Can the Nikon D3400 set ISO in between full stops, and why does Auto ISO use values like 360?
Asked 11/18/2018
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I’m using a Nikon D3400 and recently started shooting in Aperture Priority and Manual mode. When I set ISO manually, the camera only offers full-stop values such as 100, 200, 400, and 800. But when Auto ISO is enabled, some photos end up with intermediate values like ISO 360.
Can the D3400 manually set ISO between full stops, such as somewhere between 400 and 800? If not, why is Auto ISO able to choose those values when manual ISO selection cannot?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
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Is it at all possible for me to set an ISO value, for example between 400 and 800?
Not on the D3400. It is on higher end cameras.
If not, why does Auto mode seem to have more control over the ISO than the other modes?
Because Nikon decided to implement it this way. The are two arguments for this, both of which are probably somewhat true:
- The D3400 is an entry-level camera and as such it makes sense to keep the available options as small as possible. More options give more settings for beginners to mess up.
- Restricting the D3400 to only full stop ISO settings gives another way for Nikon to differentiate between their low end and high end models without fundamentally changing the hardware. Therefore they make more profit.
(For avoidance of doubt, this isn't an anti-Nikon rant; Canon definitely do the same thing, Fujifilm do something similar with shutter speeds and I suspect other brands do the same as well).
Originally by user11371. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11371
7y ago
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On the Nikon D3400, manual ISO selection is limited to full-stop settings. So you can choose values like 100, 200, 400, 800, etc., but not intermediate settings such as 320, 500, or 640.
Auto ISO can still use in-between values because Nikon designed it that way. The camera’s automatic exposure system is allowed finer control than the manual ISO menu provides.
Why? Two common reasons:
- The D3400 is an entry-level model, so Nikon keeps the manual controls simpler.
- Limiting some features helps separate entry-level bodies from higher-end cameras, even if the hardware may be capable of more.
So yes, what you’re seeing is normal: Auto ISO can choose intermediate values, but you can’t dial them in manually on a D3400. If you want direct manual selection of 1/3-stop ISO steps, that’s typically a feature found on more advanced camera models.
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