Why do cameras have such high ISO?

Have you ever thought about why camera makers keep pushing for higher and higher ISO? Honestly, have you ever used your camera with ISO anywhere near 25,600? I know I haven't. Well, let me take that back, I tried once just messing around to see what the photo would look like. The photo was very grainy of course.

I just find it funny how advertising high ISO seems like the new marketing tool just like high MP was/is.

It's the Low Light Mania. Somewhere along the way flash became a Bad Thing.

Thing that get's me is the ISO keeps going up but it is still recommended to shoot at low ISO!

Simple answer is, it makes impossible shots, possible. The average happy snapper may not use higher ISO's but many people benefit from the lower noise, higher ISO cameras now available. Sports shooters, concert shooters, photojournalists and even wedding photographers. Some places don't allow flash, so a higher ISO is the only way to go. I don't think a photographer would last long popping a flash while documenting a behind the lines revolutionary group.
So, is 25,600 a useful setting? Maybe not now, but I've seen great images made at 6400 and higher. I remember when I wouldn't shoot anything but 100 speed film because 400 sucked and 800 looked like trash. Now I can shoot 1600 with an old Nikon D200 and with a little noise reduction produce images that blow away the old higher speed film junk. I hope to see a camera that can shoot a black cat in an enclosed closet and see the detail in the fur. It's not there yet but as the old saying goes, "We've come a long way baby".

Fixer is correct. I like where the technology is taking us. A few weeks back I was shooting an unlit mountain at midnight, and the "high ISO" capable D700 performed great at 1600 and 3200. There were a few shots not probable a few years ago. Of course, you could leave your camera on its native ISO permanently, but I choose to use the features.....

But sometime in the future 25,600 ISO might be nose free

Jim Photo wrote: But sometime in the future 25,600 ISO might be nose free

I wouldn't want a camera that wouldn't show a nose. People would look completely silly.

Shadowfixer1 wrote: Simple answer is, it makes impossible shots, possible. The average happy snapper may not use higher ISO's but many people benefit from the lower noise, higher ISO cameras now available. Sports shooters, concert shooters, photojournalists and even wedding photographers. Some places don't allow flash, so a higher ISO is the only way to go. I don't think a photographer would last long popping a flash while documenting a behind the lines revolutionary group.
So, is 25,600 a useful setting? Maybe not now, but I've seen great images made at 6400 and higher. I remember when I wouldn't shoot anything but 100 speed film because 400 sucked and 800 looked like trash. Now I can shoot 1600 with an old Nikon D200 and with a little noise reduction produce images that blow away the old higher speed film junk. I hope to see a camera that can shoot a black cat in an enclosed closet and see the detail in the fur. It's not there yet but as the old saying goes, "We've come a long way baby".

effron wrote: Fixer is correct. I like where the technology is taking us. A few weeks back I was shooting an unlit mountain at midnight, and the "high ISO" capable D700 performed great at 1600 and 3200. There were a few shots not probable a few years ago. Of course, you could leave your camera on its native ISO permanently, but I choose to use the features.....

With my fellow old farts.
In order to get good results or even close to 1600 in the good old film days you had to hyper/cook your film to make it more sensitive. Once hypered you had to use it soon after, but keeping it in the freezer gave you maybe two weeks of shelf life. Now with the new sensors life is good, and I only see it getting better as they improve the high ISO range even more. I see it as being like anything else in life, it is better to have something you do not need all of the time, than it is to need it and not have it. With high ISO you could be out and see a shot, and shoot it hand held because you do not have any support, or you could say with no high ISO gee that would have been a nice shot, or try to get it and fail hand held. I will take the getting it over wishing I could have anytime.

It's a safety net for when you need it

The higher the ISO a sensor can achieve (natively, not artificiality pushed) the better the lower ISO noise levels will be too.

Stealthy Ninja wrote: The higher the ISO a sensor can achieve (natively, not artificiality pushed) the better the lower ISO noise levels will be too.