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09/02/2008 04:42:46 PM · #1 |
| I have a Kodak Z712 IS - point & click - you have to start somewhere. Anyway can someone explain to me like their are explaining to a child (please) when I need to change the ISO setting and what I need to use it for. Also, the F-stop. I spend a ton of time being confused. Thanks! |
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09/02/2008 04:50:31 PM · #2 |
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09/02/2008 04:54:50 PM · #3 |
Big loaded question. :)
ISO is the how sensitive your sensor is. The higher the ISO the more sensitive it is. The tradeoff is that the higher the ISO the more noise is apparent in your shot. You would use a higher ISO when you are shooting in lower light situations especially where you can't use flash or flash will be ineffective.
F/stops - Another big question. It refers to the size of the aperture which is where light goes through. The smaller the number the bigger the aperture. (think of it like a fraction so f/8 is bigger than f/22). As your aperture gets bigger the depth of field gets smaller. Depth of field is the portion of the picture that is in acceptable focus. A smaller aperture increases it.
A great book to learn all about this is "Understanding Exposure".
edit: And I know someone will have something to add/clarify/correct :)
Message edited by author 2008-09-02 16:55:16.
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09/02/2008 04:58:30 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by Citadel:
Big loaded question. :)
ISO is the how sensitive your sensor is. The higher the ISO the more sensitive it is. The tradeoff is that the higher the ISO the more noise is apparent in your shot. You would use a higher ISO when you are shooting in lower light situations especially where you can't use flash or flash will be ineffective.
F/stops - Another big question. It refers to the size of the aperture which is where light goes through. The smaller the number the bigger the aperture. (think of it like a fraction so f/8 is bigger than f/22). As your aperture gets bigger the depth of field gets smaller. Depth of field is the portion of the picture that is in acceptable focus. A smaller aperture increases it.
A great book to learn all about this is "Understanding Exposure".
edit: And I know someone will have something to add/clarify/correct :) |
I have that book!! you are right, it's really good and easy to understand =) |
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09/02/2008 05:08:05 PM · #5 |
| Can also suggest DP Review Glossary to start. |
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09/02/2008 05:08:11 PM · #6 |
The big issue for a camera like yours is that the small sensor does not handle higher ISO's well. Because the photo receptors are close together, cranking up the gainintroduces noise, and often negatesthe advantage of higher pixel counts. Try to keep your camera at as low an ISO as you can, however, some noise is preferable to blur from motion or camera shake. Some noise can be removed in software, while there is not much to be done for a blurry shot.
An SLR has a larger sensor and handles higher ISO's better because of this. I have two 8MP cameras, a Powershot S5, which is similar to yours, and a Rebel Xt, which is a low end SLR. In good light, they are close, but as soon as light gets dim, the SLR gets superior pictures. You can still do outstanding shots with a compact, as long as you learn how to work within or around the limitations. My highest scoring shot was done with my S5, and I have not yet beaten it with the Rebel.
I like to call this class of camera "advanced compacts", but here on DPC they usually get lumped in with point & shoots. My Powershot S5 is in this class.
Oh, and if you want to be inspired by some fantastic work with a similar camera to yours, check out what  Liberty has done with the Kodak Z710 that she used to use.
Message edited by author 2008-09-02 17:12:13. |
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09/02/2008 08:44:53 PM · #7 |
There a neat tutorial here explaining everything.
Basically, it likens back to the film days. You had a set film speed (ASA 100). From this know, you can have different combinations of shutter and aperture to get a good exposure.
If you didn't have a lot of light (being indoors maybe) you could use faster film (ASA 400 or ASA 800). If you were outside in the sun, you could use slow film (ASA 100 or the slower ASA 50).
Now with digital, you don't actually have to change film to get faster ASA settings. You just change some settings. The only thing is, with faster film/digital, you get more grain (that's the random color speckles you get). If you can, shoot as low a number as possible.
If I'm shoot outside, I'll set to 100. If it's getting late in the day, I'll boost up to 800 film speed. I tend not to go higher since my camera gets pretty grainy. If I do need it, I'll go up to 3200, but not often. It gets pretty grainy.
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