gessman Loc: Colorado

CHG_CANON and BebuLamar, thanks for the extended explanation. This stuff is way over my head but all things considered that both of you mentioned, I think what the gentleman I quoted was thinking that regardless of the camera and all the other considerations and potential diversions mentioned here, I got the simplistic sense that all he was saying is that the tonal value between 18% grey and white is +1.3 stops of light or EC so you dial that in regardless of all other considerations. Perhaps his approach is a bit general and overly simplistic.

Moving right along, since many have offered their technique with regard to ISO, so shall I, briefly. All the usual disclaimers apply - I'm not a pro, I only shoot for my satisfaction, it won't make it to NatGeo, etc., but I don't set an upper limit to the autoISO of my A7r3, for about a year now, and it goes up pretty high. I shoot in "M" mode, set shutter and aperture, let ISO roam, process my Raw images with LR, PS, and TopazAI, and if then I don't feel an image is worth keeping, even some shot in virtual darkness all the way up to 102,000 ISO, then is when I toss 'em. I have shots I really like that I'm sure a more perfectionitic person would likely toss out. I'm shameless, I suppose.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I don't like Auto ISO at all. I use Aperture priority with ISO set at 100. If I need more, I adjust aperture and ISO myself. Somehow, ISO got set to Auto recently, and I was not happy with the results. It's too easy for the camera (D750) to crank it up. Of course, you can set the upper limit, but I would use 6400 only in a "must have it" situation - not for quality. A De-Noise app can make a high ISO picture look better.

pahtspix

I totally agree with John.. My D500 Nikon coupled with a Tamron 150-600mm G2, has been in constant use since November of 2016 and as been MANUAL mode, with AUTO ISO set with a max ceiling of 4000 (for the most part!) , and has produced mostly on-target exposures! I adjust my shutter speeds and/or aperture for the prevailing conditions!! (FYI, the ISO can be overridden to HIGHER ISO's for extreme low-light conditions with the touch of a button!) This D500 has been the BEST Camera I've ever owned for wild life or fast sport action!!

MikeT9

I think anybody using Auto ISO aperture priority is asking for trouble. You’re setting one part of the exposure triangle and then letting the camera decide on both the shutter speed and ISO. Shooting in Manual let’s you decide the two critical features of the triangle, aperture for controlling the the depth of field and shutter speed to accommodate what it is you’re trying to achieve with you shot. Auto ISO then gives you the metered centre point for exposure and then by adjusting exposure compensation allows you to fine tune your settings.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

I use auto ISO about 90% of the time and never set limits. Its my decision to take the shot or not...if my choice turns out poorly I am no worse off than if I had set a limit...sometimes times it works out well.

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

Same here. Of the three exposure pillars, shutter speed, aperture, and ISO, ISO is by far the least important IMO. I would rate the importance at about 40%, 40%, and 20% respectively. I can get useable images from my camera at maximum ISO if needed. I think that is probably true of just about any modern digital camera now. If you don't have the shutter speed and aperture right you probably won't get the image you hoped for.

mundy-F2 Loc: Chicago suburban area

Very nice picture.
Mundy

User ID

I tend to agree. Some users dial away from the 200% safe Full Auto “green mode” cuz it gives them a bit of a tingle to pretend they’re in control. As long as they shoot in rather non-challenging conditions they get away with it pretty well. Then they start wondering about various modes, convinced that they are ready. And if they stick to easy shooting conditions nothing will burst that bubble. All modes work equally well for mundane purposes in decent light.

What finally bursts the bubble is a safari lens or a bugs & flowers lens, or shooting in a dim club, etc etc. That acoarst leads to seeking advice, but then they cannot actually understand the advice cuz their “advanced user” status was just a well coddled illusion.

And so it spins ....

BebuLamar

I never use auto ISO in manual. In manual I control everything. I need that because I don't use the EC. Auto ISO and aperture priority works very close to what I would have done manually most of the time.

srt101fan

I think you are in the minority. I believe most Auto ISO shooters do it in Manual mode. And I would guess that most have no problem using exposure compensation when called for....😉

User ID

I think that engineers program cameras to think like engineers, rather than to think like hapless users. This means that a special minority of users will tend to agree with how the camera thinks. But OTOH a majority of users will experience a cognitive fart and wind up at yewtoob watching tutorials, when all they really needed was a faster lens and more MPs.

srt101fan

Hmmm...Learned something new about the mechanics of cognition! 🙂

BebuLamar

I do not use P mode because it doesn't behave anything close to what I would do manually. I don't use S mode because I tend to use very narrow range of apertures.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

You are what your exposure mode says you are.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Perfectly and concisely explained.