amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Auto ISO is just a relatively new and additional form of auto exposure (even though the camera is set to "manual" when using it)... all of which have their uses in different situations.

In order to be useful, Auto ISO needs to have user-settable upper (and possibly lower) limits.

It also needs to be possible to use Exposure Compensation with Auto ISO.

Without those user controls over it, Auto ISO is pretty worthless. But with them, I can image a variety of possible uses for Auto ISO + manual.

What doesn't make any sense to me what-so-ever is using Auto ISO in conjunction with any of the other auto exposure modes (aperture priority, shutter priority or program). Doing that wouldn't serve any purpose I can imagine (so far) and I suspect results might be somewhat unpredictable, piling automation on top of automation.

Auto ISO isn't everyone's cup of tea. We all have our own methods. Personally I use fully manual whenever I can, aperture priority a lot, shutter priority a bit less and program only rarely.

I shoot sports/action and wildlife a lot, and generally have no problem switching ISO manually, when needed. I've managed without it just fine, but have recently gotten cameras that give me the necessary control sover manual + Auto ISO... haven't used it much yet, but am sure I will.

I find it sort of silly to say "I only shoot fully manual", as if that is some sort of "badge of honor" among advanced amateurs and pro". (And in more than a few cases later discovering that they're actually using Auto ISO, which means they really aren't shooting full manual at all). IMO it's also silly to say "don't use Auto ISO" or "always use Auto ISO" or "only/always use..." any of the other modes.

They all have their purposes. There are times you simply won't be able to get the shots with fully manual, or are unnecessarily limiting your shooting... There are times when each of auto exposure modes can be useful and I think it really pays to learn to use them all.

Patw28 Loc: PORT JERVIS, NY

A reasonable compromise might be to set a range that it won't go beyond, like limiting max ISO to 800.[/quote]

That is precisely what Autu ISO does. You tell it, don't go above xxxx ISO and don't let the shutter speed go below yyyy.
Additionally, you can tell it don't let the shutter speed go below the reciprocal of the current focal length.
My most common use of Auto ISO is in shooting theater stage productions where stage lighting is constantly and suddenly changing.

steve_stoneblossom Loc: Rhode Island, USA

For one example, shooting action at a constant shutter speed with a variable f-stop zoom lens makes auto-ISO quite handy. One can easily restrict how wide the ISO range is, if noise scares you.

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

Zero, I don't change ISO in the middle of shooting. Thats the point, I set an iso that works for the lighting I have. This is kind of like asking "How many shots did you mis because you had to change shutter speed"

Sannye Loc: Oregon

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

steve_stoneblossom Loc: Rhode Island, USA

Are you saying you never missed a shot because of a wrong setting?

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

No, you asked how many I missed because I needed to change ISO!

steve_stoneblossom Loc: Rhode Island, USA

So ISO alone never caused a missed shot, whereas speed or aperture did?

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

Correct, in reality the only time I change ISO on the fly is when I'm shooting Star Trails at night. I will then change on the fly, depending on the time of the year I bump up ISO 1/3 stop every 10 minutes or so until I get where I to my max acceptable. Guess what with my CamRanger I don't even need to stop shooting to do it, it's done on the fly and no shots are missed.

steve_stoneblossom Loc: Rhode Island, USA

Maybe on one of your missed shots, you actually had the right shutter speed but wrong ISO, and not the reverse?

;-)

I think of auto-ISO as similar to shooting shutter or aperture priority. You're beginning to strike me as one of those 'full manual or die' guys.

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

If I set the ISO, it's the right ISO. I don't set the wrong ISO!

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

I love manual + auto ISO. It's not depending on technology to get my shot, it's using the tools at my disposal to be more efficient. It's my go-to for wildlife and I use it almost exclusively.

Check out this video for the reasons to use this method and how to set it up if you're interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFLxYMLsv8I

steve_stoneblossom Loc: Rhode Island, USA

Sir, yes, sir!

picturesofdogs Loc: Dallas, Texas.

The point of auto iso is when you don't want to change shutter or aperture, but light values are shifting.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Useful tip, thanks. I use as many modern features as I can remember.

I can also do things the old fashioned way -- now where did I put that can of flash powder?