Nikon 5400 Manuel D’Utilisation

Sensitivity is a measure of how quickly the camera reacts to light.  The higher 
the sensitivity, the less light needed to make an exposure, allowing the same 
exposure to be achieved with faster shutter speeds or smaller apertures.  In a 
fi lm camera, sensitivity is a characteristic of the fi lm, not the camera.  The ISO 
ratings on fi lm packages are a measure of sensitivity —the higher the ISO rat-
ing, the more sensitive the fi lm.  Higher sensitivity is achieved by altering the 
chemical composition of the fi lm, causing a random pattern, called “grain,” 
to appear in the fi nal picture.  In a digital camera, increased sensitivity has a 
similar effect: higher sensitivities allow higher shutter speeds, at the expense 
of “noise” — randomly spaced, brightly colored pixels that appear mainly in 
dark parts of the image.

In 

 (auto) and 

 (scene) modes, the camera automatically raises sensi-

tivity when lighting is poor.  In P, S, A, and M modes, the following options 
are available:

Approximately equivalent to an ISO rating of 50.  Recommended except 
when lighting is poor or when faster shutter speeds are required (e.g., 
when photographing moving objects).  Noise may appear in pictures taken 
at ISO settings above this value.

Approximately equivalent to an ISO rating of 100.

Equivalent to a setting of 50 under normal conditions; when lighting is 
poor, however, camera automatically compensates by raising sensitivity to 
a maximum equivalent to ISO 200.

Approximately equivalent to an ISO rating of 200.

Approximately equivalent to an ISO rating of 400.

In 

 and 

 modes, or when a sensitivity of Auto is selected in P, S, A, or M 

mode, an ISO icon is displayed in the monitor whenever sensitivity is raised above ISO 
50 equivalent.  Noise may appear in pictures taken when this icon is displayed.

Noise reduction (

  111) can be used to reduce noise in pictures taken at shutter 

speeds of about ¼ s or slower.