Reacting Faster To Light: Sensitivity (Iso Equivalency); Sensitivity (Iso Equivalency) - Nikon CoolPix 885 User Manual

Reacting Faster to Light:

Sensitivity (ISO Equivalency)

"Sensitivity" is a measure of how quickly your camera reacts to light.
The higher the sensitivity, the less light needed to make an exposure,
allowing the same exposure to be achieved with faster shutter speeds
or smaller apertures. In a film camera, sensitivity is a characteristic of
the film, not the camera. The ISO ratings you see on packages of film
are a measure of their sensitivity—the higher the ISO rating, the more
sensitive the film. Higher sensitivity is achieved by altering the chemical
composition of the film, causing a random pattern called "grain", to
appear in the final picture. In a digital camera, increased sensitivity has
a similar effect: higher sensitivities allow higher shutter speeds, at the
expense of mottling, or "noise" (the digital equivalent of film "grain")
appearing in the final image.
Adjusting Sensitivity
In AUTO mode, the camera sets sensitivity automatically in response to
lighting conditions. When the mode dial is set to CSM, you can choose
a fixed value for sensitivity from four possible settings. Sensitivity is set
by pressing the zoom button while holding down the
1 Press T for increased sensitivity, W for decreased sensitivity; At
setting of 400, press T to select setting of AUTO
+
2 Sensitivity displayed in monitor
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The following settings are available
Setting
AUTO
(default)
100
200
400
Sensitivity can also be set using the "ISO" item in the CSM shooting menus
(p. 147).
• A slight amount of mottling (noise) may appear in pictures taken at settings
other than 100.
• Changes to sensitivity have no effect in AUTO or SCENE operating modes.
button.
Description
Equivalent to setting of 100 under normal conditions; when
lighting is poor, however, camera automatically raises sensitivity
to compensate. ISO icon appears in monitor only when sensitivity
raised above 100.
Approximately equivalent to ISO rating of 100.
Approximately equivalent to ISO rating of 200.
Approximately equivalent to ISO rating of 400.
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