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 64000. Extended settings of about 0.3, 0.7, and 1 EV (ISO 50 equivalent) below ISO 100 and 0.3, 0.7, 1, and 1.7 EV (ISO 204800 equivalent) above ISO 64000 are also available (ISO sensitivity settings).

  • An [Auto] option is available in b 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. ISO sensitivity for video recording can be set to values of from ISO 100 to 51200 and extended settings of about 0.3, 0.7, 1, and 2 EV (ISO 204800 equivalent) above ISO 51200 are also available (ISO sensitivity settings). When [Video file type] is set to [R3D NE 12-bit (R3D)], you can use [Base ISO sensitivity] to switch between low and high sensitivity (Base ISO sensitivity). Auto ISO sensitivity control cannot be used.

Adjusting ISO sensitivity

  • ISO sensitivity can be set using [ISO sensitivity settings] in the i menu or photo shooting menu.
  • When [ISO sensitivity settings] is highlighted in the i menu, rotate the main command dial to set the ISO sensitivity.
  • 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.

Hi 0.3–Hi 1.7

A setting of [Hi 0.3] corresponds to an ISO sensitivity approximately 0.3 EV higher than ISO 64000 (ISO 80000 equivalent) and [Hi 1.7] to an ISO sensitivity approximately 1.7 EV higher (ISO 204800 equivalent). Note that pictures taken at these settings are particularly prone to “noise” in the form of randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, or lines.

Lo 0.3–Lo 1.0

[Lo 0.3] corresponds to an ISO sensitivity about 0.3 EV below ISO 100 (ISO 80 equivalent). [Lo 1.0] is roughly 1 EV below ISO 100 (ISO 50 equivalent). Use for larger apertures or slower shutter speeds when lighting is bright. Highlights may be overexposed. In most cases, ISO sensitivities of ISO [100] or above are recommended.

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 1.7) to prevent ISO sensitivity being raised too high.

Enabling auto ISO sensitivity control

  1. Select ISO sensitivity using [ISO sensitivity settings] in the i menu, and press the multi selector down.
  2. Set [Auto ISO sensitivity control] and [Maximum sensitivity].
    Press the center of the multi selector to save changes.
  • When [ISO sensitivity settings] is highlighted in the i menu, 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 adjusted value will be shown in the display.

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 sync speed (1/60 s) and the value selected for e1 [Flash shutter speed]. If the value selected for [Minimum shutter speed] is not in this range, the value selected for Custom Setting e1 [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.