Samsung NX500 User manual

USER
MANUAL
ENG This user manual includes detailed usage instructions
for your camera. Please read this manual thoroughly.

1
Copyright information
 Camera specications or contents of this manual may be changed
without prior notice due to upgrade of camera functions.
 You are not allowed to reuse or distribute any part of this manual
without prior permission.
 We recommend using your camera within the country where you
purchase it.
 Use this camera responsibly and adhere to all laws and regulations
concerning its use.
PlanetFirst represents Samsung Electronics’ commitment to
sustainable development and social responsibility through
eco-driven business and management activities.
 Microsoft Windows and the Windows logo are registered trademarks of
the Microsoft Corporation.
 Mac and Apple App Store are registered trademarks of the Apple
Corporation.
 Google Play Store is a registered trademark of Google, Inc.
 SD™, SDHC™, and SDXC™ are registered trademarks of the SD
Association.
 HDMI, the HDMI logo, and the term “High
Denition Multimedia Interface“ are
trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI
Licensing LLC.
 Bluetooth® is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. worldwide.
 Wi-Fi®, the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED logo, and the Wi-Fi logo are registered
trademarks of the Wi-Fi Alliance.
 Trademarks and trade names used in this manual are the property of
their respective owners.

2
Health and safety information
Prevent damage to subjects’ eyesight.
Do not use the ash in close proximity (closer than 1 m/3 ft) to people or
animals. If you use the ash too close to your subject’s eyes, this can cause
temporary or permanent eyesight damage.
Keep your camera away from small children and pets.
Keep your camera and all accessories out of the reach of small children
and animals. Small parts may cause choking or serious injury if swallowed.
Moving parts and accessories may present physical dangers as well.
Do not expose the camera to direct sunlight or high
temperatures for an extended period of time.
Prolonged exposure to sunlight or extreme temperatures can cause
permanent damage to your camera’s internal components.
Avoid covering the camera or charger with blankets or clothes.
The camera may overheat, which may distort the camera or cause a re.
Do not handle the power supply cord or the charger during a
thunderstorm.
This may result in an electric shock.
Always comply with the following precautions and usage tips to avoid
dangerous situations and ensure peak performance of your camera.
Warning—situations that could cause injury to yourself
or others
Do not disassemble or attempt to repair your camera.
You can damage the camera and expose yourself to the risk of an electric
shock.
Do not use your camera near ammable or explosive gases
and liquids.
This may cause a re or explosion.
Do not insert ammable materials into the camera or store
these materials near the camera.
This may cause a re or electric shock.
Do not handle your camera with wet hands.
This may result in an electric shock.

3
Health and safety information
If liquid or foreign objects enter your camera, immediately
disconnect all power sources, such as the battery or charger,
and then contact a Samsung service center.
Comply with any regulations that restrict the use of a camera
in a certain area.
 Avoid interference with other electronic devices.
 Turn o the camera when in an aircraft. Your camera can cause
interference with aircraft equipment. Follow all airline regulations and
turn o your camera when directed by airline personnel.
 Turn o the camera near medical equipment. Your camera can interfere
with medical equipment in hospitals or health care facilities. Follow all
regulations, posted warnings, and directions from medical personnel.
Avoid interference with pacemakers.
Maintain a safe distance between this camera and all pacemakers to
avoid potential interference, as recommended by the manufacturer and
research groups. If you have any reason to suspect that your camera is
interfering with a pacemaker or other medical device, turn o the camera
immediately and contact the manufacturer of the pacemaker or medical
device for guidance.
Caution—situations that could cause damage to your
camera or other equipment
Remove the batteries from your camera when storing it for an
extended period of time.
Installed batteries may leak or corrode over time and cause serious
damage to your camera.
Use only authentic, manufacturer-recommended, Lithium-ion
replacement batteries. Do not damage or heat the battery.
Inauthentic, damaged, or heated batteries may cause a re or personal
injury.
Use only Samsung-approved batteries, chargers, cables, and
accessories.
 Using unauthorized batteries, chargers, cables, or accessories can cause
batteries to explode, damage your camera, or cause injury.
 Samsung is not responsible for damage or injuries caused by
unapproved batteries, chargers, cables, or accessories.
Use the battery only for its intended purpose.
Misusing the battery may cause a re or electric shock.

