ISO experiments...

komet

I learn a lot from this site. This evening, I took a series of pics using different ISO settings. Heretofore, I had always used the auto setting. It was an overcast day and all shots were "hand-held" so not the best quality. I am using a Sony P-71 3.2MP cam.
ISO 100

ISO 200

ISO 400

komet

Here are some more...

ISO 100

ISO 200

ISO 400

komet

Three more...

ISO 100

ISO 200

ISO 400

komet

And these...

ISO 100

ISO 200

ISO 400

komet

That's all the pics, but I did find that using the auto feature generally gave me an ISO 400 pic(this evening). Also, the pics using auto mode are generally the better of the lot. I used to know a bit about the ISO stuff but that was in the film days. Waxie was right about one thing, however. Using the "scene" mode while it does allow more light (longer shutter I suppose), the quality is not as good. Of course using a tripod at night might help that aspect...but I think there is something amiss using the scene modes. I'm still learning with an average digi-cam but it is fun.

wxwax

What are you doing in Egypt?

Great sequences. A nice way to illustrate the differences. I'm wondering if the auto setting produced better shots for a number of reasons: it was able to find the best balance of ISO, shutter and aperature; and I suspect it can cheat. It can pick settings that you can't dial in manually - settings between f-stops and also non-traditional shutter speeds, for example.

komet

wxwax wrote:

What are you doing in Egypt?

Great sequences. A nice way to illustrate the differences. I'm wondering if the auto setting produced better shots for a number of reasons: it was able to find the best balance of ISO, shutter and aperature; and I suspect it can cheat. It can pick settings that you can't dial in manually - settings between f-stops and also non-traditional shutter speeds, for example.

Also, you mentioned in another thread somewhere re: "scene modes"...they are kind of rough and grainy compared to not using that mode.

wxwax

komet wrote:

Also, you mentioned in another thread somewhere re: "scene modes"...they are kind of rough and griny compared to not using that mode.

I know. I tried using them on my camera just to see, and they were awful. I've read that they're not very useful.

ian408

komet wrote:

Of course using a tripod at night might help that aspect...

Have you thought about a monopod? Best when you need steady and
not solid. I was looking at a tiny little tripod the other day thinking it would
be great for ground level shots or even attaching to the bike.

Ian

wxwax

Ya know ian, I thought a monopod would be the bee's knees. They don't cost a great deal, so I got one. I guess I don't have the technique down, because for me the camera moved as much as if it had been purely handheld.