Do you use Auto ISO?

Hi all,

Do any of you use the Auto ISO setting on your D5100?
If so, what are the possible problems?
I had mine set at Auto and took a shot that ended up with a very high ISO and a 1/4000 exposure, in broad daylight. And it's making me second think using Auto ISO...

No, i never use Auto ISO...
The sensor is brilliant but not as good as your eye.. as your example shows..
Choose the lowest ISO (100, 200) under most situations unless of course the light does not permit, when you can probably go to 800 (rarely 1600)
You would be introducing more noise in the shot for higher ISOs

When I'm hand holding the camera I'll often use auto-ISO, that way I can be assured a minimum shutter speed for the sharpest images. If I'm using a tripod, however, I set the ISO at 100. Your issue of high ISO probably occurred from mistakenly pushing the minimum shutter speed up to 1/4000. Check where you have the minimum speed set at and adjust if necessary.

I use it alot in contrasting lighting situations. It's a great tool don't be afraid to use it experiment with it.

I never use it because I think it is to important to leave up to a camera that can be easily fooled. With that being said I have also fooled myself plenty of times thinking I knew best...but I have learned to anticipate those situations and adjust accordingly. The most common mistakes you will make if you do manual ISO all of the time is you will set it at say 400 or 800 shooting in one type of situation and then the next day you will be in a different type of situation and forget to adjust the ISO.

If you are not worried about noise, then I suggest setting Auto ISO at ISO 3200 with a minimum sensitivity at ISO 100. If you want to control the amount of noise and you are using a speed light, then leave it off.

As with most here, i dont use Auto ISO. I hate noise, and if i cant get a decent shot at the ISO i want then its no shot for me. YMMV

F-Stop said:

Hi all,

Do any of you use the Auto ISO setting on your D5100?
If so, what are the possible problems?
I had mine set at Auto and took a shot that ended up with a very high ISO and a 1/4000 exposure, in broad daylight. And it's making me second think using Auto ISO...

Click to expand...

I typically do not use auto-iso.. Exception for me has been some low light ops wher I use that and spec a shutter speed min. (Not too often)

Pat in NH

I never use. I've noticed with mine that if you use a high ISO (800 or 1600 for example) so that the camera has to use a very high shutter speed, it often over exposes slightly.

I would say that it is one of the worst settings on the camera. Stick with manual there is only 3 adjustments to make and am a firm believer everyone with proper instruction can remember how to make 3 adjustments. Once ISO and Aperture are pre-set then you only have one to worry about.

I used it this morning and got caught at iso 7200 (see the 365 project). Fortunately, the D700 was able to do OK. When I first checked the jpegs, I was depressed because of the noise, but after opening and processing the NEF files, the pics came out just fine. OK, maybe I wouldn't go poster size with this session, but it sure is fine for the final output I'm using it for.

Here's the pic again:
1/160, f4, iso 7200, 24-120 vr with vr off.

I will use it most of the time BUT I set the max normally at 400 unless I know it is going to be dark where I am shooting. I Will also set the minimum shutter speed according to which lens I am using. Longer lens needs faster shutter speed. Tripod I can set it all to whatever I need. Auto whatever can be a very useful to use as long as you control the overall use. The one thing I always do though is when I get through shooting I set it back to program and Auto ISO max 400iso and shutter speed to match the lens I am using. That way if the aliens land in my back yard I don't have to think, I just shoot.