4
Health and safety information
Do not touch the ash while it res.
The ash is very hot when red and may burn your skin.
When you use the AC charger, turn o the camera before you
disconnect the power to the AC charger.
Failing to do so may result in re or electric shock.
Disconnect the charger from the wall socket when not in use.
Failing to do so may result in re or electric shock.
Do not use a damaged power supply cord, plug, or loose outlet
when you charge batteries.
This may cause a re or electric shock.
Do not allow the AC charger to come in contact with the +/-
terminals on the battery.
This may cause a re or electric shock.
Do not drop or subject the camera to strong impacts.
Doing so may damage the screen or external or internal components.
Exercise caution when you connect cables and install batteries
and memory cards.
If you force the connectors, improperly connect cables, or improperly
install batteries and memory cards, you can damage ports, connectors,
and accessories.
Keep cards with magnetic strips away from the camera case.
Information stored on the card may be damaged or erased.
Never use a damaged battery or memory card.
This may result in electric shock or camera malfunction or cause a re.
Do not place the camera in or near magnetic elds.
Doing so may cause the camera to malfunction.
Do not use the camera if the screen is damaged.
If the glass or acrylic parts are broken, visit a Samsung service center to
have the camera repaired.
Check that the camera is operating properly before use.
The manufacturer takes no responsibility for any loss of les or damage
that may result from camera malfunction or improper use.

5
Health and safety information
You must plug the small end of the USB cable into your
camera.
If the cable is reversed, it may damage your les. The manufacturer is not
responsible for any loss of data.
Do not expose the lens to direct sunlight.
This may discolor the image sensor or cause it to malfunction.
If the camera overheats, remove the battery and allow it to
cool down.
 Prolonged usage of the camera may overheat the battery and raise
the internal temperature of the camera. If the camera stops operating,
remove the battery and allow it to cool down.
 High internal temperatures may result in noise in your photos. This is
normal and does not aect your camera’s overall performance.
Avoid interference with other electronic devices.
Your camera emits radio frequency (RF) signals that may interfere
with unshielded or improperly shielded electronic equipment, such as
pacemakers, hearing aids, medical devices, and other electronic devices in
homes or vehicles. Consult the manufacturers of your electronic devices
to solve any interference problems you experience. To prevent unwanted
interference, use only Samsung-approved devices or accessories.
Use your camera in the normal position.
Avoid contact with your camera’s internal antenna.
Data transference and your responsibilities
 Data transferred via WLAN can be stolen, so avoid transferring sensitive
data in public areas or on open networks.
 The camera manufacturer is not liable for any data transfers that infringe
on copyrights, trademarks, intellectual property laws, or public decency
ordinances.
Bluetooth precautions
 The manufacturer is not responsible for the loss, interception, or misuse
of data sent or received via the Bluetooth feature.
 Always ensure that you share and receive data with devices that are
trusted and properly secured. If there are obstacles between the devices,
the operating distance may be reduced.
 Some devices, especially those that are not tested or approved by the
Bluetooth SIG, may be incompatible with your device.
 Do not use the Bluetooth feature for illegal purposes (for example,
pirating copies of les or illegally tapping communications for
commercial purposes). The manufacturer is not responsible for the
repercussion of illegal use of the Bluetooth feature.
 Do not connect to Bluetooth speakers, headphones, or other
accessories.

