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ISOtechnical

Sensor sensitivity to light. Higher ISO brightens the image but adds noise/grain.

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Drag to see the effect (illustrative simulation).

CleanISO 100

Compare real photos

High ISO — noisyLow ISO — clean
Low ISO — cleanHigh ISO — noisy
The same frame at low vs high ISO. Push ISO too far and grain creeps into the smooth water and shadows.

ISO amplifies the signal from the sensor. Raise it to keep a fast shutter in low light, but expect more noise as it climbs past your camera's clean ceiling. Modern full-frame bodies stay clean to ISO 6400+; small sensors get noisy sooner.

Use this when

  • Bright daylight: 100-400
  • Indoor sports: 1600-6400
  • Night/astro: 3200-12800

Common mistake: Leaving ISO too low and forcing the shutter dangerously slow.

Related

Dynamic RangeExposure Triangle