ISO 50

I’ve search around a little bit without much luck.

Are there image quality improvements between ISO 50 and 100 (5D), or simply less light sensitivity?

TIA

The only thing that I have read between ISO 50 and ISO 100 on the 5D is that you lose some dynamic range when you shoot at ISO 50. I have never gone below ISO 100 on my 5D, so I really cannot comment on that. But I'm sure those members who have shot at ISO 50 on their 5D could provide a better explanation.

the dynamic range at ISO100 is better because 50 ISO is not native. ISO 50 is not real iso but it is done via software as far as i know. the only reason to ever use ISO 50 is to get slower shutter speeds.

Thanks for the replies. I assuming (hopefully correct) that ISO 100 produces the best dynamic range and IQ.

There's a few ISO comparison/Image quality comparison charts around, showing how ISO 100 is the best, followed by 200, 50, 400, and then going upwards. I find 50 very useful, when shooting say water, wishing to slow it down, or even sports, when shooting higher than F16, will cause a softer image

I've found the only time I use ISO 50 is for making flowing water look silky smooth at the lowest shutter speed I can get. Otherwise I always just use 100 or above...

shaunknee,
I have used ISO 50 a number of times with my 5D (I wish my 40D had it) and honestly there might be a dynamic range reduction but its not large as I don't see it with my eyes in prints and for me thats all that matters (or at least the majority that matters). I haven't done a test comparing the two side by side (sounds like a good winter project) but so far it doesn't restrict me from using it. I just looked thru some photos I already have posted online and there is a whole lot at ISO 50. Wish my 40D had it

I also find ISO50 to be very useful, noise is vitually non existent, I have used it to slow my shutter speed instead of using an ND & for macro work in controlled conditions where dynamic range isnt an issue.

John_B wrote in post #3935879
shaunknee,
I have used ISO 50 a number of times with my 5D (I wish my 40D had it) and honestly there might be a dynamic range reduction but its not large as I don't see it with my eyes in prints and for me thats all that matters (or at least the majority that matters). I haven't done a test comparing the two side by side (sounds like a good winter project) but so far it doesn't restrict me from using it. I just looked thru some photos I already have posted online and there is a whole lot at ISO 50. Wish my 40D had it

Your 40D does have it (sort of), just set at ISO100, dial in +1 EC & then bring it back down in PP

No Bugster wrote in post #3936370
Ha! Thats funny!!!! With that logic, dial it to +3 Overexposure and you can get ISO 12.5!!!!

woohoo!!!!

And the noise that and loss of detail that will come with under or over exposure when dialing in too much compensation.

Mark

No Bugster wrote in post #3936370
Ha! Thats funny!!!! With that logic, dial it to +3 Overexposure and you can get ISO 12.5!!!!

woohoo!!!!

lol.

The other way works well, for example if you shoot at ISO3200 & dial in a -1 you get ISO6400 with usuable results on the 5D, although I digress, we are talking about ISO50 here arnt we!

I've shot images at 50 and they made BEAUTIFUL prints. I saw no real loss of range.

No Bugster wrote in post #3939358
Shoot who are we kidding (and why am i still awake..i should be sleeping!) have enough energy only to type i guess. Anyway.. Why don't we dial in -3 and then you have ISO 25600!!!awesome night photography! Shoot, better yet, you can further manually set your shutter slower, and effectively could get like ISO 102,400!!! I think i might start a new thread!

No there IS a limit, but how do you think ISO3200 is obtained on the 40D & 5D, its simply this technique done inside the camera instead, ive tried it out myself, by underexposing an ISO1600 & upping it in PP by +1, the resulting image is identical to one taken at ISO3200.

Here is an actual test I did on another thread demonstrating this, you can see that there is a limit, you cant take this to the extreme.

https://photography-on-the.net …hp?p=3840835&po​stcount=31

agreed, if you wanna see the diference go rent a film camera and shoot at iso 25.

You lose 1 or 2 stops of DR at ISO 50. In real life shooting, I've found that to mean that the highlights blow a lot sooner, and that they become truly lost much quicker.