RAW and Auto-ISO sensitivity

fotofanish

New member
Hi all. Just bought a D3100, having only had point-and-shoots before, and would like to get to grips with RAW processing.

Two questions:
1) After much head-scratching I finally got the Menus configured. But I see, after having earlier set the Auto ISO sensitivity to OFF, that after I selected RAW for image quality, the Auto ISO sensitivity has reset itself to ON. Is this normal or is it a glitch?
2) What's a good RAW processing app? I'm not looking for a freebie - I'd rather pay for the software, as long as it's efficient, effective and not too hard to use. I've been told that Lightroom is pretty good but other sites say Capture One Pro
Any ideas?
 
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mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Welcome to the forum,dont have the same camera but i think you must have set something wrong as you dont have to use auto ISO in raw.
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
ISO is just one of the tools your camera has to enable you to catch images,which ISO to choose depends on a few things,lighting,subject,and how high ISO your camera can go and give acceptable results,just off hand i would say you could try auto up to 400 and see if you like the results but be prepared to change it.
 

paul04

Senior Member
Welcome to the website.

As I take most pictures outside, my ISO is on manual and set on 100, (and adjust when needed)

But it really depends on what your taking pictures of, inside or outside, sunshine, Overcast or evening.

As for software, lightroom is good, once you get use to it.
 

aroy

Senior Member
Hi all. Just bought a D3100, having only had point-and-shoots before, and would like to get to grips with RAW processing.

Two questions:
1) After much head-scratching I finally got the Menus configured. But I see, after having earlier set the Auto ISO sensitivity to OFF, that after I selected RAW for image quality, the Auto ISO sensitivity has reset itself to ON. Is this normal or is it a glitch?
2) What's a good RAW processing app? I'm not looking for a freebie - I'd rather pay for the software, as long as it's efficient, effective and not too hard to use. I've been told that Lightroom is pretty good but other sites say Capture One Pro
Any ideas?

You must be doing some thing wrong. I have D3300 and have very little idea of D3100, Well here are the steps that you can follow.
. Set the Mode Dial to "A" - Aperture priority.
. Set ISO to 100, from the Menu
. Find which menu item has "Auto ISO". Set the option to "OFF"
. Set Image to "RAW".
. Set metering mode to "Spot Metering"
. Set AF to "Single Point", select the central point

To check whether the Auto ISO is on or off
. Set Aperture to F8, using the wheel
. Check if the aperture displayed in the LCD is F8. If YES, then it is fine, else check the above settings. The mode dial should be on "A" in which case rotating the thumb wheel should change the aperture.
. Once you are sure that the aperture changes with thumb wheel, see what ISO and speed is displayed. ISO should be 100 as set. If not, then check the ISO settings (both ISO and Auto ISO).
. Once ISO is displayed as 100, point the camera at a dark area note the speed and ISO. The ISO should not change.
. Now point the camera at the sky. Note both the speed and the ISO. ISO should not change, but the exposure speed should increase a lot.

If the above steps are successful, you have set the auto ISO off. If not, go through the menus and figure out where to set the Auto ISO. Normally when you set Auto ISO ON, you have to set the following parametsrs also
. Minimum Exposure speed
. Maximum ISO
 

Bob Blaylock

Senior Member
Hi all. Just bought a D3100, having only had point-and-shoots before, and would like to get to grips with RAW processing.

Two questions:
1) After much head-scratching I finally got the Menus configured. But I see, after having earlier set the Auto ISO sensitivity to OFF, that after I selected RAW for image quality, the Auto ISO sensitivity has reset itself to ON. Is this normal or is it a glitch?
2) What's a good RAW processing app? I'm not looking for a freebie - I'd rather pay for the software, as long as it's efficient, effective and not too hard to use. I've been told that Lightroom is pretty good but other sites say Capture One Pro
Any ideas?

I tripped over something having to do with this on my D3200, some time ago, and was just now trying to recreate it.

There's something about the way the D3200 (and probably your D3100, as well) handles Auto-ISO, that is a bit strange and confusing.

In all of the scene modes except AUTO and AUTO (No Flash), you can supposedly set the ISO either to AUTO or to any of the supported values. In the AUTO and AUTO (no flash) modes, the ISO is forced to be automatic always, and in the MASP modes, there is no automatic setting on the ISO, and you can only set it to one of the fixed values. All this is according to how you can set the camera using the “Information Edit” button at the lower left corner,and as displayed on the screen.

