[10D] What's your preferred ISO setting?

[Anders Östberg]

Seems like I've lately kept my 10D at ISO 400 unless there's some specific need to go higher. I only use 100 for controlled situations like macro photo. I realize this would probably be different if I lived in a sunnier place like California :) I feel ISO 100 to 400 is mostly about choosing a value that lets you dial in a good aperture and shutter time, not so much a choice of picture quality. What's your take on ISO, do you feel the noise at 400 is OK for it to be used as the default setting?

-Anders

[lecter]

I use ISO to get the shutter speed and aperature I am looking for..

where possible...

If absolute clarity and noise free is what I am after, better use a flash or not take the picture at all on a lot of occassions . .

[OlgaJ]

Indoors I use 400 or more. Outdoors it depends on whether I'm shooting stills or action. With stills I use 100 in full sun, with action or movement I use 200 or more depending on the shutter I need.

Due to the shakiness of my hands, I prefer to have noise in my shots rather than camera shake. I can fix the noise but can't do much with blurred pictures.

That said, I ended up taking pictures indoors at a wedding and forgot to think about proper use of ISO. I was very lucky to get some slow shutter shots without too much camera shake, thanks to the 17-40 lens that I was using.

One of these days I will remember to check all my settings when I have to remember it. :-)

Olga

[Steve Mitchell]

I also use shutter speed as a driver. The ISO is generally the used only to accomadate the shutter and aperture desired.

[sjhugoose]

My philosophy is as low as possible to get the shot! If I can shoot 100 great otherwise I bump it up.

In practise I find I hardly ever use 200, simply because I cannot tell the difference between 200 and 400 and do not waste the time ensuring it is enough extra speed.

Scott