• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Howcast

Howcast

The best source for fun, free, and useful how-to videos and guides.

  • Arts & Crafts
  • Entertainment
  • Food & Drink
  • Health
  • Home & Garden
  • Relationships
  • Explore Guides
  • Contact
  • About
  • FAQs
  • Explore Guides
  • Arts & Crafts
  • Entertainment
  • Food & Drink
  • Health & Wellness
  • Love & Relationships
  • Home & Garden
Arts & CraftsPhotography Tips & Techniques

How to Choose Your Virtual Film Speed

Instructions

  • Step 1: Analyze scene Analyze the scene, noting the amount of light present and the subject matter you will be shooting. You will be choosing an ISO based on these shooting conditions.
  • TIP: The term ‘ISO’ refers to how sensitive the image sensor is to the amount of light present.
  • Step 2: Medium-lit interiors For medium-lit interiors, select an ISO between 200 and 400.
  • Step 3: Brightly lit interiors For brightly lit interiors, use an ISO between 100 and 200.
  • Step 4: Outside on bright days When outside on bright days, choose an ISO between 50 and 100.
  • Step 5: Exterior shots on cloudy days For exterior shots on cloudy days, select an ISO between 100 and 200.
  • TIP: The lower the film speed, the better the image quality and the less noise, or digital grain, will be visible within your images. Choose the lowest possible ISO you can use without sacrificing clarity.
  • Step 6: Fast action Fast action warrants a fast film speed of between 400 and 800.
  • Step 7: Still-lifes & portraits For still-lifes and portraits, a low ISO of between 50 and 100 is recommended.
  • Step 8: Low lighting w/ tripod If the lighting is low and you have a tripod, try an ISO of between 400 and 600.
  • TIP: In all situations, a tripod helps reduce camera shake and improves the clarity of photos. Use a tripod whenever possible.
  • Step 9: Select film speed Turn your dials to select the appropriate film speed based on your shooting conditions.
  • Step 10: Click away Click away—then move on to the next great photo opportunity!
  • FACT: The first consumer digital camera was the Apple Quicktake 100, which debuted in Tokyo in 1994. The Quicktake had a resolution of only 640×480 pixels, which is almost half the resolution of most cell phone cameras today.

You Will Need

  • A digital SLR camera
  • A tripod

Lessons in this Guide

How to Photobomb

How to Avoid Red Eye in Photos

How to Take Photos of Food

How to Take Photos of Christmas Lights

How to Achieve Artistic Lens Flare

How to Choose the Right Lens for Your DSLR Camera

How to Take Great Winter Pictures

How to Take Great Spring Break Photos

How to Spot a Photo That’s Been Retouched

How to Take Great Pictures of Cats

How to Photograph Natural Phenomena Phenomenally

How to Get Pictures from Video

How to Take Self-Portraits

How to Make a Bokeh Lens

How to Photograph Landscapes

How to Take Cute Baby Pictures

How to Make an Aerial Photography Rig with a Disposable Camera

How to Take a Family Portrait

How to Clean a Camera Lens

How to Light a Fashion Shot

How To Take a Group Portrait

How to Make a Pinhole Camera

How to Light a Portrait

How to Take a Child’s Portrait

How to Take Great Photographs

How to Take a Woman’s Portrait

How to Take a Portrait

How to Take Pictures of Wild Animals

How to Make a Tripod with a Piece Of String, a Beanbag, or Your Body

How to Take a Man’s Portrait

How to Take a Fashion Portrait

How to Make a Mini Tripod for Your Camera

How to Take a Nude Portrait

How to Take Pictures in Bright Sunlight

How to Choose Your Virtual Film Speed

How to Choose Your Shutter Speed

Copyright © 2026 · Howcast · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Ventures with Springwire.ai

Privacy Manager