ISO Explained Simply
ISO refers to your camera sensor’s light sensitivity. A low ISO (such as ISO 100) produces clean, sharp images and is ideal for bright conditions. A high ISO (such as ISO 3200 or higher) makes the sensor more sensitive to light, allowing you to shoot in low-light situations, but it also introduces image noise.
How ISO Affects Image Quality
As ISO increases, image brightness increases, but so does digital noise, which appears as grain or color speckles. Lower ISO values preserve detail, color accuracy, and dynamic range, while higher ISO values trade image quality for light capture.
When to Use High or Low ISO
Use low ISO for daylight, landscapes, and studio photography. Increase ISO only when you cannot use a slower shutter speed or wider aperture, such as during night photography, events, or indoor shooting. The goal is always to keep ISO as low as possible while achieving proper exposure.
