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Writer's pictureCeyda Demir

A Beginner’s Guide to ISO in Photography for Shooting Phones

A Beginner’s Guide to ISO in Photography for Shooting Phones

ISO sounds complicated, right? If you're new to shooting phones or photography in general, all those terms like "ISO" might feel like a foreign language. But trust me, once you get the hang of it, ISO becomes your best friend in capturing stunning photos, especially in different lighting situations with your phone.


So, why does understanding ISO matter? Whether you're using a DSLR or just your shooting phone, knowing how to adjust ISO will give you more control over the brightness of your photos and help you avoid unwanted noise (those grainy patches that ruin your perfect shot!). In this blog, we'll dive into what ISO really is, how it works, and how you can adjust it like a pro—even on your phone.


Ready to take your shooting phone skills to the next level? Let’s get started!


What is ISO and How is it Measured?

ISO, in its simplest form, refers to your camera’s sensitivity to light. A low ISO (for example, 100) means your camera is less sensitive to light and is usually used in well-lit environments. A high ISO (for example, 1600 or higher) makes your camera more sensitive to light, which is useful when shooting phones in low light. However, high ISO can create an unwanted grainy appearance in your photos, which we call “noise.”

What is ISO and How is it Measured?

ISO is an international standard, and all cameras—including those on shooting phones—use the ISO scale. It is usually expressed in increasing numbers such as ISO 100, ISO 200, ISO 400. You can take a brighter photo by using a higher ISO value in low light, but this increase can affect the quality of the photo. So using the right ISO setting is key to taking quality photos!


Understanding ISO will help you capture clear, bright images, especially in low-light environments. The good news is that you can conveniently change ISO settings on both your DSLR cameras and the pro mode of your shooting phone!


Which Setting Should I Use?

When choosing the ISO setting, you should decide according to the amount of light in your environment. This helps you capture the most accurate light sensitivity when using your shooting phone. So, in which situations should you use which ISO setting?


  • Bright Environments: When taking photos on a sunny day or in a well-lit studio, a low ISO setting (ISO 100-200) usually gives the best results. Low ISO allows you to capture sharp details in your photos and get clean, noise-free images on your shooting phone.


  • Low Light and Night Shots: If you are shooting indoors, in the evening, or in a dark environment, you may need to increase the ISO (ISO 800-1600 or higher). These settings will help you capture more light and prevent the images from coming out dark. However, be careful; high ISO can reduce image quality and create unwanted "noise" (grain) in your photos.

Low Light and Night Shots
  • Action Shots: You may also need to increase the ISO when shooting fast-moving objects or action-packed scenes. In this case, you need a faster shutter speed and can increase the ISO to compensate. But again, it’s important to be careful about noise.


These settings can vary depending on the environment and the effect you want to create. Shooting phones with pro mode give you manual control, so you can adjust the ISO for the perfect balance.


ISO and Noise: How to Adjust and What to Adjust for Shooting Phones

One of the most important issues when adjusting the ISO setting is the noise (or grain) that appears in your photos. Using high ISO can make this noise more noticeable, especially when taking photos with your shooting phone in low light. But don't worry, there are ways to prevent this problem!


First of all, what is noise? We can say that it is a distortion that occurs as a result of random color and brightness changes in the pixels of your photo. It usually causes details to be lost and the image to look blurry. In other words, it can affect the sharpness of your photo. So what should you do in this case?

ISO and Noise: How to Adjust and What to Adjust for Shooting Phones

If there is enough light, you can eliminate this problem by using low ISO. For example, in daylight, setting the ISO to 100 or 200 on your shooting phone usually gives the cleanest results. These settings make your photos look clear and bright while creating almost no noise.


However, in low-light environments or when capturing fast-moving scenes, high ISO may be inevitable. In this case, you’ll get a brighter image, but the risk of noise increases. What should you do? This is where you need to find the balance. If you can use a tripod, you can take a long exposure without increasing the ISO too much. Or, you can use the manual settings in your shooting phone’s pro mode to carefully increase the ISO according to the lighting conditions and control noise.


Some shooting phones offer low-light modes supported by artificial intelligence. These modes automatically reduce noise and give you cleaner photos. You can activate these features by using your phone’s pro mode.


In conclusion, high ISO does not always cause noise, but it’s important to use it carefully. When increasing the ISO to make your photo brighter, keep the noise level in mind.


Conclusion

Understanding and using ISO settings correctly is a key way to make a difference in your photography with shooting phones. Whether you’re shooting crisp, clear shots in daylight or trying to capture detail in low light, knowing the impact of ISO makes your job a lot easier. Remember, it’s possible to get great results in any light condition, you just need to balance settings like ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. Don’t forget to practice with your shooting phone’s pro mode and master noise control!


If you’re looking for more tips, tricks, or accessories for your photography journey, visit the Phoneq website and discover products that can enhance your content creation with shooting phones. Also, don’t forget to check out our exciting new projects on Kickstarter!

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