Adjust ISO while holding big lens... how??!!

Griso

Senior Member
So, camera is a D610, but guessing this may be an issue to many models, so posting here, as it's the lens causing the issue.

Up 'till now and the arrival of the 150-600mm, this has not been an issue. I'll try to explain...

I shoot in manual, as often the aperture is important (e.g. want to stop it down a bit, or get a bit more dof to get at least some of the bird or whatever in focus) and the shutter is important (bif, or whatever). I don't use autoISO as I don't want to be messing with exposure comp. and the ISO I think I can get away with differs with every photo - how dark, shadowy, how much I think I'm willing to put up with. I'm waffling, but I like manual and I know autoISO is very popular, but rather not go with that.

So, the problem is this: How do I adjust ISO while holding a camera with big lens to the eye? The ISO button is bottom left of the screen, so to press it I need to remove my hand supporting the lens. Which was apparently ok with my other smaller lenses, but just doesn't really work with this one.

I'm sure others must have had this problem and found a solution. It would be perfect if you could reprogramme the Fn or dof preview button to ISO, but can't see that's an option.

I may be wrong, but even the Dx, D8x0 have the ISO button on the left hand, which leads me to suspect I'm missing something technique wise.

Hope I haven't buried the question in too much rambling.
 
Why are you afraid of using Auto ISO. I use it when I am shooting BIF since I want a specific Aperture and Shutter speed so I set it in Auto ISO at 100 with a max of 6400 with my D750 and shoot away. I also use the exposure compensation to compensate on how bright the day and sky is. Lets e shoot a lot faster than having to constantly change the ISO
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
I'm confused... Why do you think you need to use "exposure compensation" with auto-ISO?

Why not set a tight range for auto-iso, and if you need o adjust, adjust in post processing... You ARE shooting RAW, and doing post processing, right? Otherwise, why are you using such a large lens to begin with?
 

Griso

Senior Member
Why are you afraid of using Auto ISO. I use it when I am shooting BIF since I want a specific Aperture and Shutter speed so I set it in Auto ISO at 100 with a max of 6400 with my D750 and shoot away. I also use the exposure compensation to compensate on how bright the day and sky is. Lets e shoot a lot faster than having to constantly change the ISO

Hey Don, I'm not afraid of AutoISO :) I have used it for some time, but it just doesn't 'fit' with the way I like to shoot. As with most things, it isn't black and white and I'm not very good at articulating my thoughts, but if I'm going to have to adjust exposure compensation, I'd rather do that myself with either shutter, aperture or indeed the ISO - whatever I feel happiest to 'compromise' for that particular situation. Adjusting one of the 'exposure triangle' takes no more or less time than adjusting exposure compensation (if I could press the ISO button, that is :rolleyes:!)

My intention was not to offend anyone using AutoISO - it's a wonderfully implemented feature and its great.

But - I'd be very interested in whether there's a way to adjust ISO without using the left hand.
 
I'm confused... Why do you think you need to use "exposure compensation" with auto-ISO?

Why not set a tight range for auto-iso, and if you need o adjust, adjust in post processing... You ARE shooting RAW, and doing post processing, right? Otherwise, why are you using such a large lens to begin with?


When shooting BIF I sometimes go from bright sky to shady woods with the same bird. So you need a larger range of ISO. The exposure compensation is a little more difficult. I I am mostly shooting against the bright sky the bird itself is going to be underexposed more than post can control without raising the noise level more than I like. I shoot this way now after trying several other methods. I get good results this way.

Their are a number of ways to shoot BIF that work. Some are faster than others and some a more accurate than others. Choice of camera and choice of lens will change how you shoot. I look and listen to everyone and try the ones that I think might work for me and modify to suit me. This is what I suggest to everyone.
 

nikonpup

Senior Member
custom menu (d3) will allow you to change the iso "but" only in a - p and s modes not manual. I usually leave mine in auto iso (manual mode) when
shooting movement, no time to fiddle with adjustments.
 

Griso

Senior Member
I'm confused... Why do you think you need to use "exposure compensation" with auto-ISO?

Why not set a tight range for auto-iso, and if you need o adjust, adjust in post processing... You ARE shooting RAW, and doing post processing, right? Otherwise, why are you using such a large lens to begin with?

Hi Fred, I'll rattle these off one by one if that's ok

1) As I'm sure you know, when using AutoISO, the camera will adjust the exposure to achieve what IT thinks is the optimum exposure. However, if you're shooting something very white, the camera will try to under expose it to achieve the (18%?) grey. If you're shooting a bird against a bright sky, the camera will expose for the sky giving you a very underexposed subject. etc etc., but I hope this unconfused you :)

2) err, yes, I'm shooting RAW and post processing. I'm honestly slightly surprised (verging on flabbergasted to be honest!) that someone asking how to adjust ISO would have the implicit suggestion that he's a complete numpty, doesn't shoot RAW, or post process (although as we all know there are very good and legitimate reasons for shooting JPG and using in camera processing, but let's not go there now).

