There are three main camera settings to consider when taking a photo: ISO, aperture and shutter speed. This blog post touches on what each of these mean and how to set them.
Before diving into these settings, it’s also helpful to understand the types of film cameras you might be using. Different cameras—such as rangefinder cameras, single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras, and point-and-shoot film cameras—may have varying ways of adjusting ISO, aperture, and shutter speed. While the core principles of these settings remain the same, how you access and control them can differ depending on the type of film camera you have.
What is ISO/ASA?
The ISO of a film tells you how light sensitive it is. It also determines how grainy the images will be.
What is a normal ISO exposure?
A "normal" ISO exposure typically depends on the lighting conditions you’re shooting in. For general outdoor photography on sunny days, ISO 100 is considered normal. For indoor scenes or overcast conditions, ISO 400 is a common choice, while ISO 800 is often used for low-light or nighttime situations.
- ISO 100 = less light sensitive, less grainy, good for bright sunny days outside
- ISO 400 = more light sensitive, slight grain, good for overcast days outside and indoor scenes
- ISO 800 = very light sensitive, grainy, good for night time
Setting your ISO on a film camera is easy because you typically want to set it to the same speed as the film you are putting in your camera. There is usually a number associated with each type of film labeled on the box. This is the ISO you want to set on your camera.
Here are some examples:
- Ilford HP5 400 = ISO set to 400
- Kodak Portra 800 = ISO set to 800
- Fuji CN200 = ISO set to 200
The ISO numbers listed in the diagram are always fixed
The ISO dial on your camera is typically on the top of your camera to the lefthand side underneath the rewind knob. It will be the dial with numbers ranging from 50 to 3200 and is typically marked ASA.
Closeup of ASA dial on Nikon FE camera
What is Aperture?
A camera's aperture determines an image's depth of field. It allows you to make the background either in focus or blurry to highlight a subject. Aperture is measured by F-Stops ranging from 1.4 - 22. The F-stops listed in the diagram below are always fixed.
High vs. Low Aperture
When the aperture is set to a lower number (f1.4 - f8), it creates a shallower depth of field, meaning the subject closest to the lens will be sharp while the background appears blurry. This setting is perfect for portraits or shots where you want to isolate the subject. Additionally, a low aperture allows more light into the camera, making it ideal for low-light conditions.
In contrast, a higher aperture (f11 - f32) produces a deeper depth of field, keeping everything in focus from the foreground to the background. This is often used for landscape photography where capturing detail throughout the scene is essential. However, higher apertures restrict the amount of light entering the camera, so they work best in bright environments.
The aperture dial is typically located at the base of the lens closest to the camera body and will have numbers ranging from 1.4 to 32. Depending on the camera, you may also be able to see the aperture setting when looking through the viewfinder.
Closeup of aperture f-stop settings on camera lens
What is Shutter Speed?
A camera's shutter speed determines how sharp or blurry your image will be. It is measured in seconds and can range from 1/1000 of a second to 5 whole seconds. Typically the numbers in the diagram represent the most common speeds you will see on your camera with maybe some faster and slower speeds.
Tip: Shutter speed dials on cameras usually do not list the speed in fraction form, so remember that if you set your shutter speed to a bigger number such as 250 it is actually a very small fraction of a second.
Fast Shutter Speed
When the shutter speed is set to a bigger number (1/1000 - 1/60) any movement will be stopped and in focus. The shutter will open and close much faster preventing a lot of light coming into the camera.
Slow Shutter Speed
When the shutter speed is set to a smaller number (1/30 - ½) any movement will be visible and make the image appear blurry. The shutter will be open for a longer amount of time allowing more light into the camera.
The shutter speed dial is typically located on the top of your camera on the right hand side. It will have numbers ranging from 1-1000.
Closeup of shutter speed dial on Nikon FE camera
The Exposure Triangle
Each setting, ISO, aperture and shutter speed, is necessary to understand when wanting to shoot an evenly exposed image. When you set one of these settings it has an affect on the other settings as well because each setting changes how much light is coming into the camera.
So let's say you want to set your camera to a faster shutter speed since you want it to be as sharp as possible. This means that not much light will be coming into the camera. Depending on the light conditions, you may need to set your aperture to a smaller number to make the lens dilate and balance the lack of light due to the fast shutter speed.
The exposure triangle can be a helpful diagram to look at to understand the relationship between each of these settings better.
There is a lot to remember with each of these settings and when you are out photographing it is hard to know what you should set your camera to based on the light conditions. This is where the Sunny 16 Rule can help or even having a light meter to help measure the light conditions so you know how to exactly set your camera to get an even exposure.
Luckily we have created a blog post describing the Sunny 16 Rule. We also have a blog post about how to use light meters. Check these out to get a better sense of how these settings are used when out taking pictures.