| The sensors found on digital SLR cameras are | | | | measured by using a yardstick known as ISO |
| much bigger than their point-and-shoot camera | | | | (International Organization for Standardization). |
| counterparts. This allows them to have a larger | | | | Most point-and-shoot digital cameras have a |
| area for capturing light and, potentially, much | | | | sensitivity range of about ISO 50 to ISO 800, |
| greater sensitivity with less lighting. | | | | with the former at the lower end and the latter |
| A dSLR's extra sensitivity is particularly useful for | | | | at the higher end. |
| # Taking pictures in dimly lit areas. | | | | Fuji recently introduced a compact digicam with its |
| # Freezing action by shortening exposure times. | | | | SuperCCD sensor that includes two light-sensitive |
| # Using smaller lens openings to increase the | | | | areas per pixel, having a sensitivity of ISO 1,600. |
| amount of subject matter that's in sharp focus. | | | | A model has also been introduced by Olympus, |
| Just in the Canon digital camera line, you can find | | | | with a monster ISO 10,000 capability. The |
| digital SLRs with 22.2 x 14.8mm to 24 x 36mm | | | | usefulness of these ultra-high ISO point-and-shoot |
| sensors (the size of a 35mm film frame). On the | | | | models remains to be seen. Otherwise, the vast |
| other hand, many of their digital point-and-shoot | | | | majority of non-SLR digital cameras top out at |
| cameras use a sensor that measures only 7.8 x | | | | ISO 800. Those with higher ISO settings have not |
| 5.32mm. To put in layman terms, the dSLR | | | | been found to be very good in terms of image |
| sensors have 8 to 20 times more area than their | | | | quality. |
| point and shoot counterparts. | | | | On the other hand, for digital SLRs - having |
| Imagine a sensor as a rectangular bucket and the | | | | sensors with greater sensitivity and larger light |
| light falling on it as drops of rain, you will note that | | | | gathering pixels - it is common for their ISO |
| the larger buckets will collect more drops (or the | | | | settings to go up to ISO 1,600. |
| particles of light called photons), and more quickly | | | | Many digital SLRs are capable of ISO 3,200 or |
| than the smaller ones. A certain number of | | | | higher. This extra speed is a double edged sword |
| photons are required to register an image, | | | | as you see in the section "Reducing noise in your |
| therefore a larger sensor can achieve the | | | | photos." However, the trade-off is worth it since |
| required amount more quickly. This means that a | | | | the added sensitivity allows you to shoot photos |
| larger sensor is more sensitive than a smaller one | | | | in dim light, take action pictures, and stretch the |
| under the same conditions. | | | | available depth-of-field. |
| In photography, the sensitivity to light is | | | | |