- Shooting manually can help you avoid noise.camera dial image by Tanya McConnell from Fotolia.com
On most basic "point-and-shoot" cameras, the ISO is set automatically. Advanced "point and shoot" cameras, bridge cameras, and digital single-lens reflexes (dSLR) allow the user to shoot in auto mode or to manually control the ISO, depending on the shooting conditions. In some cases shooting in manual mode can eliminate ISO noise. - Shooting with a low ISO results in a sharper image.eagle,bald eagle,beak,natural,attitude,tampa,flori image by Earl Robbins from Fotolia.com
To obtain professional quality images, shooting with the lowest possible ISO is preferable. According to photographer Scott Kelby, ISO 100 is ideal because "it offers the lowest amount of noise (grain) and gives us the sharpest, cleanest images possible." However, it isn't always viable to use a low ISO. - In darker settings, a camera needs more light to grab an accurate exposure.Nighttime Studies image by jumedero from Fotolia.com
In low-light conditions, a camera still needs enough light to properly illuminate an image. Without employing a flash, more light may be obtained in three ways--by using a larger aperture or lens opening, a slower shutter speed, or a higher ISO. Remember, however, that a higher ISO can result in noise. - Sometimes a photographer's only choice is to shoot using a high ISO.glass of dark blue2 image by Robert Calvillo from Fotolia.com
To avoid ISO noise, large lens apertures (for example, f1.2, f1.4, f1.8 or f2) are ideal for shooting under low-light conditions; however, lenses with large apertures are often prohibitively expensive. A slower shutter speed may be selected, but unless a tripod is used, a shutter speed no slower than 1/60 of a second is desirable. With image stabilization (a mechanism built into the camera or lens which counteracts camera shake), a slightly slower shutter speed may work. A high ISO is sometimes a photographer's only choice. - Software can be used to help correct noise.computer image by Orlando Florin Rosu from Fotolia.com
If a photographer shoots with a high ISO and the resulting photos display evident noise, the grain can be corrected--to a point--using digital software. - Single-lens reflex cameras produce less noise.digital camera age image by Steve Brase from Fotolia.com
Digicamhelp.com notes, "Digital single lens reflex cameras produce images with the lowest noise at all ISO numbers compared to compact cameras." With each new generation of digital cameras, technology has advanced to the point where photographers can shoot with an ISO up to 1600 (or possibly more) with little or no visible noise, but this is also dependent on the quality of the camera (and the price).
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