gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I have a D7000 and would like to know how to configure my ISO settings for using Auto ISO in manual mode. What relationship is there to the menu settings for ISO? I don't fully understand what advantage there is to set a lower or upper limit for ISO, under what circumstances that would be done and whether or not that would set a particular limit as to how my ISO would respond. I think you would want the Auto ISO to respond to the full range of what's available for the camera, the lowest to the highest. Thanks for your thoughts.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Test where your camera fails at higher ISOs for your own photography work. Say your D7000 goes to ISO-6400. For a well-exposed image at ISO-6400, would you use that image? Even after post processing? When you find your own acceptable ISO limit, set that value in the auto ISO range. My point is the available range for the camera may not be the acceptable range for your photography. On the low end, if the camera is allowed to lower the ISO down to a point the shutterspeed is too slow for you to hand-old with a non VR lens, again you have an opportunity to program the camera, via these settings, to avoid automated poor choices by the camera that negatively impact your photography.

radiojohn

IMHO, if you shoot manually, you are seeking complete control of exposure. This would indicate to me that you would pick a particular ISO and then set the shutter and f/stop accordingly.

BebuLamar

You do it the same way as in P,S or A modes. Set the ISO sensitvity as your lowest ISO and set the maximum ISO. Then set the minimum shutter speed. You set the aperture and shutter speed manually and the camera will adjust the ISO between the minimum and maximum to get the correct exposure.

radiojohn

If you leave the ISO on auto then, by definition, you are not truly shooting manually.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Chg Canon's comments, re When you find your own acceptable ISO limit, set that value in the auto ISO range. My point is the available range for the camera may not be the acceptable range for your photography... Yes, do controlled tests or just crank it up high and not worry about it - a matter of personal choice unless you're attempting to sell your images perhaps. I moved my Olympus EM-10 from 3200 to 6400; however, the photos at 6400 are not worth much

Re radiojohn's first response: Auto-ISO is a great option for when light conditions are changing quickly around your moving subjects. Examples are birds in flight and street photography.

Here's why I use it: as I grew a bit "wobbly," I found I needed to routinely use a faster shutter speed (thanks, but I hate tripods) + I often shoot scenes and subjects where I wish to control the depth of field. So I set the shutter speed and aperture and let the camera set the ISO - mostly because, as I mentioned, it allows me to work in quickly changing light. A caution: you need to be experienced enough with exposure to understand when it is most important to set the ISO manually. Examples: a backlit subject, high contrast (light bird in dark woods, dark bird in white sky), and other "exposure compensation" type situations.

Radiojohn's comment re definition: moving the knob to M = manual in most people's minds And is certainly valid for this particular discussion topic.

BebuLamar

Actually Auto ISO in manual mode bothers me. Before auto ISO whenever I need to expose my image different from what the meter said I simply switch to manual mode. I found auto ISO useful in A mode because I generally do not change my aperture and when the light got low and the shutter speed get to the minimum then the ISO increases. That works for me. However, when I want to expose for different exposure than the meter said and switch to manual it wouldn't work unless I turn auto ISO off.

Bill_de Loc: US

But if your concern is a particular shutter speed (for a blur or to stop action) while maintaining a desired DoF with your aperture setting, auto ISO is the ticket.

As for switching to manual to have a different exposure than the meter reads, that is not necessary. Just dial in exposure compensation.

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Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I agreed with you at first, but in re-reading BebuLamar's comments, if ISO was in auto (floating), would EC be valid?

BebuLamar

I never use the exposure compensation. I hate it.

sxrich

I have shot a ton of manual images, indoors, low light and good light using autoISO. The benefit, it will choose the lowest and is very accurate. I've used it on a d7100 and d750. Set max of 3200 on the d7100 and 6400 on the d750. I let the millions of dollars expended in r&d on a feature such as this become a tool and I'm not that much of a control freak beyond setting ss/aperture. Shooting events, its very accurate as the lighting and exposure changes. I have total control of ss and aperture which I like. When I use a speedlight, I turn it off. I do spot meter quite a bit indoors. I can prove my point with images I've taken. IF I'm not mistaken, the camera will chose an iso that may not always be available in my menu and is lower than available choices. Since I shoot a ton of events, I don't have time to make changes to my settings. Plus, when shoot action (runway models walking, I'm shooting bursts sometimes and exposure is changing) So, it works for me. shot below in brown was a joint effort by my partner who did a composite for me and the 750. The other, d7100. FYI - shot in bar, taken with the best crop sensor lens I've ever used, Nikon 17-55 2.8. I know its expensive but I bought mine used, it's metal and pro level quality. Here is another shot of a local actor with available light from a window with d7100/17-55 2.8 wide open

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Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Most concise, easy to understand, and convincing points I've read to date. Bookmarked!!

edit - actually I already had a bookmark for an endorsement by pro Steve Perry
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-517754-2.html
Great stuff (and he doesn't quibble over using the term "manual" either).

srt101fan

Re your question "What relationship is there to the menu settings for ISO?"

I think the ISO you select in the menu is applied in shooting modes when you don't have Auto ISO on. If you are using Auto ISO the camera ignores the ISO value set in the menu.

Note that I'm talking about what's called the "ISO sensitivity" setting in my camera (D5300) menu. The upper limit you set for Auto ISO is a different setting!

Edit: I may have been wrong when I said Auto ISO ignores the "ISO sensitivity" value set in the menu. I think it uses it as the lower limit of the Auto ISO range as well as the single ISO setting for other shooting modes.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Excellent comments. Thank you all. I will set parameters accordingly.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

And.....?