6
Indications used in this manual
Mode indications
Mode Indication
Auto
t
Program
P
Aperture Priority
A
Shutter Priority
S
Manual
M
Custom
T
Samsung Auto Shot
i
Smart
s
Icons used in this manual
Icon Function
Additional information
Safety warnings and precautions
[ ]
Camera buttons. For example, [Shutter] represents the
shutter button.
( )
Page number of related information
ĺ
The order of options or menus you must select to perform
a step; for example: Select bĺQuality (represents
select b, and then Quality).
*
Annotation

7
Contents
Chapter 1
My Camera
Getting started ............................................................................................ 29
Unpacking.................................................................................................................... 29
Camera layout.............................................................................................. 30
Using the display....................................................................................................... 33
Using the Self Shot mode......................................................................................... 33
Inserting the battery and memory card................................................. 34
Removing the battery and memory card......................................................... 34
Using the memory card adapter.......................................................................... 35
Charging the battery and turning on your camera.............................. 36
Charging the battery................................................................................................ 36
Turning on your camera ......................................................................................... 36
Performing the initial setup...................................................................... 37
Selecting functions (options) ................................................................... 39
Using buttons and dials.......................................................................................... 39
Using custom buttons and dials ............................................................................ 39
Selecting by touch.................................................................................................... 40
Using m................................................................................................................. 40
E.g. Selecting the photo size in Pmode.............................................................. 40
Using the smart panel ............................................................................................. 42
E.g. Adjust the exposure value in Pmode.......................................................... 42
Using iFn....................................................................................................................... 43
Using the iFn standard function............................................................................. 43
Using the iFn plus function...................................................................................... 45
Tips
Concepts in Photography
Shooting postures....................................................................................... 13
Holding the camera..................................................................................................... 13
Standing photography ............................................................................................... 13
Crouching photography ............................................................................................ 14
Using the display .......................................................................................................... 14
Low-angle shot.............................................................................................................. 15
High-angle shot............................................................................................................. 15
Aperture........................................................................................................ 16
Aperture value and the depth of eld .................................................................. 17
Shutter speed............................................................................................... 18
ISO sensitivity .............................................................................................. 19
How the aperture setting, shutter speed, and ISO sensitivity control
exposure ....................................................................................................... 20
Correlation between focal length, angle, and perspective................ 21
Depth of eld ............................................................................................... 22
What controls out-of-focus eects?....................................................................... 22
DOF preview................................................................................................................... 24
Composition................................................................................................. 24
Rule of Thirds.................................................................................................................. 24
Photos with two subjects .......................................................................................... 25
Flash............................................................................................................... 26
Flash guide number..................................................................................................... 26
Bounce Photography .................................................................................................. 27

8
Contents
Display icons ................................................................................................ 46
In Shooting mode ..................................................................................................... 46
Capturing photos ........................................................................................................ 46
Recording videos......................................................................................................... 48
About the level gauge ............................................................................................... 49
In Playback mode...................................................................................................... 50
Viewing photos ............................................................................................................ 50
Playing videos............................................................................................................... 50
Changing the information displayed................................................................. 51
Viewing the notication panel............................................................................. 52
Lenses............................................................................................................ 53
Lens layout................................................................................................................... 53
Locking or unlocking the lens................................................................................. 54
Using the Custom Focus Range Limiter Function............................................ 56
Lens markings ............................................................................................................ 57
Accessories ................................................................................................... 58
External ash layout................................................................................................. 58
Connecting the external ash................................................................................. 59
Shooting modes .......................................................................................... 60
tAuto mode...................................................................................................... 60
PProgram mode....................................................................................................... 62
Program Shift ................................................................................................................ 63
Minimum shutter speed............................................................................................ 63
AAperture Priority mode...................................................................................... 64
SShutter Priority mode.......................................................................................... 65
MManual mode........................................................................................................ 66
Using the Bulb function ............................................................................................ 66
TCustom mode ........................................................................................................ 67
Saving custom modes................................................................................................ 67
Downloading custom modes.................................................................................. 68
Selecting custom modes .......................................................................................... 68
Deleting custom modes............................................................................................ 68
iSamsung Auto Shot mode .......................................................................... 69
sSmart mode.......................................................................................................... 71
Capturing panoramic photos.................................................................................. 72
Recording a video ..................................................................................................... 73
3D mode....................................................................................................................... 75
Available functions by shooting mode............................................................. 76
Chapter 2
Shooting Functions
Size and Resolution .................................................................................... 78
Photo size..................................................................................................................... 78
Quality........................................................................................................................... 79
ISO sensitivity .............................................................................................. 80
Customizing ISO settings.......................................................................................... 81
OLED Color ................................................................................................... 82
White Balance .............................................................................................. 83
Customizing preset White Balance options ....................................................... 84
Picture Wizard (photo styles).................................................................... 85
Smart Filter................................................................................................... 86
AF mode........................................................................................................ 87
Single AF....................................................................................................................... 88
Continuous AF............................................................................................................ 88
Active AF....................................................................................................................... 89
Manual focus............................................................................................................... 89

