Why not auto ISO?

[Tapeman]

Do any of the DSLR bodies have a feature like that?
Set your aperture for desired depth of field, set your shutter speed to stop action etc., and the camera sets the ISO for the correct exposure.

I only have a P&S digital now. Several Canon lenses & flashes waiting to go on my new DSLR which I probably will buy after the new models come out in Feb. Probably the replacement for the 1D. 8MP, a rapid burst rate, 1.3x based on 1v and I'll go for the 2nd mortgage.

[maderito]

Coming from a film SLR background, auto ISO was one of the most frustrating "features" in my first P&S digicam. I couldn't figure out when the camera was shifting to a higher ISO value, which made a big difference since the noise increased so dramatically from ISO 100 to 400.

With the 10D and its low noise CMOS sensor, I have to look hard to notice the difference between ISO 100 and 400 shots. Still, I do want to control the ISO - especially once I think I need ISO in the range of 800 to 3200. Working at high ISO usually involves tradeoffs (e.g. able to use faster shutter speed at the expense of increased noise). I would prefer to make the decision.

IF I were using a 10D/D-Rebel as a P&S camera (e.g. using full auto mode), perhaps ISO shifting between 100 and 400 wouldn't be troublesome. According to my 10D manual (p. 49), ISO is automatically set (between 100 and 400) in full Auto and some other basic mode zone modes.

[Tom W]

I could see it being auto in the "green box" mode - that is, when the camera is at full auto, but otherwise, its something I like to control. I don't even use auto-ISO on my S-400.

[defordphoto]

Actually they (10D) do go into auto-ISO mode in the green-box and the pre-programmed modes too.

[DaveG]

Do any of the DSLR bodies have a feature like that?
Set your aperture for desired depth of field, set your shutter speed to stop action etc., and the camera sets the ISO for the correct exposure.

I only have a P&S digital now. Several Canon lenses & flashes waiting to go on my new DSLR which I probably will buy after the new models come out in Feb. Probably the replacement for the 1D. 8MP, a rapid burst rate, 1.3x based on 1v and I'll go for the 2nd mortgage.

The biggest problem I can see with AUTO ISO would be the variation of the results. See what an image looks like on ISO 100 and then look at the H (ISO 3200) setting. You'd be spending hours on the computer trying to make images similar. The first complaint from users will be, "I used that AUTO ISO and all the shots are different. Why can't all the results be the same?" And THAT problem ain't fixable!

This suggestion isn't a lot different than some type of AUTO file selection where the camera decides that (for whatever reason) a medium sized jpeg is a better choice than a RAW exposure. Hey you are more than half way through your card and if the camera keeps making the files smaller you will never run out! That makes sense until you realized that the end results aren't worth keeping.

I think that you assumed that the results from different ISO's will be acceptable and from my perspective this isn't true. How can explain to a client (even if the client is you) that while this shot will make a nice 11x14, the next one shouldn't be any bigger than a 4x6? I use high ISO's when I need to, to freeze action, or to make my flash a bit more powerful (or more efficient). But all things considered I want to use the slowest ISO that I can.

I just think that HAVING to manually select an ISO is going to make you think about the results.

[fwhitesides]

The DRebel does have auto ISO selection in the non-creative modes. However, the range is only 100-400, and it doesn't allow you to select aperture or shutter speed.

So for to answer your question, no, the DRebel does not have a true ISO-priority mode. I don't think the 10D does either.

[defordphoto]

Nor do we want/need it.

[PacAce]

Do any of the DSLR bodies have a feature like that?
Set your aperture for desired depth of field, set your shutter speed to stop action etc., and the camera sets the ISO for the correct exposure.

I only have a P&S digital now. Several Canon lenses & flashes waiting to go on my new DSLR which I probably will buy after the new models come out in Feb. Probably the replacement for the 1D. 8MP, a rapid burst rate, 1.3x based on 1v and I'll go for the 2nd mortgage.

As far as I know there are no DSLRs (nor SLRs, for that matter) that has an auto ISO mode with shutter and aperture being set manually. It wouldn't be a bad feature to have, though, as it may come in handy sometimes. I've read all the arguments against it in the previous posts but similar arguments can also apply to shooting in Tv mode or Av mode where you select one setting and the camera automatically selects the other. After all, having it doesn't mean you HAVE to use it.

[clos]

I often wondered when this feature will exist and I would indeed find it useful. It could be just like aperature or shutter priority. I could set the maximum ISO to not exceed a certain threshold. This setting could depend on how import it is for me to get the shot compared to quality requirements.

I could set the camera for say ISO 400 and that would assure that I get the best picture quality while not sacrificing DOF or shutter speed. I can even see the ISO priority tied into a secondary priority like aperature or shutter speed. It sounds complicated but sure would work for me.

