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You can use the ISO control built into your digital camera to vary its sensitivity to light and thus mimic the effect of using different grades of 35mm film. This can come in handy in a number of situations, such as when you’re shooting in particularly high or low light levels. Remember a few key facts about your camera’s ISO ratings, though:

• It’s not a real ISO adjustment, in the sense that your camera doesn’t have real film. Each camera maker has a somewhat different way of implementing this feature, but they all use ISO numbers since that’s comparable to 35mm film, which most people are at least a little familiar with.
• Don’t leave your camera set at the highest ISO all the time. Some folks think that by setting their cameras to the highest sensitivity, they’ll be prepared for anything and won’t have to muck with the camera menu when they’re on the go, trying to take pictures. In reality, boosting your CCD’s sensitivity to light also increases the amount of digital noise you’re capturing. More ISO means more fringing, artifacts, and digital detritus. Sometimes that’s unavoidable, but stick with the lowest ISO value you can get away with most of the time.

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