Can't get low ISO on my G12

hammysg1 · 3rd of March 2012 (Sat)

I’m wondering if anyone on this forum might be able to give a complete novice some advice. I bought a Canon G12 a while back in order to learn more about aperture’s, shutter speeds etc and how to manually take better pictures.

My problem is I seem to be unable to obtain ISO values of less than 320 on the G12. It doesn’t matter if I am in program mode, Manual mode, Av or TV, the lowest ISO setting the camera will allow is 320. It will let me dial any value above this but as soon as I try to dial down it stops at 320 and stays there. I can dial in aperture and shutter speeds that give plenty of light, in an outdoor setting on a bright day, and it still will not allow me to select a lower ISO. I’m obviously doing something really stupid but I don’t know what.

Can anybody tell me what I’m doing wrong?

Hammy

Snydremark · 3rd of March 2012 (Sat)

Sounds like there may be a custom function or something getting in your way. I'm not familar with the G12, so I don't know any specifics; but I'd start digging through your custom function menu and seeing what options are there.

Phototeacher · 3rd of March 2012 (Sat)

Do you mean you can set the ISO dial to (for example) "100" but the LCD display will still show 320? If so, it sounds like there is a problem with the camera.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammysg1

I’m wondering if anyone on this forum might be able to give a complete novice some advice. I bought a Canon G12 a while back in order to learn more about aperture’s, shutter speeds etc and how to manually take better pictures.

My problem is I seem to be unable to obtain ISO values of less than 320 on the G12. It doesn’t matter if I am in program mode, Manual mode, Av or TV, the lowest ISO setting the camera will allow is 320. It will let me dial any value above this but as soon as I try to dial down it stops at 320 and stays there. I can dial in aperture and shutter speeds that give plenty of light, in an outdoor setting on a bright day, and it still will not allow me to select a lower ISO. I’m obviously doing something really stupid but I don’t know what.

Can anybody tell me what I’m doing wrong?

Hammy

bsmotril · 5th of March 2012 (Mon)

I don't know about the G1x, but on later Canon DSLR's, theres a feature called Digital Light Optimization which when enabled, does not allow you to manually select the lowest ISO values.

hammysg1 · 29th of March 2012 (Thu)

Sorry it's taken me a while to reply to this, I've been away. Thanks so much everyone for your help on this:

Snydremark: Yes, I thought it might be some sort of safety feature that was disabling it but I've looked and looked in all the menus and can't find anything that seems to relate to it.

Phototeacher: Yes that's exactly it. Say I have the dial set to 300. I can turn the dial down and the LCD screen shows the ISO reducing but only down as far as ISO 320. After that, I can keep turning the dial down to 200, 100 or less but the display still shows the ISO as being 320. If I then take a pic and look at the picture properties on the PC, they never show values less than 320 either

bsmotril: if it is something like you are describing then how do you use lower ISOs on those cameras? if I am shooting outside in bright light I thought it was generally best to try to use lower ISOs so as to keep resolution to a maximum. I bought Jeff Carslon's book which seems to suggest that I should be able to manually set whatever ISO I wanted so I wasn't sure if the book was wrong or, as a newbie, I'm doing something silly.

I really hope the camera isn't faulty as the retailer I bought it from a few months ago has gone bankrupt so my extended warranty is useless.

Do you guys think it really might be faulty then?

Thanks for all your time and trouble to help me with this.

Hammy

Snydremark · 29th of March 2012 (Thu)

I'd go into the menus and:

-Reset all custom functions
-Set to M
-Set ISO dial to 100

See if that makes any difference at all. Otherwise, I don't even see anything in the manual that might be causing that. Which would, unfortunately, point to something wrong with the camera...unless another, actual user can pipe in with something that they've encountered.

GordonSBuck · 29th of March 2012 (Thu)

Turn off Dynamic Range Correction (top icon in the Function list)

Phototeacher · 29th of March 2012 (Thu)

I tried turning this on to +400, and experienced the problem you describe. As Gordon suggested, turn DRC off!

