Dual ISO has become something of a standard for many camera manufacturers these days. Many camera manufacturers implement dual ISO to their mirrorless cameras. Nikon, Sony, Canon, Panasonic, Blackmagic, they all do it.
But what exactly is Dual ISO? What is it? How does it work? How can you take advantage of it? Well, with the recent release of the NIkon Z6 III ($2,496.95), YouTube channel testcams posted a video that explains exactly what it is and how it works.
What is Dual ISO?
Dual ISO can get very complicated very quickly. And if you start reading spec sheets and white papers, it can just make things feel even more complicated. And while the technology itself might involve some complex circuitry, the principles are pretty simple.
In the video, our host uses weighing scales as analogous to dual ISO. This might sound strange out of context, but it’s probably the best way I’ve seen it explained in a way that anyone can understand. Even somebody who’s never even picked up a camera before.
Essentially dual ISO is like using two different weighing scales. You’ve got bathroom scales (can handle a lot of weight, but they’re not very precise) and you’ve got kitchen scales (very precise, but can’t handle a lot of weight).
Your two native ISOs are working similarly to the scales. The lower ISO is for when you’ve got a lot of light to capture. The higher ISO is for when you don’t have a lot of light. Each is optimised for those specific purposes and each will offer better results in different conditions.
Is Dual ISO really that big of a deal?
The sample photographs shown in the video of the same scene at different ISO ranges show that it definitely makes a difference. While cameras are now more ISO invariant than they used to be, and bumping the ISO up in post isn’t really any different to bumping it up when you hit the shutter, your higher ISO range will produce cleaner results for those higher ISO photos and video.
In the video, we’re shown how to find our camera’s two native ISOs and how to most effectively use them. Each scenario is different and you might find that one range doesn’t satisfy all your needs. But you do need to know when you need to switch.
Whether you have a dual ISO camera or not, this is a fantastic watch. The more you know, the better buying decisions you can make. And once you’ve got your camera, you’ll be able to use it more effectively.
Be sure to also check out this video about ISO from the folks at Syrp Lab as well as this one from Filmmaker IQ.
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