Help with ISO's on a 35mm Camera

[hektic]

Ok. I have a canon EOS rebel X camera
and im having dificulty figuring out the ISO speed when taking pics at certain times.
I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how I could fix this problem.

[Cybastean]

On a film camera, you set ISO based on the film you use. If you have ISO 400 film, that's what you set on the camera. Some cameras read a bar code on the film container and set it automatically. ISO doesn't change from one shot to the next. Once you set the ISO, the camera's meter will tell you what your exposure options are.

[venchka]

Originally Posted by Cybastean

On a film camera, you set ISO based on the film you use. If you have ISO 400 film, that's what you set on the camera. Some cameras read a bar code on the film container and set it automatically. ISO doesn't change from one shot to the next. Once you set the ISO, the camera's meter will tell you what your exposure options are.

That is the base case full auto way to set ISO on a film camera. I routinely change the ISO setting on my Canon Elan II E depending on the situation, film in use & my mood. On my camera, the large setting wheel on the back cylcles through several settings, one of the is ISO. When the ISO speed shows up in the window on top of the camera, the wheel behind the shutter button can be rotated to change the ISO speed from the film's box speed. Your Rebel should work in a similar manner. I hope this helps.

[Cybastean]

Originally Posted by venchka

That is the base case full auto way to set ISO on a film camera. I routinely change the ISO setting on my Canon Elan II E depending on the situation, film in use & my mood. On my camera, the large setting wheel on the back cylcles through several settings, one of the is ISO. When the ISO speed shows up in the window on top of the camera, the wheel behind the shutter button can be rotated to change the ISO speed from the film's box speed. Your Rebel should work in a similar manner. I hope this helps.

Or you could use exposure compensation, which will achieve the same result.

Are you wanting to change ISO from shot to shot, for some reason, or do you just want to know what the camera is doing? ISO won't change after you or the camera sets it for the roll, unless you do it manually.

[iCe]

With EC, you're limited to 2 stops (might be camera dependent). Pushing the ISO commits the entire roll, requires that you let the film processor know how far you pushed it, has limits, allows for greater exposure latitude if you're adventurous enough (and know your films limits). Unless I'm wrong. I could be. I haven't shot film or transparency in a while.

[hektic]

what im looking to do is shoot one roll of film one day at different ISO speeds.
is that possible?

i can change it manually, but im just wondering will the results change at all or when I set it to a certain ISO then the ISO will stay the same

[Digital Daddy]

Yes you can do that, but expect unpredictable results in the processing. This is known as pushing or pulling (moving iso up or down ). When you do this for the entire roll of film you can tell the processor to push the development time to allow for your "push". If you do this randomly on the same roll of film it pretty much a crap shoot as to your outcome. I have done this myself and was not impressed with the results.

[iCe]

Originally Posted by hektic

what im looking to do is shoot one roll of film one day at different ISO speeds.
is that possible?

i can change it manually, but im just wondering will the results change at all or when I set it to a certain ISO then the ISO will stay the same

ISO
F stop
Shutter speed

all relate to one another and how the image is exposed.

It's possible to do what you want to do but it's a bad idea and a waste of film... IMHO

[hektic]

thnx ice.

Ok... the reason I ask is because i need to fix the distortion is my pics.

to many pixel and i think my white balance is off also.

[venchka]

Originally Posted by hektic

thnx ice.

Ok... the reason I ask is because i need to fix the distortion is my pics.

to many pixel and i think my white balance is off also.

That's not film. Is your camera film or digital? If it's digital, I apologize. I thought this was a film body & a film question.

[iCe]

Oops... me too. I assumed film as well. If that's a digital camera you can adjust ISO to your hearts content. Nothing says you can't use a different ISO setting for every frame if you want to.

[brad]

The Rebel X is a film camera.. and it sets the ISO automatically (film canisters are encoded with this information). I do not recall if you can modify it... I don't think you can.

(The Rebel X is my film camera.)

[Cybastean]

1. If you think you're seeing "too many pixels" in a print from a film negative or a slide, then two things are likely causes. First, you may be using very high speed film, which tends to be "grainy." That grain will look a little like digital noise, which you may be calling pixels. Second, you may be underexposing your film, which will also result in more grain. Pay attention to what your camera is telling you when you shoot. Is it saying you have enough light for the shot? If you find yourself constantly underexposing, get some faster film.

2. As far as white balance is concerned, like the other folks said, you can't change that with a film camera. Most film is balanced for outdoor light. If you shoot film under ordinary incandescent light (light bulbs) there will be a reddish cast. If you shoot under fluorescent light, the color will look greenish. You can put filters on the lens to help eliminate the problem, you can shoot with a flash, or you can try to correct the problem in printing.

3. Get a book on basic film photography. It will help a lot and be cheaper than flushing $20 a roll for film and processing just to figure stuff out.

[hektic]

Ok.. i think im shooting out a misunderstanding about my camera.


My camera is a FILM camera. LOL
sorry about the misunderstanding about what kinda of camera Im using.

The digital camera im using is the KODAK EasyShare Z740
and that's what I take most of my pics with but I would rather use my canon.


EDIT:
My problem is that im getting too much noise in my pictures.

EXAMPLE:

and I was wondering is that noise that im getting my ISO or what.

There is a option on the dial for me to change my ISO.
I am wondering if I should just keep it at 400iso and take pics or change it up when needed too.

Also when taking my pics.. I dont use flash.

I hope this will clear up the misunderstanding.

[venchka]

1. I know it's only a JPEG on my 20" monitor, but I don't see any grain.

2. Fuji Superia Reala 100 produces very nice grain free results when the ISO is set anywhere from 50 to 100 with my cameras, light meters, eye, etc. and processed normally by Wal-Mart or Wolf Camera. You results may vary. Kodak Portra 160NC & Fuji NPS 160 work very well also.

3. Last Thanksgiving I put a roll of Kodak Ultra 400UC (ISO 400) in my camera. I set the ISO to 200 and set auto bracket for + and - 1 stop. The effect of this was to expose the film at 100, 200 & 400. All of the negatives were very useable. Most of the 200 were best. Some at 100 and some at 400 were best depending on subject, etc. I used to buy this film at Wal-Mart. They quit selling it recently. Bummer!

4. I expoase Kodak BW400CN and Ilford XP2 Super (both ISO 400 box speed) at 250, 320 or 400. I've settled on 400. If I want really grain free pictures, say for close up portraits, I'll use 250. Ilford says on the XP2 Super box that the film can be exposed at any ISO between 50 and 800. I am going to try that this weekend in New Orleans. I expect very mixed lighting ranging from indoors to sunny in Jackson Square. I'll let you know what happens.

5. For the ultimate in image quality, use the slower slide films. Kodachrome 64 is my favorite. Fuji Velvia 50 or 100 and Provia 100 have a lot of fans. The Fujifilm web pages actually lists a grain rating for most of their films.

6. Fuji Superia 800 & 1600 work well when you need the speed. Fuji 1600 is grainy. In the right situation it's really not bad. I have a brick of Fuji 800 for "pub crawling".

7. Fuji Neopan 100 Across in the right developer just might be the finest grain B&W film for 35mm on the market today. Georgeous film!

8. My Gallery, link below, has samples of most of the above films.

Keep shooting. Enjoy!