Jump to content

Auto iso coming.


hansmezger

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 393
  • Created
  • Last Reply
  • 3 weeks later...
Guest Gilgamesh

I still don't get any of this.

 

Why do you need an Auto ISO?

I am left scratching my head over this, 100%

 

The last post said he / she was excited. About an Auto function? I'm horrified.

 

You select the ISO yourself, as you do the aperture ring and the shutter speed button. At times the A on the shutter speed dial has its uses. I can never, ever, EVER see any need for an Auto ISO facility, not now, not ever. How complicated can using an M camera be?

 

Genuinely, this is a vast waste of Leica's time & resources.

 

Please, explain to me why having an Auto ISO facility would be of any use at all? It completely undermines the whole manual photography / Leica M process. You are in control with a Leica M.

 

If you want Auto anything, surely buy something like the Sony? Then you won't feel so out of your depth with the M system, which is my conclusion thus far if you mistakenly believe that an Auto ISO function will salvage what little dignity and ability to manage an M camera remains.

 

That is what an Auto ISO seems to be pointing to, a lack of ability to manage an M camera. God forbid you were ever asked to shoot film! Now that would be an education (for the Auto ISO crowd).

 

Please, if you are reading this and mistakenly think an Auto ISO facility is in any way relevant or beneficial, can I recommend to you the Sony (other compact / cameras are available) route or better still, actually learn how to use a fully manual camera?

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)



(An Auto ISO facility) completely undermines the whole manual photography / Leica M process. You are in control with a Leica M.


You presume that all people have to share your romantic notion of photography. You presume wrongly. Every user of the camera is entirely within his right to use the functions of the camera as he or she pleases. Please stop proselyting.
Link to post
Share on other sites

Please, explain to me why having an Auto ISO facility would be of any use at all?

 

I'm surprised you can't imagine why Auto ISO would be useful for other people even if you don't want it. But I'll try to explain it to you, although you do seem to have very set ideas.

 

Auto Exposure (probably something else you don't like) varies the exposure by varying the shutter speed, but it is used by many people when the light is changing and the action is fast and furious. However, if a high shutter speed is needed to freeze the action, and a reasonable aperture is needed as well, then Auto Exposure doesn't always work as hoped, it is possible for the speed to drop too far. So to combat this you set the shutter manually, and of course the aperture you want, and allow the ISO to change the 'sensitivity' (gain) of the sensor, in effect another form of Auto Exposure by the back door. For cameras with a narrow usable ISO range, like say the M9, it can be used to fine tune the exposure (but some regard has to be kept for the general exposure speeds/aperture), or for a camera like the MM with a very wide usable range Auto ISO can be left to make big changes over a wide range of lighting conditions. Ideally you could combine Auto ISO with full Auto Exposure and set limits on upper and lower shutter speeds and minimum and maximum aperture, but Leica aren't there yet.

 

So it is ideal as an option for journalists, concert photography, changing from indoor to outdoor quickly, or indeed any situation where the image is of vital importance and the relentless quest to pixel peep is less important. Some cameras can implement auto ISO better than others, because they have a wider usable ISO range. But simply having it forces the manufacturer to think harder about the usable ISO range and how it can be improved. So even if you don't use it yourself it is aspirational in terms of improving the next model in the pipeline.

 

 

Steve

Link to post
Share on other sites

I did not use the Auto-ISO function on the M9 for the first year and a half that I had the camera. I thought it was a stupid idea and waste of time, but much less passionately so than our friend above. After all the function is buried in the menus and if I didn't want it I just didn't use it. I now do use from time to time in conditions of rapidly changing low light where I do not want to go below a minimum shutter speed.

 

To go back to basics: there are three variables for exposure: aperture, shutter speed and sensor/film sensitivity (ISO). The first two can be instantly adjusted with the camera at the eye, shutter speed even faster when set to Auto. There are times when being able to automatically adjust ISO in response to aperture and minimum shutter speed is useful - such as low varying light conditions primarily where one does not want to go below a minimum shutter speed.

 

It's just about increasing the versatility of the camera.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I still don't get any of this.

Why do you need an Auto ISO?...

We have it already. Those who like auto iso can concentrate better on composition, others can use the cam manually so everybody is happy, or should be so, except those who want a mix of manual and auto for whatever reason.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I still don't get any of this.

 

I can never, ever, EVER see any need for an Auto ISO facility, not now, not ever. How complicated can using an M camera be?

 

 

 

Perhaps as you learn more about how a camera and the exposure triangle works and you gain more experience in shooting under changing conditions you will be able to "imagine" how auto ISO could be used.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Link to post
Share on other sites

I have a saying that I regularly use with my patients when they ask me about the possible outcome of their disease and treatment:

 

"Never say never and never say always, or one will live to regret it."

 

I think that saying applies in much of life (except of course for death and taxes ;))

Link to post
Share on other sites

You are in control with a Leica M.

 

This is the bit which actually puzzles me.

 

Let's assume - for argument's sake - that you are less in control when using Auto ISO and - as you mentioned in the same post - auto exposure.

 

Why don't you protest against the built-in exposure meter of the M, the MP and even the M6? Clearly, the built-in exposure meter can be relied on to produce reasonable results in a rather narrow range of circumstances if at all.

 

How can you claim to be in control when you do not control the exposure and the development of each singular frame, as taught by Ansel Adams?

 

In fact, what do you understand by "being in control" with respect to shooting with any Leica M and particularly with an electronic one?

Link to post
Share on other sites

I suspect there is always animated discussion when a camera maker removes functionality from its newest model. Imagine the discussion if the M-240 was released as an M-140, or had max ISO limited to 800.

 

I find the Auto-ISO implementation in the M8/M9/Monochrom to be optimal. Auto when you want it, Manual when you don't, and (when in manually selected ISO) the ISO Menu always shows you what ISO is being used.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest Gilgamesh

This whole "not knowing how to use a M camera on manual & needing Auto ISO" had my thinking.

 

Auto ISO would of course rob you of the possibility of images such as these from telewatt's images: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/members/11492-albums3654.html.

This is but one example.

 

The point being that you, as the photographer, YOU need to be in control. At all times.Then you buy a Leica M camera, regardless of vintage. If you don't know how to use ISO alongside apertures and shutter speeds may I suggest you look into buying a Sony perhaps? It's a decent starting point.

 

As I tell my clients… actually I don't, my work informs my client base, if I had to even consider explaining why, how & such like we'd be all manner of mire.

Link to post
Share on other sites

This whole "not knowing how to use a M camera on manual & needing Auto ISO" had my thinking.

 

Auto ISO would of course rob you of the possibility of images such as these from telewatt's images: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/members/11492-albums3654.html.

This is but one example.

 

The point being that you, as the photographer, YOU need to be in control. At all times.Then you buy a Leica M camera, regardless of vintage. If you don't know how to use ISO alongside apertures and shutter speeds may I suggest you look into buying a Sony perhaps? It's a decent starting point.

 

As I tell my clients… actually I don't, my work informs my client base, if I had to even consider explaining why, how & such like we'd be all manner of mire.

One could write a long response to your attack but it would of course be useless and a waste of time. All I will say is that we all have different needs and work in different ways

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...