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What ISO is? Simply explained

  • Oct 06, 2025
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The term ISO is brought in photography, often with the theme of exposure in context. What is behind this word, and what relevance has the ISO, we will explain in this practical tip.

What ISO is - simply explained

In photography, the image quality is in addition to the exposure time and the aperture by the respective ISO-value dependent. We explain to them, indicating the ISO-number and how you set your camera correctly.
  • In General, the term "ISO" stands for International Standard organization and is the typical designation for the light sensitivity of the sensor of your camera.
  • Depending on the lighting situation, the light sensitivity of the camera sensor must be set individually. The lower the light conditions for a photo are, the larger the light needs to be sensitivity and, thus, the ISO-value. Comparable to the sensitivity of the sensor to light is, therefore, with a human eye. When the light is turned off in the evening, then the eyes need a certain amount of acclimatization period, the light conditions and to detect something. In the case of the camera, the adaptation to the light environment via the ISO is set to number.
  • Thus, suitable on Sunny and cloud-free days with plenty of light, ISO values of 100 or 200, because the light sensitivity in this area is relatively low. Good light conditions - small ISO-value
  • Slowly set the dawn and the light conditions are poor, then the aperture must be opened more and it will be for wobble-free pictures with a longer exposure time at low ISO a tripod is needed. Alternatively, the ISO-value, and thus the sensitivity of the sensor in terms of light to gently increase. On cloudy days or in the interior with less light ISO values of 400 to 800. In this way, also in rooms with a flash ban on easily images can be shot.
  • You, that with increasing ISO-value of the degree of sharpness and the image quality is sometimes greatly decrease and image Details, the noise may be lost note. In the case of SLR cameras with larger camera sensors, the image noise in slow at ISO Numbers of 1600.
  • Tip: Try therefore, whenever possible, for the motif you want to use a low ISO value to achieve the maximum image quality. Try, if necessary, various settings. Basically, the ISO, the following applies: the smaller The value the higher the image quality. Sufficient exposure is, therefore, a high ISO-value is always preferable.
ISO explained easy
In addition to the ISO-value is also brought up often in photography, the term Exif in connection. In the next article, we will show you what Exif actually is.

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