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Why is this AP photog using manual ISO setting?

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IcyVeins

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You may have seen the article on the front page of DPR about the AP photographer using the brand new Panasonic G5 micro 4/3 camera to shoot the olympics instead of a typical Canikon kit; he is being sponsored by Panasonic. They post a gallery of his photos every day and beneath each photo is shown its exposure information.

I am confused by a few of the photos because it appears there are certain times when he has ISO manually set to 1600, which I guess he decided is the highest number for "acceptable" IQ. I don't really understand this decision because many of the shots could have been taken with a much lower ISO, possibly even base ISO of 160, if he had used auto ISO and shutter priority. Virtually all of his shots during the (night time) opening ceremony were ISO 1600, but many were clearly not shot wide open, though DOF clearly would not have been a problem. There were other shots where he could have used a slower shutter speed, for example one shot of a diver just before starting her dive was shot at 1/1300 and ISO 1600.

I really don't see the point of doing this because ISO 160 looks much better than ISO 1600 and it seems like when DOF is not a problem such as with the smaller m4/3 sensor, there is very little reason not to use shutter priority to get the ISO as low as possible. Is my reasoning correct or is there some other reason he may be choosing a high ISO?
 
Hi IcyVeins,

I'll do my best to guess the answer, but keep in mind I'm coming from a fashion scenario.

Yesterday I used a digital back with ISO 25 in an outdoor location, at night! (plus strobes to get enough light).

I would normally agree: keep the ISO as low as possible, to maximize IQ.

But what you're describing is a totally different game.

All it matters is the context.

IQ, noise, DR, those things matter very little in a PJ environment, I guess.

The context, the registered fact, is much more important.

The photographer may actually leave the ISO at 1600 (or faster), and forget about it, as noise will never be taken into the equation.

It's better to have a touch of noise and the fact perfectly registered all the time, without worrying about it.

Besides, technology have come so far nowadays, that even a smaller sensor is more than capable of delivering acceptable ISO 1600 for web or smaller prints.

Cheers!

--
Marcio Napoli
 
I agree with the first answer. It's risk management. The guy's priority is to bring back shots of this one time moment. ISO1600 lets him set and forget at a setting he has decided he's comfortable with. He'll always be ready for any shot in that light.

Auto ISO might produce the right shot. Then again, it might be metering on a highlight. Explaining that he would have brought back great shots if the Auto ISO hadn't got in the way won't wash...
 
ISO 1600 vs 160 gives him more shutter speed - important in every action sporting event. And at 1/1300th he's not using flash. At the opening ceremonies he's not using flash.

With experience you learn what works for you . I shoot every wedding reception with nearly the same camera settings and at iSO 1600, same for ceremonies (often at 3200). It's what I've found gets me the results I and my clients want.

Remember - amateurs are all into gear and settings, pros are into posing, lighting and interacting with the customer (for some things anwyay, not the olympics of course).

I've shot portraits at 1600 and made 20x30 prints, 12x24 albums spreads at 3200 and won a ribbon in a PPA print competiion with an action shot done at ISO 6400 (needed to get the shutter speed high enough, it was bullriding and I'm way too far away for flash, outside arena at night). There is NO NOISE in the 16x20 print.

ISO and noise issues are not issues anymore.
--
Before everything else, getting ready is the secret of success. -Henry Ford
 
Like dating on TV for a paycheck. AKA societal sanctioned prostitution.

You take time out of your day to check his ISO?
 
Okay, so I sort of get the reasoning. But would there have been any disadvantage to using shutter priority? As long as you don't care what the aperture is? That way you can go down to 1/60 when there is no action or even slower when there are no people.
 
I'm sure he would care about the aperture. He'd want as much depth of field as possible for this type of pj project.
 
Joe Federer said:
A pro wants control of his photographs.

Auto-anything (iso, aperture, shutter) removes a large part of control over a photograph and hands it over to the camera's 'brain'.

I trust my brain more than the circuits in a camera as to what my artistic vision is.
--
JOE FEDERER
Websites:
http://www.joefederer.com
http://www.federerphotography.com/blog
http://www.theprofessionalphotographyforum.com/
Click to expand...
Are there artistic reasons to use a higher ISO than is necessary to capture an image with correct shutter speed and DOF?
 
Again, it boils down to control to the photographer. If you leave the camera in AUTO anything you give up some control and the exposure "maybe" different from one shot to another depending on what the camera sees/meter.

Anyone who shot in a studio will know what I am talking about.

I haven't seen the images you talked about but it shouldn't matter how the photographer shot the image. I am sure that is his way of shooting and it gets the job done.
IcyVeins said:
Joe Federer said:
A pro wants control of his photographs.

Auto-anything (iso, aperture, shutter) removes a large part of control over a photograph and hands it over to the camera's 'brain'.

I trust my brain more than the circuits in a camera as to what my artistic vision is.
--
JOE FEDERER
Websites:
http://www.joefederer.com
http://www.federerphotography.com/blog
http://www.theprofessionalphotographyforum.com/
Click to expand...
Are there artistic reasons to use a higher ISO than is necessary to capture an image with correct shutter speed and DOF?
Click to expand...
--
Sai Saelee
http://www.saeleephoto.com
 
Auto ISO is a pointless feature available just because it was invented, because marketers can put it on a feature list, and people who don't know much about photography can be impressed.

Auto ISO has nothing in its favor.

BAK
 
IcyVeins said:
Are there artistic reasons to use a higher ISO than is necessary to capture an image with correct shutter speed and DOF?
Click to expand...
If you set the 'correct' shutter speed and DOF, but leave the ISO in auto.... you are still using a 'auto' mode reliant on the camera deciding the correct level of exposure.

Particularly for spot-lit night events, that's a recipe for disaster. If you know what you are doing, you value control way more than a few percentage more noise.

--
JOE FEDERER
Websites:
http://www.joefederer.com
http://www.federerphotography.com/blog
http://www.theprofessionalphotographyforum.com/
 
At something like that, Auto anything would likely not be my setting of choice. Figure out what Shutter/Aperture/ISO gives me the combination I want, then set it. That way there's no chance that a reflection from a costume or firework is going to screw up the settings and kill a frame.

If I'm in manual everything it's easy to change things. Want more DOF, dial up your aperture and slow down the shutter. Controlling manual settings really takes very little extra time and gives me control of everything.

Jim Dean
 
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