one of those here in Oregon. Once. A long time ago.

Na Horuk · 05-22-2016, 02:31 PM

Originally posted by Tjompen1968

As always... It depends.

Yep, definitely.
What is the subject? What kind of PP are you doing? Will you make large prints or post small jpegs online? Who will view the photos?
I guess you can get some general consensus as to which ISO still looks good. That would be around 3200 and below, from the photos I have seen taken with K-1 and similar sensor cameras.

**Quartermaster James** · 05-22-2016, 03:01 PM

Originally posted by Kerrowdown

We all look forward to those in Scotland, it's sometimes a long time between each occasion.

Anchorage too mate, Anchorage too.

05-22-2016, 02:05 PM - 1 Like	#1
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,816	Acceptable ISO So what are we all thinking for a standard acceptable maximum ISO setting for kinda everyday use? It used to be 400 on my old K20Ds, with the K1... I seem to be getting away with quite daft high settings.

05-22-2016, 02:16 PM	#3
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,594	Originally posted by Kerrowdown So what are we all thinking for a standard acceptable maximum ISO setting for kinda everyday use? It used to be 400 on my old K20Ds, with the K1... I seem to be getting away with quite daft high settings. 1600 and under is what I'd consider "very clean". 3200 is still great but I wouldn't venture higher unless absolutely necessary. Thanks to SR, though, that's hardly ever needed these days! Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

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05-22-2016, 02:15 PM	#2
clockworkrat Veteran Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Black Isle, Scotland Posts: 405	What's everyday use? Are you shooting children or trees?

05-22-2016, 02:17 PM - 1 Like	#4
Unregistered User Guest	As always... It depends.

05-22-2016, 02:17 PM	#5
Quartermaster James Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 653	Well, I still see it as all interconnected. Sure I can get high ISO shots now that I never would have considered a few years ago, and this is a handy option to have when circumstances warrant. But for "everyday" use I keep it at around 100-200 unless there's a need to push it higher. After all, how often do I need to use ISO 6400 on a bright sunny day?

05-22-2016, 02:17 PM	#6
virusn3t Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 676	I say is up to the minimun quality that i accept for the job, my starndad for family pics the highest ISO was ~6000 for the K30, ~4000 for the K3, ~8000 for the K1, of course if more is needed i go beyond that numbers but that numbers are my high auto-ISO in the semi-auto mode... For product photography ISO100 is the maximun always in any camera.

05-22-2016, 02:20 PM	#7
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,670	I'm fascinated to hear this as well. Of course, "acceptable" will be very subjective... 18 months ago I wouldn't have used my K-5 or K-3 above ISO 1600 except in desperation, as I simply hadn't embraced the fact that a certain amount of noise is fine when viewing an image at typical sizes, and even more so with some gentle post-processing. Now I routinely shoot at ISO 6400 and above with my cameras, and - depending on the subject, and the amount of time I'm prepared to put in with Lightroom 6 - I'm very happy with the results. But, I know there are a lot of people here on the forums who wouldn't accept the levels of noise I'm prepared to work with... Anyway, it's the K-1 you're talking about, so I'll shut up now and read with interest the replies you get

05-22-2016, 02:22 PM	#8
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,670	Originally posted by Quartermaster James Well, I still see it as all interconnected. Sure I can get high ISO shots now that I never would have considered a few years ago, and this is a handy option to have when circumstances warrant. But for "everyday" use I keep it at around 100-200 unless there's a need to push it higher. After all, how often do I need to use ISO 6400 on a bright sunny day? But what if your day-to-day photography was indoors... in not-so-well-lit environments?

05-22-2016, 02:22 PM - 1 Like	#9
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,816 Original Poster	Originally posted by Adam 1600 and under is what I'd consider "very clean" What a bonus for my shutter speeds... now I know why they go up to 1/8000.

05-22-2016, 02:24 PM	#10
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,816 Original Poster	Originally posted by clockworkrat Are you shooting children I know a few children I'd like to shoot. I was thinking more about use in "street" work.

05-22-2016, 02:24 PM	#11
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,670	Originally posted by Adam 1600 and under is what I'd consider "very clean". 3200 is still great but I wouldn't venture higher unless absolutely necessary. Thanks to SR, though, that's hardly ever needed these days! That's interesting, Adam, and kind of confirms what I said above in my slightly earlier reply - an acceptable level of noise is a very subjective thing. Out of interest, what's your preferred maximum ISO on the K-3 / K-3II? As I mentioned, I routinely shoot at ISO 6400 and sometimes above, with results the I'm happy with - but that's just me! EDIT: I should add, I'm talking about shooting RAW and post-processing with LR6...

05-22-2016, 02:28 PM	#12
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,816 Original Poster	Originally posted by Quartermaster James on a bright sunny day We all look forward to those in Scotland, it's sometimes a long time between each occasion.

05-22-2016, 02:31 PM - 1 Like	#13
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Originally posted by Quartermaster James on a bright sunny day? What is that exactly? Rumor has it there was one of those here in Oregon. Once. A long time ago.

05-22-2016, 02:31 PM	#14
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Originally posted by Tjompen1968 As always... It depends. Yep, definitely. What is the subject? What kind of PP are you doing? Will you make large prints or post small jpegs online? Who will view the photos? I guess you can get some general consensus as to which ISO still looks good. That would be around 3200 and below, from the photos I have seen taken with K-1 and similar sensor cameras.

05-22-2016, 03:01 PM	#15
Quartermaster James Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 653	Originally posted by Kerrowdown We all look forward to those in Scotland, it's sometimes a long time between each occasion. Anchorage too mate, Anchorage too.