"Automagic" ISO setting on a DSLR

Yes, I have heard both stories. But by that time we were 80/90 percent roll film. The biggest row was the 35mm fans vs the 120 fans with the sheet filmers making up the rest.
Auto ISO is a useful adjunct but I keep mine manually set as low as I can to maximize image quality.

I remember when the open air nuke testing in Nevada caused some serious fog problems at the Kodak film factory in NY state.

Originally Posted by BackdoorHippie

This exactly. Though I use Auto ISO in Aperture Priority all the time as well.

ISO in the digital realm is a measure of amplification of light information after the sensor processes it. All current Nikon models have a "Native ISO" of 100, meaning that what you get at ISO 100 is pure from the sensor with no amplification. If you think about amplification in musical terms native ISO is where a guitar amplifier is delivering full, pure tone from the instrument with no distortion (i.e. "noise") of the signal. As you increase the volume (i.e. go to higher ISO values) from that point the signal will begin to distort (i.e. get noisier). How much depends on the amp/camera. Some begin to distort quickly, others may take some time, but at some point they'll all get noisy. I've found most current sensors to be really good through about 6400 depending on the amount of detail in the frame. My first Nikon, a D7000, couldn't go past 1600. My D750 can do 6400 easy. My D500 can get there as well, but for birds I don't like anything above 4000 and prefer to keep it at 3200. I should add that many cameras allow you to go below 100 which is attenuation instead of amplification. Again as with an amplifier you will lose something when you do it, the question is whether you even notice it and whether it can be dealt with in post.

Speaking of which, all this assumes you're shooting RAW, which you should. All the time.

With each camera I have I decide what the maximum acceptable ISO setting is for whatever situation I'm in and then I program the Auto ISO settings so that they do not exceed that while also capping the shutter speed in a way that guarantees I don't accidentally blur the photo by moving while shooting in Aperture. That leaves me to concentrate on the shot instead of the camera.

Does that make me less of a photographer? Don't know, don't care. Are Formula One drivers today lesser drivers than those who pioneered the sport with lesser cars and manual everything? Are golfers today less talented than Jack and Arnie because they have more forgiving equipment? Honestly, who cares.

I think anything that allows an artist of any type to concentrate on the result instead of the tools used to create it is a good thing. Sure using a DSLR is easier, but so is just about anything these days. For film photographers I can see how features like this can make you think less of the skill of the photographers using it, but for me it's all about a tradesman with a tool thing - when you're given a tool you learn how to use it to its fullest.

I realize this is a somewhat old post but have reached the point where I need to use Auto ISO. I just don't understand Jake's comment about using Auto ISO while in Aperture Priority mode. I know how to set it in Manual Mode. How does the shutter get controlled if the camera is using Auto ISO in Aperture Priority?

I keep U1 programmed for BBF in Aperture Priority with a set value for my aperture and my ISO (wasn't using Auto ISO). When I needed it yesterday, I missed the shot since my shutter was too slow (around 1/400" for BIF). U2 is programmed for BBF in Manual Mode. I want to set up both of these to incorporate Auto ISO. I can do the Manual Mode one. But how to I determine my shutter speed while in Aperture Priority? Does anyone know?

Originally Posted by hark

I realize this is a somewhat old post but have reached the point where I need to use Auto ISO. I just don't understand Jake's comment about using Auto ISO while in Aperture Priority mode. I know how to set it in Manual Mode. How does the shutter get controlled if the camera is using Auto ISO in Aperture Priority?

I keep U1 programmed for BBF in Aperture Priority with a set value for my aperture and my ISO (wasn't using Auto ISO). When I needed it yesterday, I missed the shot since my shutter was too slow (around 1/400" for BIF). U2 is programmed for BBF in Manual Mode. I want to set up both of these to incorporate Auto ISO. I can do the Manual Mode one. But how to I determine my shutter speed while in Aperture Priority? Does anyone know?

I did some digging and figured out the settings for Auto ISO in Aperture Priority while setting a minimum shutter speed value. Those settings are saved as U1 and U2. What I don't understand now is why I cannot set Aperture Priority for Auto ISO while Manual Mode is a straight ISO value. If it's set as Auto ISO while in Aperture Priority, it stays in Auto ISO for Manual Mode. Oh well. I turned Auto ISO off for those and only have it set for U1 and U2. That will be fast to change the settings.

Originally Posted by Horoscope Fish

It gets complicated. You might find this article helpful... Skip down to section 5.1) Aperture Priority with Auto ISO :: What is Auto-ISO

Thanks for this info, Paul. It's interesting as well as informative. I forget about that web site--he supplies excellent information.

I have U1 set for Aperture Priority with Auto ISO and U2 for Manual Mode with Auto ISO. Most likely the latter is the one I will now use. I'm accustomed to working in Manual Mode although not with Auto ISO. It should work well for my shooting style since it's SUPER easy to change aperture AND shutter speed on the fly.

The thing that annoys me is how the Nikon DSLR bodies are set up for changing the ISO. There is a button on the rear that gets pushed along with scrolling the rear wheel. BUT if the image display has not yet turned off, you cannot change the ISO. The rear display simply changes from showing 1 image to showing multiple images. And that's exactly what happened yesterday. As soon as I went to change the ISO, the image display split the screen into multiple images. And I knew I lost my chance at getting a decent shot with better settings.

Originally Posted by hark

I realize this is a somewhat old post but have reached the point where I need to use Auto ISO. I just don't understand Jake's comment about using Auto ISO while in Aperture Priority mode. I know how to set it in Manual Mode. How does the shutter get controlled if the camera is using Auto ISO in Aperture Priority?

I keep U1 programmed for BBF in Aperture Priority with a set value for my aperture and my ISO (wasn't using Auto ISO). When I needed it yesterday, I missed the shot since my shutter was too slow (around 1/400" for BIF). U2 is programmed for BBF in Manual Mode. I want to set up both of these to incorporate Auto ISO. I can do the Manual Mode one. But how to I determine my shutter speed while in Aperture Priority? Does anyone know?

I followed this steps and it works great

Originally Posted by M.J.

I followed this steps and it works great

Thanks for this, M.J.! That had 2 things in it I hadn't known. @Horoscope Fish - did you know about either of these?

1. With some bodies, there is/was a glitch when setting Auto ISO. Near the end of the video, he went in and turned off Auto ISO, lowered his ISO to 100, then went back in and set Auto ISO. Coincidentally mine was set for ISO 1600 like his, and when I went into the rear screen, it displayed as ISO 1600 even though it should have gone lower.

2. While in Aperture Priority with Auto ISO, he shows an alternative to using the +/- button for exposure compensation. That can be changed to raise/lower with the rear wheel instead of the 2-handed method.

Thanks again, Michael. Good to know this.