Is there any advantage to using a higher ISO when you don't need it?
Asked 6/18/2021
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If aperture and shutter speed can already give you the exposure and creative effect you want, is there any reason to choose a higher ISO instead of the camera's lowest normal ISO? I'm not asking about situations where low light or fast action force you to raise ISO. I mean cases where exposure can be kept correct either way by adjusting the other settings, and the artistic goals for depth of field and motion are already satisfied.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
5y ago
2 Answers
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Generally, the best image quality will be obtained at base ISO, which is usually the lowest ISO setting normally available. Some cameras let the user set an ISO value lower than the base ISO by enabling "expanded" ISO settings. In that case dynamic range is reduced.
See PetaPixel: Lower ISO Doesn’t Always Lead to Higher Quality Images,
Or this answer at Why is the lowest ISO always 100?
Originally by user40887. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user40887
5y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Usually, no: for digital cameras, the best image quality is generally at the camera’s base ISO, which is often the lowest normal ISO setting. Raising ISO typically adds noise and can reduce dynamic range, so if shutter speed and aperture are already where you want them, there’s normally no technical reason to increase ISO.
One exception is that some cameras offer “expanded” low ISO settings below base ISO; those can actually reduce dynamic range, so base ISO—not necessarily the absolute lowest displayed number—is often optimal.
In practice, if several shots at different ISO settings look identical to you, then the difference is not significant for your use, and any of them is fine.
For film, higher ISO can be chosen for its grain/contrast character as an artistic choice. In digital, that look can usually be added later in post-processing, so it’s rarely a reason to raise ISO in-camera.
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