Understanding Native ISO and why it's important!

Obviously break the rule when you need to, but shooting in your 'Base' or 'Native' ISO will produce the cleanest looking image from your camera.

Shot on the Sony a7iv

[jvstn]

Doesn’t the A7iv have a dual base ISO as well?

Good video, definitely clears up some of my misunderstandings of ISO

[ravielrodriguez]

how do you know your base/native ISO?? my camera is zv-e10 and I don't know my base ISO

[jamiequinlan]

So I’m on a run and gun shoot and base ISO 800 is a little dark. Do I stick with it and increase exposure in post? Because this way I’m not technically exposing correctly in camera am I?

[Kinadnuf]

The A7iv has dual base ISO as well. Helpful video, thanks but background music is way too prominent and anyway, it's YOU we want to listen to.

[jeffdayrit]

Hi, I love your explanation regarding this topic. I just wanna ask if the Native/Base ISO is for shooting Video only? Or is it the same Base ISO when shooting stills?

[artisitchuman]

Am using Sony ZV-E10, in ISO 125 and Shutter Speed 100-160. But when trying to shot a Electronic products, such as Phone or iPad, the lightning effects, if i correct the ISO to get a clear shot of the screen, then the Background will be too Dark, if set it to middle, then the screen is too bright. Can you please recommend the best settings for it. Please.
Thank you,

[mattcero]

Awesome! Short and sweet. I'm trying to find the native ISO(s) for my ZV-E10 but can't. Any ideas sir? Thank you.

[pglazzari]

The a7m3 has a native iso at 800 and 4000. I'm sure the a7m4 has the same. a7m4 is 800 and 3200. Bummer you spent almost $4k on the FX3

[quzzr]

0:40 no, it's not. ISO is a gain value, not a sensitivity

[I_like_science]

Your understanding of ISO is Flawed. Increasing ISO does not make the camera more sensitive to light, it just BOOSTS the sensor signal. Which in turn makes the image “brighter” not by capturing more light but by amplifying the signal captured by the sensor.

Think of it like this in the form of audio.

If you have a mic recording at super low “volume” you can then BOOST the audio signal in post, the byproducts of this process will introduce higher noise and distortion.

In terms of pictures, if you shoot at native iso raw and then use the exposure slider in Lightroom to “boost” the image, there will be NO difference from shooting at a higher ISO.