9
Contents
AF area........................................................................................................... 90
Selection AF ................................................................................................................ 90
Saving Selection AF position................................................................................... 91
Multi AF......................................................................................................................... 91
Face Detection ............................................................................................. 92
Normal........................................................................................................................... 92
Smile Shot.................................................................................................................... 93
Wink Shot..................................................................................................................... 93
Touch AF........................................................................................................ 94
Touch AF....................................................................................................................... 94
AF Point......................................................................................................................... 94
Tracking AF .................................................................................................................. 94
One Touch Shot.......................................................................................................... 95
Focus assist................................................................................................... 96
MF Assist....................................................................................................................... 96
DMF (Direct Manual Focus) ................................................................................... 97
Setting DMF responsiveness ................................................................................... 97
AF Release Priority .................................................................................................... 97
Focus Peaking............................................................................................................. 98
Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)............................................................. 99
Drive (shooting method)......................................................................... 100
Single.......................................................................................................................... 100
Continuous............................................................................................................... 101
Burst............................................................................................................................ 101
Timer........................................................................................................................... 102
Auto Exposure Bracketing (AE Bracket).......................................................... 102
White Balance Bracketing (WB Bracket)......................................................... 103
Picture Wizard Bracketing (P Wiz Bracket)..................................................... 103
Depth Bracketing ................................................................................................... 104
Bracketing settings ................................................................................................... 104
Interval Capture......................................................................................... 105
Flash............................................................................................................. 106
Reducing the red-eye eect............................................................................... 107
Adjusting the ash intensity .............................................................................. 107
Flash settings........................................................................................................... 108
Setting external ash ............................................................................................... 108
Setting wireless sync for external ash.............................................................. 109
Locking the ash intensity.................................................................................. 110
Metering...................................................................................................... 111
Multi............................................................................................................................ 111
Center-weighted .................................................................................................... 112
Spot............................................................................................................................. 112
Measuring the exposure value of the focus area ......................................... 113
Dynamic Range ......................................................................................... 114
Exposure compensation.......................................................................... 115
Using Framing Mode................................................................................................ 115
Using the brightness adjustment guide ........................................................... 116
Viewing the overexposure guide......................................................................... 116
Exposure/Focus lock................................................................................. 117
Exposure/Focus separation..................................................................... 118
Video functions ......................................................................................... 119
Movie size.................................................................................................................. 119
When Video Out is set to NTSC............................................................................. 119
When Video Out is set to PAL ................................................................................ 120
Movie quality ........................................................................................................... 120
Bit rates for movie sizes ........................................................................................... 121
Fast/Slow Movie...................................................................................................... 122
AF Responsiveness ................................................................................................ 122
AF Shift Speed ......................................................................................................... 123
Fader ........................................................................................................................... 123

