40D users....have you tried auto ISO?

I am curious what users think of the auto ISO...I didn't think I would like to use it, but someone else thought it was great. Any observations?
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steve
Please visit my galleries at:
http://www.pbase.com/spatterson

Sorry about the obvious bump here, but I really would like to know others impressions...good and bad....with the auto ISO on this camera? Has anyone used it?
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steve
Please visit my galleries at:
http://www.pbase.com/spatterson

Considering I am new to SLR's. i find it very useful.

Does it seem to change the ISO all the time, or is it pretty much 400?
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steve
Please visit my galleries at:
http://www.pbase.com/spatterson

I have not used auto ISO yet, but I probably will. I've been looking for this feature for a while now...
http://www.sportsshooter.com/message_display.html?tid=20783
but I do not like the way it's been implemented.
Here's why I want it.

I shoot a lot of sports. At playoff time the games start when there's decent light and go until dark(when the turn the stadium lights on). During this time I need to constantly watch for underexposure.

e.g. I will shoot wide open (2.8) with a shutter speed that will stop the action. Let's use 1/800 as an example. The next thing I do is set the ISO so I can shoot wide open at 1/800.

I'd wanted an auto-iso feature so I would be ensured that I'd always be shooting at f2.8 and 1/800. If I needed to go to iso 1600, so be it (Once I realized I was at iso 1600 I would turn on the strobes). However, Canon has limited the top end to iso 800. That's probably not a terrible thing since I would never want to shoot at iso1600 anyway, but it should be configurable.
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Roger

I really haven't used it very much, however my experience so far has been that it seems to constantly adjust the iso between 400 and 800 as you move the camera around during metering. It quite happily uses the 1/3 stops as well so the net result as you point at different things is that it doesn't seem to change the aperture or shutter speed that much but changes the ISO to compensate for the varied scene.

Will get a chance to muck around more this weekend.

I didn't think I would use it much either, coming from a Digital Rebel (300D), I'm used to ISO 400 and 800 being pretty much worthless. The high ISO images from the 40D are far from worthless, so I'm very OK shooting with those ISO's.

Anyway....I decided to give it a go, and I like it. I went to the zoo with the family and kept the camera in "P" mode with auto ISO. I was pleased with being able to shoot in doors, and out doors with out changing a thing on the camera.

It is interesting watching the ISO numbers dance around more then the shutter speed and f-stop, at least it seems to.

Its also nice that "Auto" is one stop away from ISO 100. As of now, I think these will be the two settings I use the most.

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warren prasek
web design ~ interactive media ~ photography
http://www.wprasek.com/

gearlist: If you think I'm so insecure I need to list every item of kit I've got (and screw up DPR search results) then you're madder than a bag full of squirrels.

Ideally, I would want to be able to define a range of shutter speeds, apertures, and ISOs to constrain a P mode within, and leave the camera to work out what to do within those contraints. This would also emulate Tv an Av modes if I decided to 'lock down' shutter speed, aperture, or ISO.

For me that would be a cure-all solution...
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http://www.thebaldphotographer.com/

We better keep our camera's in full Manual mode.

Ive been using DSLR's now for a few years.. Auto ISO is very useful at times. Anyone who thinks its strictly for point and shooters is just having a macho complex.