What is your preferred ISO setting for the MMonochrom

[Roel]

With the Monochrome we have the opportunity to use high iso with a grain like character. The lower iso's show very little grain. I have not decided yet what Iso setting I like best. For me the image should not be to clean and i like grain.

Would appreciate it if other MM owners could join in and tell what Iso setting they prefer and why. Maybe added with a photo sample?

 

[Richard G]

ISO 320. Base ISO is usually best with a digital camera. I am not looking for a film look. If, rarely, I want grain for the mood, I'll add it in Lightroom. In daylight on the street 1600 is great giving me a fast shutter speed and flexible depth of field. I rarely choose to or need to go above 3200 ISO.

 

[Peter David Grant]

I tend to use what ever ISO for the conditions, and mostly let it be the remainder in the exposure calculation.

These are my numbers for 16000 exposures, from Lightroom:

The spikes at 320/640/1250/2500/5000/10000, are because I tend to only move up and down through those steps - any finer control isn't worth it.

My view: shoot to the scene available, rather than some pre-decided 'best' ISO for aesthetic.

Some examples:

ISO 640

ISO 2500

ISO 5000

So to answer: I prefer any ISO that gets me the image I want.

Hope this helps,
Peter

 

[Calzone]

I seldom shoot above 1250 ISO, and I like shooting utilizing "Auto ISO" to try and keep my shutter speed above 125th of a second. Basically the camera automatically tries to keep the shutter speed above 125 untill it maxes out at 1250, then the shutter speed starst dropping if more light is needed.

I find I get a light grain effect at 650 and 800 that is kinda pretty. 320 ISO is kinda smooth like Acros at box speed, but at 650 and 800 I see a little grain almost like Tri-X.

I don't like digital noise and artifact, so for me I'd rather struggle with slow shutter speed. Above 1250 I see too much noise and digital artifact for me. My intent is to try and print as big as I can, and I also don't want to rescue images in post processing.

BTW I'm the same way with film, meaning I don't shoot above 1250 ISO. Just because you have the capability to go high ISO does not mean you have to utilize it.

Cal

 

[airfrogusmc]

I shoot a lot at 1600 and 3200 ISO.

 

[Pioneer]

I shoot at 400 most of the time. That is my most common film setting so I feel most comfortable at that point. If things get too dark for 400 then I usually jump right to 3200. I have gone higher than that but mostly just playing around.

 

[john neal]

Normally around 320, but I do use auto sometimes when faced with available darkness, with the max set at 1600 to try to avoid too much digital noise

 

[airfrogusmc]

Here is a photo I took at 3200 ISO right after I got my MM a couple if years ago of my wife's aunt.

At 100%

I shoot on the streets a lot at 1600 and 3200. I love the fact I can have really fast shutter speeds and a large DoF. 1/750 at f/11 is heaven on the street.
Don't fear high ISO with this camera.

A test shot I did at 10,000

I don't shoot at 10,000 often but I'm not afraid to if needed.
I don't shoot in any auto modes. I didn't like the results I got when I tried auto ISO. Exposures were to inconsistent.

I would guess 75% of what is in this thread was shot between 800 and 3200.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=127307

 

[MCTuomey]

with the MM i don't think about iso. i just keep my shutter speeds up at whatever aperture i need.

 

[Roel]

Thnx Guys

For street I started to use Auto Iso with my prefered settings. Sometimes it selects 5000 iso which is ok but I find myself wishing it was a bit lower Iso. Also i dislike the fact that it makes me lazy and let the camera think for me.

I think i prefer to work at selected iso. Probably somewhere between 2000 and 3200.

 

[airfrogusmc]

So shoot manually.

 

[dof]

I've had the Monochrom for 7 months now and most of my photos have been shot at either ISO 320 or 2500. I tend to set the camera to 320 when I get up in the morning and crank it up to 2500 when leaving work in the evenings. I've found it's been good to understand how the sensor behaves at just two settings over time.

On an exaggerated scale, I think of them as my Plus-X and Tri-X. Laugh if you must, but it works for me!

 

[Turtle]

I have no preference. I shoot without real concern for ISO up to about 1600, then note that there will be a little noise and reduced dynamic range (and flexibility in post) up to about 4000. I've shot little beyond that, but 10,000 is noisy. It can be made to work, depending on your creative intent.

 

[rodt16s]

Thnx Guys

For street I started to use Auto Iso with my prefered settings. Sometimes it selects 5000 iso which is ok but I find myself wishing it was a bit lower Iso. Also i dislike the fact that it makes me lazy and let the camera think for me.

I think i prefer to work at selected iso. Probably somewhere between 2000 and 3200.

I usually shoot manual but when I do switch to auto ISO I often adjust the upper limit for the situation... typically 1600 but sometimes much more

 

[Daniel Teoli Jr.]

Under 3200 for me.