10
Contents
Voice............................................................................................................................ 124
Wind Cut.................................................................................................................... 124
Mic Level.................................................................................................................... 124
Smart Range+.......................................................................................................... 124
Chapter 3
Playback/Editing
Searching and managing les................................................................ 126
Viewing photos....................................................................................................... 126
Viewing image thumbnails................................................................................. 126
Viewing les by category .................................................................................... 127
Viewing continuous and burst shots .............................................................. 128
Protecting les ........................................................................................................ 129
Lock/Unlock all les .................................................................................................. 129
Deleting les............................................................................................................ 130
Deleting a single le................................................................................................. 130
Deleting multiple les.............................................................................................. 130
Deleting all les.......................................................................................................... 130
Viewing photos.......................................................................................... 131
Enlarging a photo .................................................................................................. 131
Viewing a slide show............................................................................................. 132
Viewing the overexposure guide ..................................................................... 133
Viewing interval shots .......................................................................................... 133
Sorting les............................................................................................................... 133
Auto rotating ........................................................................................................... 133
Converting to JPEG................................................................................................ 133
Playing videos............................................................................................ 134
Scanning backward or forward......................................................................... 134
Adjusting the brightness of a video................................................................ 135
Adjusting the volume of a video ...................................................................... 135
Trimming a video during playback.................................................................. 136
Capturing an image during playback............................................................. 136
Editing photos ........................................................................................... 137
Cropping a photo................................................................................................... 137
Rotating a photo .................................................................................................... 138
Resizing photos....................................................................................................... 138
Adjusting your photos.......................................................................................... 139
Retouching faces.................................................................................................... 139
Applying Smart Filter eects.............................................................................. 140
Chapter 4
Connecting & Transferring
Connecting to a smart phone................................................................. 142
Using the NFC Feature.......................................................................................... 142
Using NFC features in Shooting mode............................................................... 142
Using NFC features in Playback mode (Photo Beam)................................... 142
Using the GPS Geo Tagging Feature................................................................ 143
Sending les to a smart phone ......................................................................... 143
Controlling the camera remotely with a smart phone............................. 145
Using a smart phone as a remote shutter release...................................... 147
Saving les to a smart phone automatically ................................................ 148

11
Contents
Chapter 5
Camera settings menu
User settings............................................................................................... 168
Manage Custom Mode......................................................................................... 168
RAW Compression.................................................................................................. 168
Noise Reduction ..................................................................................................... 168
Color Space............................................................................................................... 169
Distortion Correct .................................................................................................. 170
User Display.............................................................................................................. 170
Grid Line .................................................................................................................... 170
Center Marker.......................................................................................................... 171
Key Mapping............................................................................................................ 171
Custom .......................................................................................................................... 171
AEL .................................................................................................................................. 172
EV..................................................................................................................................... 173
Command Dial............................................................................................................ 174
iFn Setting................................................................................................................. 174
Lens Button Speed Settings ............................................................................... 175
Touch Operation..................................................................................................... 175
Auto Self Shot.......................................................................................................... 175
AF Lamp..................................................................................................................... 175
E-Shutter.................................................................................................................... 176
MobileLink/NFC Image Size ............................................................................... 176
Setting ......................................................................................................... 177
Sending photos via email........................................................................ 150
Connecting to a WLAN......................................................................................... 150
Setting network options ......................................................................................... 151
Manually setting the IP address ........................................................................... 151
Network connection tips..................................................................................... 152
Entering text ............................................................................................................ 153
Sending photos via email.................................................................................... 154
Storing a sender’s information.............................................................................. 155
Setting an email password..................................................................................... 156
Changing the email password.............................................................................. 157
Viewing photos or videos on a TV ......................................................... 158
Connecting wirelessly .......................................................................................... 158
Connecting via cable ............................................................................................ 160
Viewing les on a TV................................................................................................. 160
Viewing les on a 3D TV.......................................................................................... 161
Connecting to a computer ...................................................................... 162
Using Auto Backup for photos or videos....................................................... 162
Installing the program for Auto Backup on your PC..................................... 162
Using the Auto Backup feature............................................................................. 162
Connecting the camera as a removable disk............................................... 164
Transferring les to your Windows OS computer .......................................... 164
Disconnecting the camera (for Windows 7)..................................................... 165
Transferring les to your Mac OS ......................................................................... 165

