ISO Sensitivity
Adjust ISO by stops and judge how much image noise to expect.
About ISO Sensitivity
Every ISO stop doubles sensor sensitivity, so the new value is the current ISO times two raised to the number of stops applied. Raising ISO recovers exposure that shutter or aperture cannot provide, at the visible cost of noise that grows with sensitivity.
Formula
ISO Sensitivity
New ISO = ISO x 2^stops
- stop
- A doubling of sensitivity
Worked example
With the default values below, ISO Sensitivity returns New ISO of 1,600. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.
Inputs used
- Current ISOminimum 25
- 200
- Changeaccepts -6–6 stops
- 3 stops
Results
- New ISO
- 1,600
- Stops Applied
- 3.0
- Noise Expectation
- Noticeable noise in shadows
Step by step
- 1Values used
- 2ISO Sensitivity
- 3New ISO= 1,600
- 4Stops Applied= 3.0
- 5Noise Expectation= Noticeable noise in shadows
Assumptions and limits
- The result is derived only from the 2 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
- In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
- Figures are rounded for display to 1 decimal place, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is ISO Sensitivity calculated?
New ISO = ISO x 2^stops Every ISO stop doubles sensor sensitivity, so the new value is the current ISO times two raised to the number of stops applied.
Why does ISO Sensitivity matter?
Raising ISO recovers exposure that shutter or aperture cannot provide, at the visible cost of noise that grows with sensitivity.
What values do I need to enter?
This calculator takes 2 inputs: Current ISO, Change. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.