However, there's a separate setting, under Menu→SHOOTING MENU→ISO Sensitivity Settings→Auto ISO Sensitivity Control. If this setting it turned on, then it seems to override the other, more obvious setting, causing the camera to automatically control the ISO even if you think you have it manually-set to a fixed value, and even if the screen display is consistent with that manual setting.
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
On all my cameras when you hold the ISO button down to adjust it, the back wheel toggles through the ISO values and the front wheel toggles between Auto ISO on/off. I've accidentally turned it on and off when changing the value and perhaps that happened when you went to RAW?

I intentionally keep Auto ISO on for 90-95% of my shooting as I've set the values in a way that allows me to shoot without VR (I am convinced it's sharper after having lived 3 years in the "no it's not" camp) and maintain noise levels that are manageable in post for the particular shot. When conditions and/or circumstances are such that I need to be concerned about whether or not I can achieve the shot I want while letting the camera make decisions for me I'll turn it off and go full manual. Defaults on each of my cameras are set differently with the max ISO ranging between 800 on my D7000 to 12800 on my D750, with (Slower->Faster) sensitivity varying depending on the lens and subject (not sure if you have that on the D3100).
 
True, but it also depends on the camera. I would not want to set a D3100 much past 400.

I agree for normal shooting. But sometimes a grainy photo is better than a blurry photo. You shoot what you have to to get the photo you want/need. But for everyday shooting with the D3100 ISO 400 should be the MAX. With ISO 100 as the base.
 

Blacktop

Senior Member
I agree for normal shooting. But sometimes a grainy photo is better than a blurry photo. You shoot what you have to to get the photo you want/need. But for everyday shooting with the D3100 ISO 400 should be the MAX. With ISO 100 as the base.

This is my feeling on it. If someone gave me a free trip to Arches, but the only catch was that I have to shoot everything with a D3100 set at ISO 1600, then I would just stay home.
Saying this, as my life's goal is to re-visit Arches National Park, and shoot the greatest sunset shot ever shot by man.:D
 
This is my feeling on it. If someone gave me a free trip to Arches, but the only catch was that I have to shoot everything with a D3100 set at ISO 1600, then I would just stay home.
Saying this, as my life's goal is to re-visit Arches National Park, and shoot the greatest sunset shot ever shot by man.:D

I visited Arches about 5 or 6 times last week. It is a great place to explore.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

fotofanish

New member
Thanks to everyone for all the helpful tips. I think there might have been a temporary glitch because Auto ISO Sensitivity is now staying OFF. Kinda weird.
Fotojack: The FN button is configurable, so I've set it to adjust the ISO (via the Command Dial) from its set value of 100.
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member

The full answer i gave is

Welcome to the forum,dont have the same camera but i think you must have set something wrong as you dont have to use auto ISO in raw.


My answer remains the same,you dont have to use auto iso in raw,you can set what iso you like.
 

Nikkon

Senior Member
Thats a petitio principe and doesnt explain what you stated. I was asking why you dont have to use auto ISO in raw? Of course you can set whatever ISO you like, but it has to be according to the circumstances and what result you want. I dont see the relation between not using auto iso setting and shooting raw (or difference with jpeg).
 
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BackdoorArts

Senior Member
Thats a petitio principe and doesnt explain what you stated. I was asking why you dont have to use auto ISO in raw? Of course you can set whatever ISO you like, but it has to be according to the circumstances and what result you want. I dont see the relation between not using auto iso setting and shooting raw (or difference with jpeg).

Only because I've never had the opportunity to type this, it has nothing to do with petitio prinipii!!

The OP asked, "after I selected RAW for image quality, the Auto ISO sensitivity has reset itself to ON. Is this normal or is it a glitch?" In stating that "you don't have to use Auto ISO in Raw", it lets the OP know that the "reset" is likely not normal. There is no question begged, it was asked.

Now had you asked your question more clearly you might have heard...

Camera exposure settings are 100% independent of file format. Auto ISO serves to minimize the ISO necessary to achieve the desired exposure, working within the bounds of the chosen exposure mode (M, A, S, P). It cares not whether you want to shoot Raw, JPEG or both, it simply does its job.

 
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