<p>Auto ISO on newer Nikons are amazing. I don't know how it works in other systems, but I won't be surprised if it's quite similar. The old way of shooting in Manual just doesn’t hack it anymore. The only time I don’t use Auto ISO, is when I use a tripod for long exposures.</p>
When handholding a camera, you should decide on the right Aperture and the right Shutter speed for the appropriate shot. In practice, you should always first decide on the Aperture and then decide what’s the lowest Shutter speed you can deal with. With those two settings decided, you have to vary ISO to ensure correct exposure.
Here’s how Auto ISO will work perfectly for virtually every handheld situation:
- Set camera to Aperture priority mode
- Auto ISO settings:
- ISO Sensitivity Settings > Auto ISO<br /> - ISO > Speed to 100<br /> - ISO > Maximum Sensitivity (set to the highest number you can live with)<br /> - ISO > Minimum Shutter Speed to about 1/125 or higher such as 1/1000 if you’re shooting action<br /><br />
A. With the camera settings established, here’s how to shoot IN CHANGEABLE LIGHTING SITUATIONS:
- Decide on an Aperture
- Take test shots and make adjustments using Exposure Compensation
- Happily shoot away, knowing that the Aperture will stay where you set it, the Shutter speed will vary, but never go below your minimum
- When there isn't enough light and your Shutter speed has bottomed out, the camera will automatically adjust the ISO higher
B. When the LIGHTING IS FIXED and you want to keep everything steady:
- Set your Standby timer (c2 in my D750 menu) to 10 minutes - this will retain AE-L for at least 10 minutes<br />- Assign the AE-L/AF-L button (f4 in my D750 menu) to AE Lock (Hold) - when camera times out, exposure lock is lost<br />
- Do exactly as in A above, but once your test shots look good with no blown out details, lock the exposure setting by pressing the AE-L/AF-L button (It will be retained for at least 10 minutes)
- You can make small adjustments by using Exposure compensation
C. When using a tripod and you don’t care how long the exposures are:
- Don’t use Auto ISO
- Set camera to Aperture priority mode
- Decide on an Aperture<br />- Let the camera pick the appropriate Shutter speed
- You can make small adjustments by using Exposure compensation
