New technology has made photography easier, faster, and less expensive. The International Standard for photography has been updated to ensure everyone is up to speed on image quality.
ISO 12232:2019, Photography – Digital still cameras – Determination of exposure index, ISO speed ratings, standard output sensitivity, and recommended exposure index, helps to ensure that cameras on a range of devices produce high-quality images.
The standard was developed by experts from international photographic companies including Apple, Canon, Google, Nikon, Olympus, and Sony.
Project Leader for ISO 12232 Ken Parulski said the International Standard is used for setting the proper camera exposure, either manually or automatically, when taking photos. The reported values are similar to ISO film speed values, which enable a film camera to properly expose images on photographic films having different light sensitivities.
“This revised version of ISO 12232 expands the ratings to include higher values, since cameras are becoming increasingly sensitive,” Parulski said. “Many are now able to capture high-quality photos at very low light levels. ISO 12232:2019 also simplifies and clarifies some of the processes and mathematical functions used to determine the reported values.”
ISO 12232 is also used to record the camera exposure as metadata in the image files of almost all current smartphone and digital cameras. It provides a standard method for comparing the photographic sensitivity of different digital– and smartphone cameras.
While helping consumers make better purchasing decisions, ISO 12232 also enables different products to operate seamlessly with one another and allows manufacturers of digital imaging equipment to introduce technology into products that conform to internationally agreed specifications.