12
Contents
Using programs on a PC........................................................................... 195
Installing i-Launcher ............................................................................................. 195
Using i-Launcher .................................................................................................... 197
Opening i-Launcher.................................................................................................. 197
Available programs ................................................................................................... 197
Requirements.............................................................................................................. 198
Installing Samsung RAW Converter................................................................. 199
Using Samsung RAW Converter........................................................................ 199
Updating the rmware............................................................................. 200
Before contacting a service center ........................................................ 201
Camera specications .............................................................................. 204
Glossary....................................................................................................... 207
Optional accessories................................................................................. 213
Index ............................................................................................................ 214
Chapter 6
Appendix
Error messages .......................................................................................... 183
Maintaining the camera........................................................................... 184
Cleaning the camera............................................................................................. 184
Camera lens and display ......................................................................................... 184
Image sensor............................................................................................................... 184
Camera body............................................................................................................... 184
Using or storing the camera............................................................................... 185
Inappropriate places to use or store the camera ........................................... 185
Using on beaches or shores................................................................................... 185
Storing for extended period of time................................................................... 185
Using the camera with caution in the humid environments..................... 186
Other precautions ..................................................................................................... 186
About memory cards............................................................................................ 187
Supported memory cards ...................................................................................... 187
Memory card capacity ............................................................................................. 188
Cautions when using memory cards.................................................................. 190
About the battery .................................................................................................. 191
Battery specications ............................................................................................... 191
Battery life .................................................................................................................... 192
Low battery message............................................................................................... 192
Notes about using the battery.............................................................................. 192
Battery precautions................................................................................................... 193
Notes about charging the battery....................................................................... 193
Notes about charging with a computer connected...................................... 194
Handle and dispose of batteries and chargers with care............................ 194

13
Concepts in Photography
Standing photography
Compose your shot, stand up straight with your feet shoulder-length
apart, and keep your elbows pointed down.
Shooting postures
A correct posture for stabilizing the camera is necessary for taking a good
photo. Even if you hold a camera correctly, the wrong posture can cause
the camera to shake. Stand up straight and remain still to maintain a
steady base for your camera. When shooting with a slow shutter speed,
hold your breath to minimize body movement.
Holding the camera
Hold the camera with your right hand and place your right index nger on
the shutter button. Place your left hand under the lens for support.

14
Concepts in Photography
Crouching photography
Compose your shot, crouch with one knee touching the ground, and keep
a straight posture.
Using the display
To take photos at high or low angles, tilt the display up or down.
1 Slide the display downwards carefully.
2 Tilt the display from 180˚ upwards to 45˚ downwards.

15
Concepts in Photography
 To capture a self-portrait, set Auto Self Shot to On, ip the display
180° upwards and touch the subject on the display. (p. 33)
 Keep the display closed when the camera is not in use.
 Tilt the display only within the angle allowed. Failing to do so may damage
your camera.
 Be careful not to damage the display when tilting it.
 If you have ipped the display upwards and you are not holding the camera
by hand, do not rest the camera on a table, fence, etc. to steady it. Instead,
use a tripod. Otherwise, you can damage your camera.
 Do not ip the display up when an external ash is mounted on the camera.
Otherwise, you may damage your camera.
Low-angle shot
A low-angle shot is a shot from a camera positioned below your eyeline,
looking up the subject.
High-angle shot
A high-angle shot is a shot from a camera positioned above your eyeline,
looking down on the subject.

