Is Auto-ISO still on the todo list?

[Joachim Buambeki]

Hi,

is Auto-ISO still on the list of future features of ML?

Here is my idea how it could work:

It is pretty simple actually (probably not that easy is to implement though...).
The idea is to always get the lowest possible ISO while having shutter speeds that ensure that your image is sharp when shooting handheld.

Example:
I am shooting in a theater with changing lighting conditions in AV mode at f/2.8 Its bright I and my metering gives me 1/160 sec @ ISO 800 which is perfect for a sharp image. Then the light changes and I get a metering of 1/20s which is too slow for a sharp image. I have to bump the ISO which is pretty annoying if you have to do it all the time. Of course you could just keep your ISO always at 3200 but that won't get you the best possible image quality in terms of noise.


The Auto ISO mode I have in mind would work like that:
1. define max ISO (never exceed ISO 3200 for example) even if that means disobeying the 1/(focal length in mm) rule
1.1 additionally defining a min ISO (like 200) to get less motion blur if the lighting conditions allow it is a good idea.
2. get correct focal length from the lens ID (important to get the current focal length for zoom lenses!)
2.1 if the former is not possible or you are using a manual lens, have an option to set the focal length by hand
3. Have a multiplier (+ and - in stops) that can be selected by the user for the 1/(focal length in mm[*1.6 for crop cameras]) rule because the lens has an IS or you're a bit shaky and can't handhold those shots properly.

The the ML firmware then meters the shot and chooses the ISO as low as possible to still get 1/(focal length in mm)*IS multiplier(or divider if you're shaky).

You don't have to detect if the lens has an IS in the ML firmware, just set the divider to the value you think is right and you're good.


AFAIK the 1D series has that feature build in (except for the multiplier for the IS).

Thanks for listening.

[a1ex]

Not for next big update.