Did Nikon fix the "Auto-Iso" issue?

<p>I would love to use the auto iso feature in my Nikon D80 but for some reason Nikon has decided to have it work even in the manual exposure mode, which makes no sense at all to me. It should work only in P.S. & A modes just like a P&S camera. Has Nikon corrected this in the newer models like the D300s & D7000? </p>

<p>Correct me if I am wrong but I believe you have to turn Auto ISO on in order to use it. So if you want to shoot in any mode with it off, you can. Or, if you want to shoot it with any mode with it on, you have to turn it on. Auto ISO in manual mode is my favorite feature of Nikon DSLR cameras. I shoot with it about 98% of the time. It allows the photographer to have FULL creative control over both the shutter speed and aperture and insures a properly exposed picture.</p>

<p>If you don't like it, simply turn it off!</p>

<p>Right. Just turn it off, and it will bother you no more. I can't remember the last time I ever had it turned on, actually.</p>

<p>I like it and would like to leave it on all the time, I just don't want it making changes to my carefully selected combination of shutter speed, aperture, and ISO when using manual mode. It should only work in the auto exposure modes in my opinion. It's not really manual exposure if the camera is tweaking the ISO for every shot or any shot. Constantly turning it on and off is not an option. Ever other manufacturer, as far as I know, got it right, Nikon did not - in my opinion. Even Ken Rockwell agrees with me on this one!</p>

<p>It's a feature, not a bug. Think of it as another variable in the "___ priority" system. Auto ISO in M mode is A- and S- priority with the camera adjusting ISO to get the exposure.</p>

<p>With the D7000's mode dial having user/custom positions, couldn't you set one up to be M with auto ISO off?</p>

<p>What surprised me was that it is even on when a flash is attached! I was shooting indoors with flash and the D700 was selecting ISO 2800, etc. Fortunately the D700 produces stellar results at that ISO so the photos weren't ruined.<br>

I like the Auto ISO feature and use it often. I can set the minimum shutter speed and away I go, shooting indoors and out, letting the ISO vary as needed rather than having to manually change it when I'm indoors to some high value like 1600 or 3200, and then forgetting to change it back when I go outside again, needlessly shooting at ISO 1600 when I could be using ISO 200 for cleaner results.<br>

With the D700 since the output from that camera was so clean I could set the Auto ISO minimum shutter speed to be 1/60 and even set the base ISO at 400. Nice feature when you need to shoot fast in different lighting conditions.</p>

<p>You know, playing around with this feature on my D300 just now, I can actually visualize some situation where auto iso might be useful in manual mode.</p>

<p>There really isn't an issue to "fix" since that is the way that they (Nikon) intended it to work.</p>

<p>I used to use it regularly - but I did a couple of experments and the exposure came out more to my taste shooting on Manual ISO.</p>

<p>Although - I do still check everytime to make sure it is set correctly for what I am shooting - since as pointed out above it will still set ISO even when a flash is used.</p>

<p>Dave</p>

 

<p>The D7000 handles this well IMO. Auto-ISO is off by default. In 'M' mode ISO is only variable via the shooting menu or by holding down the ISO button on the camera's back and turning the command dial. In 'S' and 'P' modes, it's variable via the sub-command dial; in 'A' mode, it's variable via the command dial. In the green 'P&S full-auto' mode, it's always on auto-ISO, but it reverts back to defaults (or user settings) when another mode is selected. If auto-ISO is switched on, it's on in all modes and overrides user settings in M/A/S/P. Auto-ISO allows the user to set a maximum ISO and minimum shutter speed via the menus. I leave it off.</p>

<p>Auto ISO is one of the things that make using the custom function banks worthwhile. I have one (D3/D300) for "Action No Flash" that enables Auto ISO and defaults to A mode; all other banks including "Flash" have Auto ISO set OFF and I can freely change from A to S or M modes.</p>

<p>What I need to do is think of Auto ISO in manual mode as just another auto exposure mode in addition to the usual A,S, & P. One that allows me select and fix both aperture value & shutter speed and limit how high the ISO can go. </p>

<p>I use Auto ISO in manual mode all the time on my D90. It is very useful.</p>

<p>Sanford, newer Nikon DSLRs also have a 'My Menu' feature where you can add your favorite menu items for quick access. I have the Auto ISO option there for quick access.</p>

<p>David, Auto ISO in manual mode is no different metering wise than shooting without it in any of the other modes - the net result will look the same given the same lighting conditions. If the exposure is off to what you expect or need, you can dial in exposure compensation as needed to 'correct' the exposure.</p>

Auto ISO is very useful in manual mode. You can lock down the aperture, charge the threshold shutter speed by just changing the shutter speed on the camera (to allow for a change of lens length or subject movement) and auto ISO sorts out the exposure. Just remember when you step outside again or you will just get an ISO200 shot at whatever your manual settings are at!

<p>I really enjoy AUTO ISO in Manual for many circumstances. It gives me full creative control of the aperture and shutter speed without worrying about over/under exposing in difficult lighting.</p>

<p>When I don't want to use the AUTO ISO feature, I just turn it off. That's the way it's supposed to function...when I want it on I want it on in ALL modes and when I want it off I want it off in ALL modes.</p>

<p>FWIW, KR is just another guy with an opinion...he's no expert, so what should it matter what he thinks? Ask 50 people if they like how Auto ISO works on Nikon and you'll likely get 25 yes and 25 no.</p>

<p>RS</p>

<p>I was just kidding about KR. Half the people here hate him and half love him, but most read him regularly.</p>

<p>imo it is not just Auto Iso that you have to change when you use the camera manually, it is just the tip of the iceberg. I have a Shooting Menu bank and a Custom Settings Menu bank called MANUAL. I have gone through both menus completely and set them up for manual shooting. When I want to shoot in manual I go to these banks.<br /><br />Using this method has one other advantage. I have each bank set to save in a different folder, so when I use my STUDIO banks all the photos save in a unique folder. </p>