Does ISO 100 film match ISO 100 on a DSLR?
Asked 5/15/2012
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If I shoot ISO 100 film and then set a DSLR to ISO 100, should I expect the same exposure response? Or do film ISO/ASA ratings and digital ISO settings differ in practice?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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Sort of... because ISO values for film don't even have a 1:1 correspondence. For example, Fujichrome Velvia 50 is rated at ISO 50, but if you set your camera on 50, you will generally underexpose. Most film photographers I knew set ISO 40 instead. However Kodak E-100 typically did expose properly at ISO 100.
A digital camera set at ISO 100 will typically respond "as if" it were film that responded with a proper exposure at ISO 100.
Film photographers grew to understand the characteristics of the particular film they were using and adjusted accordingly. Digital photographers don't typically have that problem.
Originally by user5270. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user5270
14y ago
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In principle, yes: ISO is a standardized sensitivity rating, so ISO 100 film and a camera set to ISO 100 are meant to require similar exposure.
In practice, it is not always an exact 1:1 match.
- Film stocks can behave differently from their box speed. Some films are commonly exposed a little differently than their rated ISO for best results.
- Digital cameras also vary. A camera’s marked ISO can be slightly above or below its measured sensitivity, sometimes by around 1/3 EV.
- With digital, JPEG processing, RAW conversion, and “expanded” ISO settings can also affect how closely the labeled ISO matches the true sensitivity.
So the short answer is: ISO numbers are intended to correspond, but real-world exposure can vary a bit depending on the specific film or camera.
If you want the most accurate results, treat both film and digital as systems that may need small adjustments based on testing and experience.
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