For this video, we asked Thomas Faso, our director at Gosselin Photo Video (Montreal store), to explain in less than two minutes what the ISO is; in other words, the measurement of light sensitivity on a sensors (or on film)
What is ISO ?
It is simply the sensitivity of your sensor to light.
 Panasonic LUMIX DC-GH6 sensor |
When you buy a camera, whether film or digital, the same settings will be available.
The entry-level camera, for example, will generally offer an ISO range between 50 and 3200. On an advanced camera, you will have much more.
For exemple
If you set your ISO to 100, you have very little light sensitivity. This means that you will generate little light in your sensor and your image quality will be superior.
However, if you shoot at ISO 800, 1600, 3200, you will get more light into your sensor and be much more sensitive to it.
In Other Words
If your photoshoot is in direct sunlight, I recommend lowering your ISO. It will be less sensitive to light and you will get higher quality photos. Shooting in the evening? You will probably have to increase it to 800, 1600, 3200, depending on the lighting available around you.
If shooting Indoors, depending on whether or not you are using extra lighting, you might need to increase your ISO (more or less), but generally at about 800 or 1600 as well.
Beware!
The higher the ISO, the more grain you will get in the image.
What is grain or noise?
It's simply small artifacts; small dots – more and more visible as you go up in ISO - that make an image unpleasant to look at, unless the maneuver is deliberate and serves the author's artistic visual style.
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Of course you can correct this phenomenon in post-production, but you can't do magic either.
Finally, to avoid this kind of problem, you have two possibilities: either get a higher-end camera with better low-light performance, or simply get a brighter lens (f/1.2, f/1.8 or f/2.8, for example).
 Sigma 35mm f/1.2 DG DN ART, for Sony E |
If you want to discuss this or evaluate your options, feel free to stop by the store, our advisors will be happy to help you. In the meantime, be sure to follow us on social media and to subscribe to our YouTube channel for up-to-the-minute and insightful content.
Video clip shot with Canon EOS C70 + Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 IS USM.