Quote:

Originally Posted by GordonSBuck

Turn off Dynamic Range Correction (top icon in the Function list)

rpolitsr · 31st of March 2012 (Sat)

I'm not a G1X user, but it has a built in Neutral Density (ND) filter. Set the ND filter to OFF and test your camera again.
Check the manual Page 103 'Using the ND Filter'

u02bnpx · 31st of March 2012 (Sat)

With any problem like this, I've always found it helpful to dial 1-800-OKCANON and speak to a Canon technician, even if the camera (or flash, etc.) is out of warranty. You can explain what you've tried to do in order to overcome the problem at the outset of the call, then see what if anything he or she might add.

Fitzer · 1st of April 2012 (Sun)

The problem is as Gordon & Phototeacher say the DRC setting, I tested it on my G12, it only happens when shooting plain jpeg though.

GordonSBuck · 2nd of April 2012 (Mon)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fitzer

The problem is as Gordon & Phototeacher say the DRC setting, I tested it on my G12, it only happens when shooting plain jpeg though.

DRC does not apply to RAW and the operation and settings for RAW+JPEG are the same as for RAW only.

hammysg1 · 15th of April 2012 (Sun)

Thanks everyone, you've been so helpful. I have been shooting in Jpeg rather than RAW as my PC harddrive is full so I can't store RAW. I will do all the things you suggest (turning off DRC etc) and report back.

Thank you all so much for your help on this.

Hammy

hammysg1 · 16th of May 2012 (Wed)

Sorry for not replying sooner, it's been raining in uk everyday for the last month and I haven't felt like getting out with the camera

It worked! I turned DRC off and I can now use whatever ISO I want.

Thank you so, so much all of you, it would have taken me years (or maybe never) to find it without your help.

You've all been so kind to take the trouble to help me so thanks once again - virtual cupcakes for all of you.

Hammy

Phototeacher · 16th of May 2012 (Wed)

Glad it worked out for you, and thanks for updating the thread with a satisfactory resolution.

3rd of March 2012 (Sat)	#1
hammysg1 Junior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Somerset, England Posts: 7	Can't get low ISO on my G12 I’m wondering if anyone on this forum might be able to give a complete novice some advice. I bought a Canon G12 a while back in order to learn more about aperture’s, shutter speeds etc and how to manually take better pictures. My problem is I seem to be unable to obtain ISO values of less than 320 on the G12. It doesn’t matter if I am in program mode, Manual mode, Av or TV, the lowest ISO setting the camera will allow is 320. It will let me dial any value above this but as soon as I try to dial down it stops at 320 and stays there. I can dial in aperture and shutter speeds that give plenty of light, in an outdoor setting on a bright day, and it still will not allow me to select a lower ISO. I’m obviously doing something really stupid but I don’t know what. Can anybody tell me what I’m doing wrong? Hammy

3rd of March 2012 (Sat)	#2
Snydremark Cream of the Crop Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Issaquah, WA Posts: 12,537 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Can't get low ISO on my G12 Sounds like there may be a custom function or something getting in your way. I'm not familar with the G12, so I don't know any specifics; but I'd start digging through your custom function menu and seeing what options are there. __________________ - Eric S.: My Birds/Wildlife (7D, 40D, Canon 10-22 f/3.5-4.5, Canon 24-105L f/4 IS, Canon 70-200L f/2.8 IS MkII, Canon 100-400L f/4.5-5.6 IS, Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro, Tamron 18-270 DiII PZD, 580EX II) "The easiest way to improve your photos is to adjust the loose nut between the shutter release and the ground."

5th of March 2012 (Mon)	#4
bsmotril Goldmember Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Austin TX Posts: 2,116 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Can't get low ISO on my G12 I don't know about the G1x, but on later Canon DSLR's, theres a feature called Digital Light Optimization which when enabled, does not allow you to manually select the lowest ISO values. __________________ Gear List Galleries: http://www.flickr.com/photos/smopho/

29th of March 2012 (Thu)	#5
hammysg1 Junior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Somerset, England Posts: 7	Re: Can't get low ISO on my G12 Sorry it's taken me a while to reply to this, I've been away. Thanks so much everyone for your help on this: Snydremark: Yes, I thought it might be some sort of safety feature that was disabling it but I've looked and looked in all the menus and can't find anything that seems to relate to it. Phototeacher: Yes that's exactly it. Say I have the dial set to 300. I can turn the dial down and the LCD screen shows the ISO reducing but only down as far as ISO 320. After that, I can keep turning the dial down to 200, 100 or less but the display still shows the ISO as being 320. If I then take a pic and look at the picture properties on the PC, they never show values less than 320 either bsmotril: if it is something like you are describing then how do you use lower ISOs on those cameras? if I am shooting outside in bright light I thought it was generally best to try to use lower ISOs so as to keep resolution to a maximum. I bought Jeff Carslon's book which seems to suggest that I should be able to manually set whatever ISO I wanted so I wasn't sure if the book was wrong or, as a newbie, I'm doing something silly. I really hope the camera isn't faulty as the retailer I bought it from a few months ago has gone bankrupt so my extended warranty is useless. Do you guys think it really might be faulty then? Thanks for all your time and trouble to help me with this. Hammy

