2. Z 5 Online Manual
  3. Shooting Controls
  4. The S Button

The S Button

The camera’s sensitivity to light (ISO sensitivity) can be adjusted according to the amount of light available. In general, choosing higher values allows faster shutter speeds at the same aperture.

Adjusting ISO Sensitivity

  • Hold the S button and rotate the main command dial.

  • Choose from values of from ISO 100 to 51200. Extended settings of from about 0.3 to 1 EV below ISO 100 and 0.3 to 1 EV above ISO 51200 are also available.

  • b offers an ISO AUTO option.

  • The option currently selected is shown in the display during shooting.

High ISO Sensitivities

The higher the ISO sensitivity, the less light needed to make an exposure, allowing pictures to be taken when lighting is poor and helping prevent blur when the subject is in motion. Note, however, that the higher the sensitivity, the more likely the image is to be affected by “noise” in the form of randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, or lines.

Hi 0.3–Hi 1.0

A setting of [Hi 0.3] corresponds to an ISO sensitivity approximately 0.3 EV higher than ISO 51200 (ISO 64000) and [Hi 1.0] to an ISO sensitivity approximately 1 EV higher (ISO 102400). Note that pictures taken at these settings are particularly prone to “noise” in the form of randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, or lines.

Lo 0.3–Lo 1.0

[Lo 0.3] corresponds to an ISO sensitivity about 0.3 EV below ISO 100 (equivalent to ISO 80). [Lo 1.0] is roughly 1 EV below ISO 100 (ISO 50). Use for larger apertures or slower shutter speeds when lighting is bright. Highlights may be overexposed. In most cases, ISO sensitivities of ISO [100] or above are recommended.

Auto ISO Sensitivity Control

Auto ISO sensitivity control automatically adjusts ISO sensitivity if optimal exposure cannot be achieved at the value selected by the user in modes P, S, A, and M. You can select an upper limit for auto ISO sensitivity control (200–Hi 1.0) to prevent ISO sensitivity being raised too high.

  • Hold the S button and rotate the sub-command dial to select from ISO AUTO (auto ISO sensitivity control enabled) and ISO (auto ISO sensitivity control disabled).

  • When auto ISO sensitivity control is enabled, the shooting display will show ISO AUTO. When sensitivity is altered from the value selected by the user, the ISO sensitivity will be shown in the displays.

  • Maximum sensitivity can be adjusted using the [ISO sensitivity settings] item in the photo shooting menu.

Auto ISO Sensitivity Control

  • If value currently selected for [ISO sensitivity settings] is higher than that chosen for [Maximum sensitivity], the value chosen for [ISO sensitivity settings] will serve as the upper limit for auto ISO sensitivity control.

  • During flash photography, shutter speed is limited to the range defined by the values selected for Custom Settings e1 [Flash sync speed] and e2 [Flash shutter speed].