ISO Setting in Digital Cameras
What happens when we select a certain ISO value in our digital camera? What is the best ISO setting for our particular camera? Can we change it light-heartedly or does it deserve a more careful consideration? Read on to learn how we can improve our photographs through the right selection of the ISO setting.
Let me give you the bad news, first. Camera manufactures do not disclose strategic and sensitive information such as what happens internally when the user select a certain ISO value. Anyway, through sound reasoning and a little of reverse engineering we can speculate on it and come to meaningful conclusions. In particular, reverse engineering is best performed on RAW file format, rather than JPEG, because JPEG compression introduces artifacts and algorithms complicating the process.
For starters, we need a definition. Image sensors have a so-called native sensitivity. This is the innate or natural sensitivity of the sensor when compared to a standard film. For instance, if the native sensitivity of a certain sensor is 100 ISO, it means that it gives comparable results to a 100 ISO rated film when both are used at the same aperture and shutter speed. Native sensitivity cannot be changed, because it is inherent to a certain sensor. Therefore, when we change the ISO speed setting, something must occur involving the circuitry serving the photosensitive sensor. More specifically, things play out differently according to whether an ISO greater or lower than the native sensitivity is selected. Let us see the two cases separately.
ISO setting > native sensitivity
We must know that the electronic charge created inside the photosensitive array of the image sensor is first sensed and transformed into an analog voltage by an amplifier and then an analog to digital converter (ADC) transforms this voltage into a digital number. The amplifier transforming the electronic charge into an analog voltage has a certain gain, meaning that to a given input corresponds a certain amplified output. Put mathematically:
output = gain * input
The greater the output, the brighter the image. When the photographer opts for an ISO speed greater than the native sensitivity, the gain of this amplifier is increased. That is, the microelectronic circuitry is designed to augment the gain of the amplifier. For instance, if the selected ISO is twice as much as the native sensitivity, the gain doubles. If the gain increases, then the output for a given input will be greater, thus leading up to a brighter photograph. Hence, the chain of events is the following. The photographer realizes that he is going to shoot a very dark scene, so he decides to select a high ISO setting. The photons hitting the sensor and thus leading to electron generation do not change, of course (i.e. the input is the same), but internally electronic charge is magnified by increasing the gain of the amplifier, as if the amplifier sensed a greater number of electrons. All this leads to a brighter image.
Unfortunately, this is not magic. As the signal is increased, leading to a brighter image, the noise is increased as well, leading to a noisier image. That is why we should be careful when increasing the ISO speed in subdued light conditions. Always do that when no other option is available (e.g. a tripod).
In some cases, a fiddling in RAW data may also occur to boost to very high ISO speed.
ISO setting < native sensitivity
If this is the case, then the camera’s circuitry adjusts the image data after the analog to digital converter, directly in the digitized form. For instance, if the selected ISO is half the native sensitivity, brightness values represented by each RGB channel are halved. This leads up to a darker photo.
This has a drawback, too. Indeed, a common ADC has 12 bits per RGB channel. When its numbers are halved, they can be represented by 11 bits (12-1). This means that the dynamic range is reduced and some information lost forever.
Conclusions
As we saw, drawbacks arise using an ISO setting both higher and lower than the native sensitivity. So, it is best to shoot at the sensor’s native ISO whenever possible. That said, unfortunately this is not a technical characteristic cameras’ manufacturers divulge. Consequently, you have two options to know the best ISO setting for your camera. The first one is to sift through the numerous forums on the web or, better yet, experiment by yourself with your specific camera.
by Andrea Ghilardelli
More articles about photography at ilghila.com.
Let me give you the bad news, first. Camera manufactures do not disclose strategic and sensitive information such as what happens internally when the user select a certain ISO value. Anyway, through sound reasoning and a little of reverse engineering we can speculate on it and come to meaningful conclusions. In particular, reverse engineering is best performed on RAW file format, rather than JPEG, because JPEG compression introduces artifacts and algorithms complicating the process.
For starters, we need a definition. Image sensors have a so-called native sensitivity. This is the innate or natural sensitivity of the sensor when compared to a standard film. For instance, if the native sensitivity of a certain sensor is 100 ISO, it means that it gives comparable results to a 100 ISO rated film when both are used at the same aperture and shutter speed. Native sensitivity cannot be changed, because it is inherent to a certain sensor. Therefore, when we change the ISO speed setting, something must occur involving the circuitry serving the photosensitive sensor. More specifically, things play out differently according to whether an ISO greater or lower than the native sensitivity is selected. Let us see the two cases separately.
ISO setting > native sensitivity
We must know that the electronic charge created inside the photosensitive array of the image sensor is first sensed and transformed into an analog voltage by an amplifier and then an analog to digital converter (ADC) transforms this voltage into a digital number. The amplifier transforming the electronic charge into an analog voltage has a certain gain, meaning that to a given input corresponds a certain amplified output. Put mathematically:
output = gain * input
The greater the output, the brighter the image. When the photographer opts for an ISO speed greater than the native sensitivity, the gain of this amplifier is increased. That is, the microelectronic circuitry is designed to augment the gain of the amplifier. For instance, if the selected ISO is twice as much as the native sensitivity, the gain doubles. If the gain increases, then the output for a given input will be greater, thus leading up to a brighter photograph. Hence, the chain of events is the following. The photographer realizes that he is going to shoot a very dark scene, so he decides to select a high ISO setting. The photons hitting the sensor and thus leading to electron generation do not change, of course (i.e. the input is the same), but internally electronic charge is magnified by increasing the gain of the amplifier, as if the amplifier sensed a greater number of electrons. All this leads to a brighter image.
Unfortunately, this is not magic. As the signal is increased, leading to a brighter image, the noise is increased as well, leading to a noisier image. That is why we should be careful when increasing the ISO speed in subdued light conditions. Always do that when no other option is available (e.g. a tripod).
In some cases, a fiddling in RAW data may also occur to boost to very high ISO speed.
ISO setting < native sensitivity
If this is the case, then the camera’s circuitry adjusts the image data after the analog to digital converter, directly in the digitized form. For instance, if the selected ISO is half the native sensitivity, brightness values represented by each RGB channel are halved. This leads up to a darker photo.
This has a drawback, too. Indeed, a common ADC has 12 bits per RGB channel. When its numbers are halved, they can be represented by 11 bits (12-1). This means that the dynamic range is reduced and some information lost forever.
Conclusions
As we saw, drawbacks arise using an ISO setting both higher and lower than the native sensitivity. So, it is best to shoot at the sensor’s native ISO whenever possible. That said, unfortunately this is not a technical characteristic cameras’ manufacturers divulge. Consequently, you have two options to know the best ISO setting for your camera. The first one is to sift through the numerous forums on the web or, better yet, experiment by yourself with your specific camera.
by Andrea Ghilardelli
More articles about photography at ilghila.com.
posted by ilghila at
7:02 AM
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