Camera Glossary

A measure of the image sensor's sensitivity to light. Higher ISO values allow for shooting in darker conditions but can introduce noise.

Detailed Explanation

ISO is a critical setting that determines how sensitive your camera's sensor is to light. The lower the ISO number (e.g., ISO 100), the less sensitive the sensor is, resulting in finer grain and better image quality, but requiring more light. Higher ISO settings (e.g., ISO 3200) make the sensor more sensitive to light, allowing you to shoot in darker conditions, but at the cost of introducing digital noise or grain to your images. Modern cameras handle high ISO much better than older models, but it's still important to find the right balance for your shooting conditions.