Choosing between ISO and shutter speed - What is fast enough? Part 2

Goslings photographed with different ISO and shutter speed settings.  See below for another one.

Although the risk of too much noise or too slow a shutter speed will likely always haunt you, the truth is that there is usually a safe option.  In general, a high ISO may reduce an image's quality, but blur will likely ruin it altogether.  Not sure whether to shoot with an ISO of 400 or 800?  Start with 800 and see where it leads.  You can dial values down if the light improves or if you find your shutter speeds are faster than necessary.  

There is noise reduction software, both in your camera and in apps like Photoshop, that can reduce noise associated with high ISOs.  Turn on your camera's noise reduction system.  It usually kicks in around ISO 800.  You may want to rethink that though, as the process is non-reversible.  To give you an idea, play with noise reduction software in Photoshop if you can and look at the difference.  Although there is less visible noise, details become somewhat muted, especially when reduction levels are high.

I have used both FX (full-frame) and DX (APS-C) cameras.  I try to keep ISO down in DX cameras as there is greater noise associated with that format at any given ISO.  FX cameras, such as my Z6iii, have very good noise levels at high ISO levels.  I have routinely shot at ISO values of 800 and 1600 with little concern over how it is affecting my image.  See the image below.

Canada goose, photographed with an ISO of 3200.  Noise levels were low.  Full-frame camera used.

The best way to phrase it is this.  Shoot with an ISO that will give you the slowest shutter speed where you are getting good results.  Noise with a little blur is OK.  Blur with little noise is not.  

I will talk about auto ISO soon, perhaps in my next blog.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com


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