Camera is laggy when manually setting ISO?

[bloodfire1004]

Hi all,

Do you also encounter that the Camera Preview is laggy when you manually set your ISO? The lower the ISO number is (50, 100, etc.) the more laggy it becomes. When I set it back to Auto I get it as smooth again.

Anyone experiencing the same thing?

[Archanos · Accepted solution]

This is actually normal. On very low ISO speeds (and yes, 50 is a very, very low one) it takes much power and time (to process the scene and make a visible preview on the screen) if there is almost no light while sensor's sensitivity is forced to be at the edge of it. This effect is more noticeable in darker places, when light conditions are good this lag decreases dramatically.

[bloodfire1004]

Ohhh, got it! I haven't tried low ISO on good light yet, I'll try it out

You really seem to know your stuff, looking forward to see more of your posts in the future. Thanks!

[Archanos]

Thanks too

I know a thing or two, but at least I am trying

[Upgrayedd]

Archanos, the choppy result of low light and low ISO isn't a power and time thing. It's more to do with the shutter speed.

Low ISO means the sensor will be less sensitive to light, but offers a beneficial trade-off of less grainy pictures. In low light and with a less sensitive sensor, the camera only has an option to keep the shutter open longer. This results in more motion blur, or that laggy result the original poster was taking about.

[Archanos]

1. such cameras are to small to have shutters, so there is nothing to "keep open"
2. he asked about the preview, not about the photo
3. avoiding this motion blur on the preview is exactly why it lags
4. I never said low ISO is bad, I said it causes the lag (that's what he asked). Of course it causes less noisy pics but more blur vulnerable due to long exposure time.