ISO on digital cameras

Hi,

I'm thinking about finally taking the plunge. I've noticed that a lot of the cameras seem to only go down to 200 ISO. I have always loved using Velvia 50. Are there any cameras that will come close to this? Will the longer exposures be too much or does the camera correct for this? Help I know nothing!

Thanks in advance.

I'm familiar only with the Fuji FinePix line. The "better" compacts can shoot at ISOs as low as 80; these include the F810 and E550 (2004), and the E900, F10, and F11 (2005). However, the F30 (2006) can go no lower than ISO 100.

Ironically, Fuji makes ISO 64 available on several otherwise-undistinguished models in the company's A, F, and Z lineups, as well as on older full-size models and Fuji's second-best current full-size prosumer model (the S5200/S5600)...but NOT on their best full-size prosumer (S9000/S9500), which stops at ISO 80.
--
Paul S. in Maryland

I went to digital about three years ago. First with a Fuji S602 and now with a Nikon 200. When I was using film I too shot with low ISO most of the time. However, the high ISO was always a challange.

I find that the digital cameras provide excellent photographs. In my opinion, most digital cameras are very good up to ISO 200. Beyond this you must select your camera with caution.

I am not a pro but as a user I am giving you my assesment. The pro's will probably be much more specific.

I haven't looked at the Fuji cameras....mainly Nikon and Cannon. I have always been a Nikon person but I am trying to branch out since I'm stepping into the digital realm. I am leaning toward Nikon though since my current lenses will still work.

Hope you don't mind; I'm going to tear your message apart, and reply to it piece by piece.

BluryEdges said:

I'm thinking about finally taking the plunge.

Click to expand...

Good! Most people (around here, anyway) have been very happy going digital. We like having hundreds of rolls of film when we leave the house, getting instant feedback, and then being able to send our favorite pics out that day to a dozen friends ... without buying reprints.

BluryEdges said:

I've noticed that a
lot of the cameras seem to only go down to 200 ISO. I have always
loved using Velvia 50.

Click to expand...

What was it you loved about Velvia 50? Had you ever tried 100? I know the slower film was sharper... I think the colors were about the same, no?

BluryEdges said:

Are there any cameras that will come close
to this?

Click to expand...

I have a Canon 5D, which has an ISO 50 setting. I don't use it very often. But it's there, and every now and then it finds a use.

BluryEdges said:

Will the longer exposures be too much or does the camera
correct for this? Help I know nothing!

Click to expand...

Yes. Except you'll get shorter exposures at ISO 100 than at 50, by a factor of two, and if you wind up with a digital camera that starts at 200, it will be again twice as fast an exposure.

That will make it easier to shoot without a tripod.

The better models in the Canon range will do 50 ISO (by cheating - over exposing and pulling in camera) or the version that will work on just about anything, fit an ND filter on your lens. A 0.6 ND filter will reduce your 200 ISO camera to ISO 50.

Buy a Nikon, as you said, it saves buying new glass as well!

You will NOT find a digital camera to match a well exposed slide for sheer punch, but for sheer convenience they are MILES ahead.

I bought an E-1 18 odd months back. I sold the OM3 and 4 within 3 months, they NEVER got used. I keep my OM1 just to use up the film stock in the freezer!

Tim
--
http://catmangler.smugmug.com/

BluryEdges said:

Hi,
I'm thinking about finally taking the plunge. I've noticed that a
lot of the cameras seem to only go down to 200 ISO. I have always
loved using Velvia 50. Are there any cameras that will come close
to this? Will the longer exposures be too much or does the camera
correct for this? Help I know nothing!

Thanks in advance.

Click to expand...

All current DSLRs have 100 or 200 as the lowest ISO because this is the inherent sensitivity of the CCD. The difference between 100 and 200 is not important unless you are doing something very specific.

P&S cameras have smaller sensors with an inherently lower sensitivity and hence a lower lowest ISO rating

The camera will correct for all of this within its aperture/shutter time range.

I guess u shot Velvia 50 for the colour saturation? In that case just set sat. to max on any camera you buy, regardless of the ISO.

Laurens

spt_gb said:

The better models in the Canon range will do 50 ISO (by cheating -
over exposing and pulling in camera)

Click to expand...

You can do this yourself with most cameras, if you shoot RAW. Just use +1 EC at ISO 100.

spt_gb said:

or the version that will work
on just about anything, fit an ND filter on your lens. A 0.6 ND
filter will reduce your 200 ISO camera to ISO 50.

Click to expand...

Of course, that doesn't do you any good if you're looking for more DR or less noise. All it does is open your shutter longer, or open your aperture wider.

--
John

John Sheehy said:

spt_gb said:

The better models in the Canon range will do 50 ISO (by cheating -
over exposing and pulling in camera)

Click to expand...

You can do this yourself with most cameras, if you shoot RAW. Just
use +1 EC at ISO 100.

Click to expand...

But if your base ISO is 200 then you can't do this. Many models don't even give you 1 stop of overhead in RAW anyway, so its not recommended.

John Sheehy said:

John Sheehy said:

or the version that will work
on just about anything, fit an ND filter on your lens. A 0.6 ND
filter will reduce your 200 ISO camera to ISO 50.

Click to expand...

Of course, that doesn't do you any good if you're looking for more
DR or less noise. All it does is open your shutter longer, or open
your aperture wider.

Click to expand...

True, but then digital has more DR and less noise than 50 ISO slide film to start with

Some DSLR sensors have a base sensetivity of ISO 200. That is actually a good thing. You get an extra 2 stops over ISO 50 without getting any noise. If you want a higher color saturation, I do not recommend doing it on the camera. Do it in PS. You will get far better results.

I don't own a Nikon DSLR, but an aquaintence of mine does. When she bought a Nikon DSLR she thought she could use al her Nikon SLR lenses. She didn't ask at the camera store, and when she got the camera home she found out that none of them would work. Apparently some older lenses made for non digital Nikon cameras won't work on the digital SLR's. Just check at the camera store if that's going to be a big part of your decision.
--



Mike

http://www.doctormelgar.com/gallery

'Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.' - malcolm forbes

The Nikon D70 replacement should have ISO100.

You can use a ND filter to block out light.