16
Concepts in Photography
Aperture
The aperture is one of the three factors that determine the exposure. The
aperture housing contains thin, metal plates that open and close to let
light through the aperture and into the camera. The size of the aperture
is related to the amount of light: a larger aperture allows more light and a
smaller aperture allows less light.
Aperture sizes
Minimum aperture Medium aperture Maximum aperture
Aperture opened slightly Aperture opened wide
The size of the aperture is indicated by a value known as the “F-number“.
The f-number represents the focal length divided by the diameter of the
lens. For example, if a lens with a 50 mm focal length has an f-number of
F2, the diameter of the aperture is 25 mm. (50 mm/25 mm = F2)
The smaller the f-number, the greater the size of the aperture.
The relative size of the opening in the aperture is indicated by the
Exposure Value (EV). Increasing the Exposure Value (+1 EV) means the
amount of light doubles. Decreasing the Exposure Value (-1 EV) means
the amount of light halves. You can also use the exposure compensation
feature to ne-tune the amount of light by subdividing exposure values
into 1/2, 1/3 EV, and so on.
+1 EV
F1.4 F2 F2.8 F4 F5.6 F8
-1 EV
Exposure Value Steps

17
Concepts in Photography
Aperture value and the depth of eld
You can blur or sharpen the background of a photo by changing the size
of the aperture. A large aperture gives your photos a shallow depth of
eld (DOF). Objects immediately in front of or behind your subject will
be blurred, while the subject will be in focus. A small aperture gives your
photos a deep depth of eld. Objects far in front or far behind your subject
and your subject will be in focus.
A photo with a deep DOF A photo with a shallow DOF
The aperture housing contains several blades. These blades move together and
control the amount of light passing through the center of the aperture. The
number of blades also aects the shape of light when shooting night scenes. If
an aperture has an even number of blades, light divides into an equal number
of sections. If the number of blades is odd, the number of sections is double the
number of blades.
For example, an aperture with 8 blades divides light into 8 sections and an
aperture with 7 blades into 14 sections.
7 blades 8 blades

18
Concepts in Photography
Shutter speed
Shutter speed refers to the amount of time it takes to open and close the
shutter. It controls the amount of light which passes through the aperture
before it reaches the image sensor.
Shutter speeds are measured in seconds and parts of a second. On
many cameras, the shutter speeds are approximately halved with each
succeeding setting - 1 s, 1/2 s, 1/4 s, 1/8 s, 1/15 s, etc. Like successive
aperture settings, each successive shutter speed setting lets in about half
the amount of light. Consequently, each successive shutter speed setting
equals an EV (Exposure Value) change of about 1 EV.
Exposure
+1 EV
-1 EV
1 s 1/2 s 1/4 s 1/8 s 1/15 s 1/30 s
Shutter speed
Therefore, the faster the shutter speed, the less light will be let in. Likewise,
the slower the shutter speed, the more light will be let in.
A slow shutter speed allows more light into the camera, making photos
brighter. However, because the shutter is open longer, moving subjects
appear blurred. A fast shutter speed allows less light in, making photos
darker. However, because the shutter is open for a shorter time, moving
subjects look sharper and more focused.
1 s 1/250 s

19
Concepts in Photography
ISO sensitivity
The exposure of an image is determined by the sensitivity of the camera to
light. This sensitivity is measured by a set of international lm standards,
known as ISO standards. On digital cameras, this sensitivity rating is used
to indicate the light sensitivity of the digital sensor that captures the
image.
ISO sensitivity doubles as the ISO number doubles. For example, an ISO
200 setting is capable of capturing images at twice the speed of an ISO
100 setting. However, higher ISO settings can result in “noise“—small
specks, spots, and other phenomena in a photo that give the shot a noisy
or dirty appearance. As a general rule, it is best to use a low ISO setting
to prevent noise in your photos, unless you are shooting in darkened
environments or at night.
A photo captured with a low ISO setting.
The photo is clear.
The same shot captured with a high ISO
setting. The photo is grainy.
Because a low ISO setting means the camera will be less sensitive to light,
you need more light to have an optimal exposure. When using a low ISO
setting, open the aperture more or reduce the shutter speed to allow
more light to enter the camera. For example, on a sunny day when light
is abundant, a low ISO setting does not require a slow shutter speed.
However, in a dark place or at night, a low ISO setting will result in a blurry
photo. To compensate for the lower light level, you should increase the ISO
setting by a moderate amount.
A photo captured with a tripod and a high
ISO setting.
A blurred photo captured by a camera.