Secrets of Hi and Lo

[damon_macleod]

<p >I recently purchased a D90, though alas I’m still waiting for it to come in the mail. Anyway, I was reading up on the Nikon site, and the D90 ISO catch phrase is “Rich color and low noise from ISO 200 to 3200.” Reading a little further, Nikon tells you that there is also a Hi mode (ISO 6400) and a Lo mode (ISO 100.)</p>

<p > </p>

<p >Now maybe it’s just the nitpicky analytic philosopher in me…but can I assume that I <em>shouldn’t</em> expect rich color and low noise in the Hi and Lo modes? This would make sense for ISO 6400, but why would there be any distortion at ISO 100? Perhaps Nikon thought that the Hi mode would be lonely without a Lo mode, so they added one in for kicks, when really the optimum ISO range is 100 to 3200?</p>

<p > </p>

<p >Thoughts?</p>

[Peter_in_PA]

<p>the high mode pushes the sensor further than Nikon probably feels most people find use-able. The low setting tricks the sensor into being half as sensitive. In short, ISO 100 doesn't look as good as ISO 200 so there is little reason to ever use it. If you need longer shutter speeds and can't stop the lens down further, a ND filter will work better.</p>

[carl_becker2]

<p>I will do exactly as Peter describes the next time I want to show motion. I use a D700 with the same specs. Sometimes I wish I had a digital body that went down to ISO 25 but a filter will work just as well and ISO 1600 comes in handy often.</p>

[hans_janssen]

<p>The 'normal' isoos are created in the analogue part of the camera by amplication of the sensor output. The Hi and Lo values are made in the digital part(expeed) by processing, I assume, the 3200 ios signal and 200 iso signals from the sensor + amp.</p>

[hans_janssen]

<p>pressed twice on submit button</p>