WDCash wrote:
Recient conversations and articles about the new Sony A9iii have me wondering if I understand the meaning of ISO and spicificly "base ISO" as it relates to modern digital cameras.
First off
Iso, from film days, must have been an standardized across all film manufacturers. (?) As I understand it, ISO had to do with a films sensitivity to light which was based, I think, on the "grain size ?" of the silver halide crystals. Larger crystals captured more light and also led to the Grainess of higher iso films.
In digital photography the ISO is an amplification of the light signal captured by the sensor.
The sensor captures whatever photons it captures but the electronics in the camera amplify (gain) the signal as we turn up the ISO.
I'm sure I'm going to be seriously corrected on all of this, which is why I'm asking.
Here is where the confusion for me starts
If ISO is a carry over term from film, what exactly is a "Base ISO" of a particular camera. Spicificly,
Why does Nikon use a base ISO of 64, Canon 100, Olympus 200 and Now Sony a9ii 240? And I may be wrong about some of these Base ISOs but I hope you get my question.
To the photographer, what difference do these numbers really make?
Am I to understand that Nikon's ISO 64 is its cleanest, least distorted but also less light sensitive then say Canons ISO 100? That Olympus and now Sony are using sensors that are more sensitive (their base sensitivity), collecting more light comparatively at their respective base ISO and producing their cleanest "recording" of that collection?
Please explaine.
Recient conversations and articles about the new S... (
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Here's an excellent video explaining ISO and it's use..