Anyway, I do hope this leaves you in a slightly less confused state and we can get back onto 'how do you press the ISO button without your left hand?!!'
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
I didn't mean to offend you...

[FONT=Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif]1- Go to: 'My Menu', 'Add items', Shooting menu', 'ISO sensitivity settings', 'ISO sensitivity' and choose it with the OK button.[/FONT]2- Go to: 'Custom setting menu', 'Controls', 'Assign preview button' (or Fn button), and choose 'Access top item in MY MENU'.
There you go! You can change ISO on the fly with only your right hand, it's really fast and easy!
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Can't some of the buttons be reassigned in some situations? I don't know if it can for this, or if it would even allow you to change the ISO while holding a different button while rotating the wheel. Just putting the idea out there if someone can come up with something.
 

Griso

Senior Member
I didn't mean to offend you...

Hey Fred, well I was a trifle unsettled by the confusion caused, but no offence caused and I hope I've not offended you too badly either :)

So, onto the ISO button - I've just tried your solution and it's the best I've (you've!) found yet. It brings the ISO screen up on the back of the camera, but not through the viewfinder. HOWEVER - once the 'MyMenu' is invoked, you can keep the camera to the eye and click the wheel as many ISO jumps as you want and feel for the 'ok' button and the new ISO is displayed in the viewfinder.
 

Griso

Senior Member
Can't some of the buttons be reassigned in some situations? I don't know if it can for this, or if it would even allow you to change the ISO while holding a different button while rotating the wheel. Just putting the idea out there if someone can come up with something.

Hi Cindy, Yes, you would have hoped so, but not for the poor D610. It seems on the D750, you can reassign the movie record button on the right hand to ISO, but Nikon seem to have for reasons known only unto themselves, not given the D610 the benefit of this flexibility.

Pah. But, yes, I agree - you really would have thought it would be an obvious thing to implement. It's always possible I'm missing something though...!
 

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
Hi Cindy, Yes, you would have hoped so, but not for the poor D610. It seems on the D750, you can reassign the movie record button on the right hand to ISO, but Nikon seem to have for reasons known only unto themselves, not given the D610 the benefit of this flexibility.

Pah. But, yes, I agree - you really would have thought it would be an obvious thing to implement. It's always possible I'm missing something though...!

Lol...well, if that is the case, then I see a monopod in your future! ;)
 

Blacktop

Senior Member
im on my phone and I dont want to type out a whole thing, but google " easy ISO". It doesnt work in manual mode, but I use it in aperture priority. I can change the ISO with the back wheel while looking through the viewfinder on the d750.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
 

singlerosa_RIP

Senior Member
Hi Cindy, Yes, you would have hoped so, but not for the poor D610. It seems on the D750, you can reassign the movie record button on the right hand to ISO, but Nikon seem to have for reasons known only unto themselves, not given the D610 the benefit of this flexibility.

D7200 also has that capability. Makes me hate (not really) shooting with my D600.
 

Bill16

Senior Member
I shoot manual and manual iso settings, but I don't shoot birds and so I usually have plent of time to change my iso. I never changed my buttons around on my D700 nor D800e, and I rarely change settings with my eye to the viewfinder. :(
Sorry I can't be of much help I guess.:(
 

Griso

Senior Member
im on my phone and I dont want to type out a whole thing, but google " easy ISO". It doesnt work in manual mode, but I use it in aperture priority. I can change the ISO with the back wheel while looking through the viewfinder on the d750.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

Yeah, but I want to be in manual and be able to adjust ISO. It seems that Nikon don't want D610 users to be able to do that! I do use easyISO and AutoISO sometimes - just depends what I'm doing and how bothered I can be!
 

nickt

Senior Member
There is also menu f-6, 'release button to use dial'. I haven't really played with it, but the idea is you hit the button once, then turn the wheel. You don't need to hold the button down. You'll have to move the camera from your face a bit to reach the button with your right thumb. Works for the other functions too.
 

Griso

Senior Member
There is also menu f-6, 'release button to use dial'. I haven't really played with it, but the idea is you hit the button once, then turn the wheel. You don't need to hold the button down. You'll have to move the camera from your face a bit to reach the button with your right thumb. Works for the other functions too.

Thanks Nick, I'll look into that.
 
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