29th of March 2012 (Thu)	#6
Snydremark Cream of the Crop Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Issaquah, WA Posts: 12,537 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Can't get low ISO on my G12 I'd go into the menus and: -Reset all custom functions -Set to M -Set ISO dial to 100 See if that makes any difference at all. Otherwise, I don't even see anything in the manual that might be causing that. Which would, unfortunately, point to something wrong with the camera...unless another, actual user can pipe in with something that they've encountered. __________________ - Eric S.: My Birds/Wildlife (7D, 40D, Canon 10-22 f/3.5-4.5, Canon 24-105L f/4 IS, Canon 70-200L f/2.8 IS MkII, Canon 100-400L f/4.5-5.6 IS, Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro, Tamron 18-270 DiII PZD, 580EX II) "The easiest way to improve your photos is to adjust the loose nut between the shutter release and the ground."

29th of March 2012 (Thu)	#7
GordonSBuck Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Louisiana Posts: 880	Re: Can't get low ISO on my G12 Turn off Dynamic Range Correction (top icon in the Function list) __________________ Gordon http://lightdescription.blogspot.com My 10 Best Photos: http://hornerbuck.smugmug.com/galler...63436691_UdXpt

31st of March 2012 (Sat)	#9
rpolitsr Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Quito - Ecuador Posts: 4,067 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Can't get low ISO on my G12 I'm not a G1X user, but it has a built in Neutral Density (ND) filter. Set the ND filter to OFF and test your camera again. Check the manual Page 103 'Using the ND Filter' __________________ rafael Canon powershot Pro1, EOS RebelXT, EF-S 18-55mm II, speedlite 420EX, basic filters set. My photo galleries "PERSONAL MESSAGING REGARDING SELLING OR BUYING ITEMS WITH MEMBERS WHO HAVE NO POSTS IN FORUMS AND/OR WHO YOU DO NOT KNOW FROM FORUMS IS HEREBY DECLARED STRICTLY STUPID AND YOU WILL GET BURNED."

31st of March 2012 (Sat)	#10
u02bnpx Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 154	Re: Can't get low ISO on my G12 With any problem like this, I've always found it helpful to dial 1-800-OKCANON and speak to a Canon technician, even if the camera (or flash, etc.) is out of warranty. You can explain what you've tried to do in order to overcome the problem at the outset of the call, then see what if anything he or she might add.

1st of April 2012 (Sun)	#11
Fitzer Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 96	Re: Can't get low ISO on my G12 The problem is as Gordon & Phototeacher say the DRC setting, I tested it on my G12, it only happens when shooting plain jpeg though.

15th of April 2012 (Sun)	#13
hammysg1 Junior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Somerset, England Posts: 7	Re: Can't get low ISO on my G12 Thanks everyone, you've been so helpful. I have been shooting in Jpeg rather than RAW as my PC harddrive is full so I can't store RAW. I will do all the things you suggest (turning off DRC etc) and report back. Thank you all so much for your help on this. Hammy

16th of May 2012 (Wed)	#14
hammysg1 Junior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Somerset, England Posts: 7	Re: Can't get low ISO on my G12 Sorry for not replying sooner, it's been raining in uk everyday for the last month and I haven't felt like getting out with the camera It worked! I turned DRC off and I can now use whatever ISO I want. Thank you so, so much all of you, it would have taken me years (or maybe never) to find it without your help. You've all been so kind to take the trouble to help me so thanks once again - virtual cupcakes for all of you. Hammy

16th of May 2012 (Wed)	#15
Phototeacher Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 165	Re: Can't get low ISO on my G12 Glad it worked out for you, and thanks for updating the thread with a satisfactory resolution.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode