iso 100 or iso 200

kiwao · 03-02-2009, 06:41 PM

I have a k10d and because I want large prints I try to use iso 100 as often as possible but have recently been advised that the difference between 100 and 200 is hardly noticeable so I should use iso 200 more often

I would appreciate any advice as to what and when are the advantages of using iso 200 over 100.

Regards

Michael

k10d, DA 70mm, FA 50mm, Sigma 17-70mm

Stratman · 03-02-2009, 07:29 PM

If you need a little higher shutter speed ISO 200 would be helpful. I tend to shoot at ISO 100 as much as possible. But sometimes you do need to bump it up a notch or two to get that extra speed.

jeffkrol · 03-02-2009, 07:52 PM

Originally posted by kiwao

I have a k10d and because I want large prints I try to use iso 100 as often as possible but have recently been advised that the difference between 100 and 200 is hardly noticeable so I should use iso 200 more often

I would appreciate any advice as to what and when are the advantages of using iso 200 over 100.

Regards

Michael

k10d, DA 70mm, FA 50mm, Sigma 17-70mm

Base iso is defined as having the most dynamic range which also means the least amount of noise. Any deviation, in either direction, starts the degradation of quality. Base iso for the k10 could actually be between iso100 and 200 so the difference may indeed be negligible.
Shoot whatever works the best for you.

Gimbal · 03-03-2009, 12:24 AM

ISO100 (on the K10d) is cleaner, use it if possible.

kevbirder · 03-03-2009, 06:41 AM

If your pictures suffer from even the slightest camera shake or subject motion blur, then use iso 200 or even higher if necessary to get a shutter speed that stops the movement. Otherwise stick with 100.

If iso 100 works for you, that's fine, but don't be afraid of iso 200 if it would give you some advantage.

kiwao · 03-03-2009, 07:23 PM

Thank you for your advice. Most of my shots are handheld so when I first started last year camera shake and pushing the camera when I pressed the button was a problem but now I am more careful so it's not as bad. Certainly the extra shutter speed will be useful when I am photographing my forever moving 3 yr old daughter!!!

Thanks again

tarheel13 · 03-05-2009, 06:23 AM

I have found that my K10D at ISO 100 and with SR on all the time that I have a winning combination. With SR it is possible to handhold down to 1/20s for me and with pretty good results. Someone with steadier hands could go slower I would think. I seldom shoot outside of these parameters as I have now become accustomed to the final results. Works for me.

kristoffon · 03-05-2009, 06:40 AM

I shoot ISO200 whenever possible so there's more margin for recovering highlights in RAW post processing. I think this outweights any consideration regarding noise as ISO200 noise is negligible.

I only shoot ISO100 when I need the slower shutter speed and don't want to stop down the lens further... and often find myself wishing I had used ISO200 because some highlight blew it and can't be recovered, or the exposure was off 1/2 stop, etc

Marc Sabatella · 03-05-2009, 01:02 PM

I use ISO 100 outdoors in bright sunlight because anything higher and I couldn't use larger apertures without overexposing (because max shutter isn't fast enough if the sensor is getting lots of light). I also figure it's only at those sort of ridiculously fast shutter speeds that whatever small advantage there might be in IQ at 100 versus 200 would outweigh the penalty I pay in camera shake. Sure, *in theory* one can hand-hold 1/120 with a 40mm lens, but when you can down to the pixel level - which is the only level at which you'll otherwise see any advantage to ISO over ISO 200 - you'll propbably see you get a sharper picture at 1/250" than 1/120".

03-02-2009, 06:41 PM	#1
kiwao Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: tokyo Posts: 83	iso 100 or iso 200 I have a k10d and because I want large prints I try to use iso 100 as often as possible but have recently been advised that the difference between 100 and 200 is hardly noticeable so I should use iso 200 more often I would appreciate any advice as to what and when are the advantages of using iso 200 over 100. Regards Michael k10d, DA 70mm, FA 50mm, Sigma 17-70mm

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03-02-2009, 07:29 PM	#2
Stratman Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: St Louis, Missouri U S A Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,464	If you need a little higher shutter speed ISO 200 would be helpful. I tend to shoot at ISO 100 as much as possible. But sometimes you do need to bump it up a notch or two to get that extra speed.

03-02-2009, 07:52 PM	#3
jeffkrol Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wisconsin USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,434	Originally posted by kiwao I have a k10d and because I want large prints I try to use iso 100 as often as possible but have recently been advised that the difference between 100 and 200 is hardly noticeable so I should use iso 200 more often I would appreciate any advice as to what and when are the advantages of using iso 200 over 100. Regards Michael k10d, DA 70mm, FA 50mm, Sigma 17-70mm Base iso is defined as having the most dynamic range which also means the least amount of noise. Any deviation, in either direction, starts the degradation of quality. Base iso for the k10 could actually be between iso100 and 200 so the difference may indeed be negligible. Shoot whatever works the best for you.

03-03-2009, 12:24 AM	#4
Gimbal Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 2,106	ISO100 (on the K10d) is cleaner, use it if possible.

03-03-2009, 06:41 AM	#5
kevbirder Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Taunton, UK Posts: 48	If your pictures suffer from even the slightest camera shake or subject motion blur, then use iso 200 or even higher if necessary to get a shutter speed that stops the movement. Otherwise stick with 100. If iso 100 works for you, that's fine, but don't be afraid of iso 200 if it would give you some advantage.

03-03-2009, 07:23 PM	#6
kiwao Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: tokyo Posts: 83 Original Poster	Thank you for your advice. Most of my shots are handheld so when I first started last year camera shake and pushing the camera when I pressed the button was a problem but now I am more careful so it's not as bad. Certainly the extra shutter speed will be useful when I am photographing my forever moving 3 yr old daughter!!! Thanks again

03-05-2009, 06:23 AM	#7
tarheel13 New Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Outer Banks, NC Posts: 15	I have found that my K10D at ISO 100 and with SR on all the time that I have a winning combination. With SR it is possible to handhold down to 1/20s for me and with pretty good results. Someone with steadier hands could go slower I would think. I seldom shoot outside of these parameters as I have now become accustomed to the final results. Works for me.

03-05-2009, 06:40 AM	#8
kristoffon Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Brazil Posts: 532	I shoot ISO200 whenever possible so there's more margin for recovering highlights in RAW post processing. I think this outweights any consideration regarding noise as ISO200 noise is negligible. I only shoot ISO100 when I need the slower shutter speed and don't want to stop down the lens further... and often find myself wishing I had used ISO200 because some highlight blew it and can't be recovered, or the exposure was off 1/2 stop, etc

03-05-2009, 01:02 PM	#9
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	I use ISO 100 outdoors in bright sunlight because anything higher and I couldn't use larger apertures without overexposing (because max shutter isn't fast enough if the sensor is getting lots of light). I also figure it's only at those sort of ridiculously fast shutter speeds that whatever small advantage there might be in IQ at 100 versus 200 would outweigh the penalty I pay in camera shake. Sure, in theory one can hand-hold 1/120 with a 40mm lens, but when you can down to the pixel level - which is the only level at which you'll otherwise see any advantage to ISO over ISO 200 - you'll propbably see you get a sharper picture at 1/250" than 1/120".