IMHO this feature will be available soon as it is just a code manipulation thing. The idea is new since film cameras did not give you this option. But really it is just another way to play with the light hitting the CMOS sensor of our cameras.

-Clos

[EXA1a]

Nor do we want/need it.
...and you wouldn't want/need portrait mode, landscape mode, macro mode, and sports mode either but the 10D has it...

[defordphoto]

Nor do we want/need it.
...and you wouldn't want/need portrait mode, landscape mode, macro mode, and sports mode either but the 10D has it...

That's true. And I have used the sports mode from time to time, but would much rather have customizable modes.

[DaveG]

Nor do we want/need it.
...and you wouldn't want/need portrait mode, landscape mode, macro mode, and sports mode either but the 10D has it...

That's true. And I have used the sports mode from time to time, but would much rather have customizable modes.

I need manual, shutterspeed priority and aperture priority settings, and I want the Automatics only because they will react to changing light more quickly than I can. The most automation I've ever had in a camera was what the Nikon F3, and Mamiya Pro-TL offered; and that was simply aperture priority. What I did have was control, and I like control.

Every other setting is for photographers who feel that the camera will make better decisions than they will, and they may well be right. In any case these are bells and whistles that are of no importance to me except they complicate the camera.

[defordphoto]

Yes! I pretty much hang in the TV and AV modes. Shoot P when I don't want to think. Growing up with manual cameras places you in a way different world than what today's digital shooters are growing up in. A large number of them will be nothing but button pushers with little thought into the art of photography and nothing but a bunch a snappers. These cameras should be forced into M mode for the first year of ownership. ;)

[dn7elson]

These cameras should be forced into M mode for the first year of ownership. ;)

Shoot. Can you imagine the number of cameras that would be returned because "they don't work?" :lol: :oops: :lol:

[defordphoto]

Yeah. I need to return this camera because I pushed the button and the picture wasn't perfect.

Settings? What's that? :roll:

[Case]

A large number of them will be nothing but button pushers with little thought into the art of photography and nothing but a bunch a snappers. These cameras should be forced into M mode for the first year of ownership. ;)

Hey, i resemble that remark :)
Seriously though, with the G3 (and the soon to arrive 10d) i try to force myself into using the M mode on occasion, but i have generally found Tv or Av preferable.

Cheers
Chris

[defordphoto]

A large number of them will be nothing but button pushers with little thought into the art of photography and nothing but a bunch a snappers. These cameras should be forced into M mode for the first year of ownership. ;)

Hey, i resemble that remark :)
Seriously though, with the G3 (and the soon to arrive 10d) i try to force myself into using the M mode on occasion, but i have generally found Tv or Av preferable.

Cheers
Chris

Excellent! You should transition well over to the dSLR side very easily.

[Case]

A large number of them will be nothing but button pushers with little thought into the art of photography and nothing but a bunch a snappers. These cameras should be forced into M mode for the first year of ownership. ;)

Hey, i resemble that remark :)
Seriously though, with the G3 (and the soon to arrive 10d) i try to force myself into using the M mode on occasion, but i have generally found Tv or Av preferable.

Cheers
Chris

Excellent! You should transition well over to the dSLR side very easily.

Thats great news Jim, since i get the 10d this week then depart for Thailand/Cambodia 2 weeks later!...What's that phrase: "steep learning curve"?

Chris

[defordphoto]

A large number of them will be nothing but button pushers with little thought into the art of photography and nothing but a bunch a snappers. These cameras should be forced into M mode for the first year of ownership. ;)

Hey, i resemble that remark :)
Seriously though, with the G3 (and the soon to arrive 10d) i try to force myself into using the M mode on occasion, but i have generally found Tv or Av preferable.

Cheers
Chris

Excellent! You should transition well over to the dSLR side very easily.

Thats great news Jim, since i get the 10d this week then depart for Thailand/Cambodia 2 weeks later!...What's that phrase: "steep learning curve"?

Chris

I think for you it'll be more like St Helens rather than Everest.

[Canuck]

I don't know about you, but when shooting landscape pics, I find it much more satisfying shooting full manual. Maybe it takes a few tries to get it the way I want, but so what, it is digital. It is the ability to control everything from f-stop to shutter speed to manual focus and ISO for me. Before the 10D it was a Canon EOS 50E and I was not happy with most of the pics I got in the auto modes, so I went manual and never looked back. That was a step in the right direction. Now I shoot almost exclusively manual on the 10D. There have been exceptions, usually out of laziness or not really bothered about the pic where I have shot full auto. Those usually are the screwoff pics that only I will ever see.

The other point to make is that lower speeds are far less grainy. Again, on the EOS 50E, I shot 400 ISO for a long time, then went to 100 and another leap happened for the better. To some extent this is true on the 10D.