ISO USA - Photography Terms & Glossary

Glossary Of Photography Terms [1]

ISO ISO, which stands for International Organization for Standardization, is a numerical scale used to measure the sensitivity of a digital camera sensor or photographic film to light. In digital photography, ISO refers to the sensor's sensitivity to light, with higher ISO values indicating greater sensitivity and lower ISO values indicating lower sensitivity. Increasing the ISO setting allows photographers to capture images in low-light conditions or achieve faster shutter speeds without compromising exposure.

However, higher ISO settings also increase the level of digital noise and graininess in the image, reducing overall image quality. The ISO scale typically ranges from ISO 100 or 200 (low sensitivity) to ISO 1600, 3200, or higher (high sensitivity), with modern digital cameras offering extended ISO ranges for capturing images in extremely low-light situations. Photographers adjust the ISO setting based on lighting conditions, desired shutter speed, and acceptable levels of noise to achieve optimal exposure and image quality in their photographs.