ISO sensitivity

About ISO sensitivity

The camera’s sensitivity to light (ISO sensitivity) can be adjusted according to the amount of light available. In general, choosing higher values allows faster shutter speeds at the same aperture. Choose from settings of from ISO 100 to 51200. Extended settings of about 0.3, 0.7, 1, and 2 EV (ISO 204800 equivalent) above ISO 51200 are also available.

  • An [Auto] option is available in b or SCN mode.
  • Manual ISO sensitivity selection is available in video mode only when [OFF] is selected for [ISO sensitivity settings] > [Auto ISO control (mode M)] in mode M. Otherwise ISO sensitivity for video recording will be set automatically by the camera. In video mode, you can choose from settings of from ISO 100 to 25600; but extended settings are not available.

Adjusting ISO sensitivity

  • Hold the S button and rotate the main command dial.
  • Your selection is shown in the shooting display.
  • At default settings, changes to ISO sensitivity are made in increments of 1/3 EV. The size of the increments can be changed using Custom Setting b1 [ISO sensitivity step value].

High ISO sensitivities

The higher the ISO sensitivity, the less light needed to make an exposure, allowing pictures to be taken when lighting is poor and helping prevent blur when the subject is in motion. Note, however, that the higher the sensitivity, the more likely the image is to be affected by “noise” in the form of randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, or lines.

  • “Noise” can be reduced by enabling high ISO noise reduction. High ISO noise reduction can be enabled using the [High ISO NR] items in the photo shooting and video recording menus.

The photo shooting menu [ISO sensitivity settings] option

ISO sensitivity can also be adjusted using the [ISO sensitivity settings] item in the photo shooting menu.

Hi 0.3–Hi 2.0

A setting of [Hi 0.3] corresponds to an ISO sensitivity approximately 0.3 EV higher than ISO 51200 (equivalent to ISO 64000) and [Hi 2.0] to an ISO sensitivity approximately 2 EV higher (equivalent to ISO 204800). Note that pictures taken at these settings are particularly prone to “noise” in the form of randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, or lines.

Auto ISO sensitivity control

Auto ISO sensitivity control automatically adjusts ISO sensitivity if optimal exposure cannot be achieved at the value selected by the user. You can select an upper limit for auto ISO sensitivity control (200–Hi 2.0) to prevent ISO sensitivity being raised too high.

  • In video mode, you can select an upper limit from ISO 200 to 25600.

Enabling auto ISO sensitivity control

  • Hold the S button and rotate the sub-command dial to select from ISO AUTO (auto ISO sensitivity control enabled) and ISO (auto ISO sensitivity control disabled).
  • When auto ISO sensitivity control is enabled, the shooting display will show ISO AUTO. When sensitivity is altered from the value selected by the user, the ISO sensitivity will be shown in the displays.
  • Maximum sensitivity can be adjusted using the [ISO sensitivity settings] item in the photo shooting menu.

Cautions: Auto ISO sensitivity control

  • If value currently selected for [ISO sensitivity settings] is higher than that chosen for [Maximum sensitivity], the value chosen for [ISO sensitivity settings] will serve as the upper limit for auto ISO sensitivity control.
  • During flash photography, shutter speed is limited to the range defined by the values selected for Custom Settings e1 [Flash sync speed] and e2 [Flash shutter speed]. If the value selected for [Minimum shutter speed] is not in this range, the value selected for Custom Setting e2 [Flash shutter speed] becomes the effective minimum shutter speed.
  • Except in mode M, videos are recorded using auto ISO sensitivity control. Auto ISO sensitivity control can be enabled for video recording in mode M by selecting [ON] for [ISO sensitivity settings] > [Auto ISO control (mode M)] in the video recording menu.