EOS 5D Mark II ISO option limitations

[Kenpoist7]

I'm old , my camera (5D Mark II) is old, lets start there.

I've just starting learning the camera by watching YouTube. A couple of individuals talk about ISO and they use the "native" ISO settings most i.e. 160, 320, 640... However, my ISO is 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 and 6400. Even if I change ISO expansion on I only get the addition of L, H1 and H2. The Videos show that their ISO's are much more robust 100, 125, 160, 200, 250, 320, 400, 500, 640, 800, 1000, 1250, 1600, 2000, 2500, 3200, 4000, 5000, 6400.

I've updated the firmware to 2.1.2 thinking this would fix it, the outcome was no joy.

Any help will be much appreciated and thanks for your time.

[deebatman316 · Accepted solution]

Your camera is set to whole stops instead of 1/3 stop measurements.

[FloridaDrafter · Accepted solution]

---

@Kenpoist7 wrote:

I've just starting learning the camera by watching YouTube. A couple of individuals talk about ISO and they use the "native" ISO settings most i.e. 160, 320, 640... However, my ISO is 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 and 6400.

---

As mentioned, your camera is set to make full stop "jumps" in ISO per click. I don't own the 5D mark II, but I'm pretty sure you can change the ISO increments to 1/3 stop. You will need to look in the manual or just explore the menu structure in the camera.

Now, I'm not sure how advantageous this would be to your style of shooting, but I use 1/3rd to better control my shutter and fine tune exposure. It's all a matter of preference.

Newton

[Kenpoist7]

"Now, I'm not sure how advantageous this would be to your style of shooting..." That's the first time someone said I have style. 😁

I'm just learning, style isn't on my training list.

Thanks for sharing!

[ebiggs1]

"Most of the videos seem to believe the viewer has more knowledge (intelligence) about the equipment and processes of photography of which I have little."

Just keep in mind all of us and some still are in the beginning learning stages of photography. You are not alone there. 

As to ISO when cameras went digital they could have just as easily assigned a 1 to 10 numbering system or some other more modern scheme but somehow decided to stay with ISO from film usage. Actually ISO in a DSLR is more like a volume control knob like a stereo or radio has. It controls the amplification that is applied to the sensor circuitry.