How about ultra low ISO

We're all familiar with ISO and for most of us the general rule is (for image quality) we like to keep the ISO down as much as we can till we're forced to increase it either because the lens we're using wont go wide enough aperture wise or we want to use shutter speeds too fast for the available light.

I was thinking about the recent DSLR models which allow very high ISO and perform pretty well - but what if you want to slow things down and require ISO performance in the other direction ?

If I want to capture a little movement with a slow shutter speed with wide aperture for shallow depth of focus on a bright day - I have to start using ND filters or if taking it to the extreme - welding glass.

Is it not possible to push the limits of 'low' ISO like they're doing with 'high' ISO and make the sensor less sensitive - rather than more sensitive to light ?

...perhaps it's a case a case of why bother when folk can add filters ?

TBH it's not something I have ever thought about

So you mean, cameras that are marketed at people who normally use filters,so the sensor would be less reactive to light?

Like I said, it's not something I've thought about before Now, going to go and think about it

Back in the days of good old film, the lower the asa / iso the finer the grain in the resultant image. Perhaps camera manufacturers should look at lower iso chips that can give less noise rather than this constant race for higher & higher iso and the consequent noise.

Steve

I like your idea Phil.
I have just had a week of slow shutter speed experiments and as I don't have any filters I had to wait until dusk to try anything and even then I was getting lots of overexposed images.
If I could have dialled my ISO down below 100 I might have had more luck.

I know the 5D i have goes down to ISO 50.

Is that the mark I or II?

mk II it is a very shiny camera have been playing about with the video on it recently... not with many good results... but that is my lack of ability rather than the camera LOL

oooh very nice!