ISO in Low Light

Tripods are great because you can decrease your shutter speed to allow more light in while not having to worry about your hand movement blurring your image. But when without a tripod, I always turn to increasing my ISO.

In the past as you increase the ISO, you also increase your chance of digital noise. What I’ve found is that technology with the new digital cameras is very good, and even at 800 ISO I have never found any slight picture editing to ever yield digital noise. I sometimes shoot at 1600 ISO after sunset and still have had no problems when using my Rebel XT.

There are exceptions to this, unfortionately. I recently purchased a Nikon Coolpix S51 to finally have a camera to take to personal events that actually fits in a purse. This camera was marketed by having this new High ISO setting… but everytime I’ve used it, the pictures have been clear, but there is so much noise that i end up deleting every picture: very dissapointing!

Shoot at your own risk, but I say to not be shy if you have a decent camera, and turn that ISO up if it means a clearer picture.