Teach Me

I have just upgraded from a rebel xt and i believe i am suffering from ISO fear. I have a tough time being happy with any pic taken above 200 iso. My question is if i just go for it and bump up the iso making the camera more light sensitive, will the shots look better than if i try to keep the iso as low as possible and max out my flash. I am currrently trying to take pictures indoors of a construction project at work. I've kept the iso down to about the 320 range and maxed out the flash. The pics aren't bad just seem like they could be better.

What camera do you have now? Can you post some examples with the EXIF data? I'll bump the ISO as high as it takes to get the job done. Remember, relying too much on the flash can give you that directional flash "snap shot" look especially if the flash is built into the camera and also eats batteries and lengthens cycle time. Since you said you upgraded from a Rebel XT, whatever you got should be good up to at least ISO800. Remember, web sized shots or 4x6 prints won't look nearly as noisy as they do on your monitor at 100%.

Sorry 50D

for me, i try to go as low as I can when shooting indoors.... 100, sometimes 200 iso. I adjust the lighting and play with the aperture. Sometimes though when it's too dark you may need to bump up the iso.

This would be my biggest problem I just can't resist checking them out at 100%.I think this forum taught me that.

Howdy,

It's pretty important to nail the exposure as well to keep noise at a minimum. Are your images underexposed? Brightening underexposed shots in post production can cause noise to really show up--especially in the shadows.

How are you maxing out your flash? Are you using FEC setting (flash exposure compensation) in ETTL mode, or setting the power in manual mode? If there are mirrors or shiny metalic objects in the construction site, they can confuse ETTL metering resulting in fairly serious underexposure. Try switching your flash exposure to manual. Set it to 1/4 power and take some test shots to see what's what. You'll probably want to set shutter speed and aperture manually as well. 1/125 at f/5.6 and ISO 200 or 400 is not a bad starting point.

Hope this helps.

Make some large prints of ISO 800 or higher shots. Then hold the prints in your hand while you look at 100% views on the monitor. Study what noise levels on the monitor are and are not visible in prints.

I can see noise from my 1D Mark III at ISO 3200 on screen at 100%. I can make 16x20 prints from those ISO 3200 images that look fabulous.

Forget the noise - get the shots!

Noise can be dealt with by noise reduction software (too many to mention but i will point to this post in another thread - https://photography-on-the.net …php?p=9516659&p​ostcount=2 )

Pixel peeping is a sure way to see noise - 100% viewing should only be for sharpening and nothing else! As JefferyG has suggested, try printing and you will see the noise disappear as if by magic!

I have a 50D and I wouldnt hesitate to go to 1600 or 3200 if the shot warranted it (higher if it was a one off, unrepeatable shot).