ISO invariance

What is ISO, Dual ISO, ISO invariance and where does all the noise come from?

May 11, 2023 by John Aldred Add Comment

ISO used to be fairly simple. In the film days, it was called ASA and was a measure of the sensitivity of that film to light. As we transitioned to digital and the years progressed, things have gotten a little more complex. In this video, the Syrp Lab team looks at ISO in the modern day. They take a look at features like Dual native ISO as well as discuss the issues around digital noise.

The video focuses on how ISO relates to video, as many modern ISO features are specifically designed for getting the best possible quality in your footage. But much of the information is still valid for photographers shooting still images, whether they be jpg or raw.

What is ISO invariance and why is it such a big deal?

Aug 31, 2021 by John Aldred 2 Comments

ISO invariance is a topic that wasn’t really something that most people considered until recently. At least, not unless you were into certain speciality fields like astrophotography. But what exactly is ISO invariance? Well, the over-simplified answer is that your images look the same regardless of whether you boost the ISO in-camera or in your exposure in post.

In reality, it’s a little bit more complex than that, and the implications of whether or not your camera is ISO invariant can have a big impact on how you shoot and what settings you choose to shoot at. But this deep dive from astrophotographer Alyn Wallace goes into great detail on exactly what ISO invariance is and how it can impact your photography.

Dave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.

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