When it comes to DSLR cameras, ISO is one of the most important settings that can affect your photos. But what exactly is ISO? In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about ISO and how to use it to get the best results in your photography.
An ISO is a camera setting that determines how sensitive the image sensor is to light. The higher the ISO number, the more sensitive it is, and the less light you need to take proper exposure.

You might increase your ISO when you’re shooting in low light or when you want to achieve a faster shutter speed. However, raising your ISO also comes with some drawbacks. The most notable is that it can introduce digital noise, or grain, into your photos.
When deciding what ISO to use, it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons. generally speaking, the lower, the better. But in some situations, a higher ISO might be exactly what you need.
An ISO of 100 is considered a “base” or “normal” sensitivity, while an ISO of 200 is twice as sensitive to light. You’ll find that most cameras have an ISO range of 100-6400, with some going up to 12800 or even 25600.

And while you might be tempted to crank up the ISO to get a shot in low light, be aware that this will also introduce more noise into the image.
ISO Affects Your Photos In Two Ways: Exposure And Noise
Exposure:
Exposure is how light or dark your photo is. The higher the ISO, the brighter the photo will be. However, if the ISO is too high, the photo will be overexposed and appear washed out.
Noise:
Noise is the grainy effect that can occur in photos. The higher the ISO, the more noise will be present in your photo. However, if the ISO is too high, the noise will be so intense that it will obscure details and make the photo look fuzzy.
How Does ISO Affect Videos?
ISO for videos is the same as it would be to shoot photos. You can adjust your ISO and will notice that video footage becomes brighter or darker depending on what setting you choose; however, lower settings tend to produce more explicit video with less grainy noise than higher ones do when shooting under similar lighting conditions (which means they may not look quite so good).
So If you’re opening up your camera to shoot a video, choose an ISO like 160 in cameras. If brightness is necessary to get the perfect exposures with shutter speed and aperture – set them accordingly based on what looks best!
How To Use ISO For Beginners?
If you need help deciding what ISO to use, start with a lower number and increase it until you get the desired result. It’s always better to err on caution and have less light than not enough. You can always reduce the light in post-processing but can’t add it back in.
ISO is the sensitivity of your camera’s sensor to light. The higher the ISO number, the more sensitive your camera is to light. This means you can use a higher ISO setting in low light conditions without a flash. However, it also means that your photos will be more grainy at high ISO settings.
You can adjust the ISO setting on your DSLR camera by turning the dial to the desired setting. The most common ISO settings are 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, and 6400.

When To Use Low ISO Settings
ISO stands for International Organization for Standardization, a measure of your camera sensor’s sensitivity to light. The lower the ISO number, the less sensitive it is, and the higher the ISO number, the more sensitive it is. If you’re shooting in low light conditions, you’ll want to use a higher ISO setting to ensure your photos come out clear. Conversely, if you’re shooting in bright conditions, you’ll want to use a lower ISO setting to avoid over-exposing your photos.
The best way to determine what ISO setting is is to experiment with different settings and see what works best for your particular situation. However, as a general rule of thumb, keeping your ISO setting as low as possible is usually best to avoid introducing too much noise into your photos.
There Are A Few Things To Keep In Mind When Using ISO
- The lower the ISO, the better the quality of your photo will be.
- The higher the ISO, the more noise will be present in your photo.
- If you need help deciding what ISO to use, start with a lower number and increase it until you get the desired effect.
- Use the lowest ISO possible for night photography to reduce noise.
- Use a higher ISO for action shots to freeze the motion.
Conclusion: So, What is ISO in Photography?
ISO is an essential setting in DSLR cameras that can affect your photos in several ways. By understanding how ISO works, you can use it to your advantage to get the best results in your photography. Keep these tips in mind when using ISO, and you’ll be sure to take amazing photos every time!