When you’re talking about exposure, it’s important to know the sensitivity of your camera. A camera’s sensitivity is measured with an ISO unit. The ISO standard is controlled by a technical group called the International Organization for Standardization and it’s the digital equivalent to film speed from days past.
From camera to camera, the native sensitivity will vary. Newer cameras tend to be more sensitive to light thanks to improvements in camera sensors. This means that you can shoot with less available light or use smaller apertures to control depth of field. But if you set your ISO too high, your shot will look grainy or noisy. Learning how to control ISO is the final step in perfecting the exposure triangle.
This week we cover:
• What is ISO? Learn what ISO is and new ways to think about the concept.
• A DP’s perspective on ISO: Catch up with director of photography Jim Ball and learn how he works with ISO settings to get the shot.
• Adjusting ISO: Learn how to choose the right ISO setting for your camera.
• Evaluating the shots: We’ll evaluate several shots from our music video with Jason Masi, breaking down what worked and what didn’t.
Check out both the sample video above and this week’s complete episode on lynda.com. We’ll help you get the best exposure and set your camera so the shot is clean and sharp.