ISO 1,600
Sensitivity
+4.0
Stops vs ISO 100
16.00×
Brightness gain vs ISO 100
ISO 1,600 in practice: Fine on APS-C and full frame; visible noise in shadows on small sensors.
Shutter speeds at ISO 1,600#
| Light | f/1.4 | f/2.8 | f/5.6 | f/8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV 15 · Bright sun, distinct shadows (Sunny 16) | too bright | too bright | too bright | 1/8000 s |
| EV 12 · Heavy overcast / open shade | too bright | 1/8000 s | 1/2000 s | 1/1000 s |
| EV 10 · Just after sunset | 1/8000 s | 1/2000 s | 1/500 s | 1/250 s |
| EV 8 · Bright interior, city street at night | 1/2000 s | 1/500 s | 1/125 s | 1/60 s |
| EV 6 · Home interior, daytime | 1/500 s | 1/125 s | 1/30 s | 1/15 s |
| EV 4 · Candle-lit close-up, Christmas lights | 1/125 s | 1/30 s | 1/8 s | 1/4 s |
| EV 2 · Distant city lights | 1/30 s | 1/8 s | 0.5 s | 1 s |
| EV 0 · Dim interior, Milky Way in moonlight | 1/8 s | 0.5 s | 2 s | 4 s |
| EV -2 · Moonlit landscape | 0.5 s | 2 s | 8 s | 15 s |
| EV -4 · Aurora (bright) | 2 s | 8 s | 30 s | 1 min |
| EV -6 · Milky Way, starlight only | 8 s | 30 s | 2 min | > 4 min |
Same noise on other formats#
At the same framing and depth of field, a full-frame camera at this ISO produces similar noise to the smaller formats at the lower ISOs shown (equivalence theory).
| Full frame ISO 1,600 ≈ on | Equivalent ISO (same total light) |
|---|---|
| APS-C (1.5×) | ISO 711 |
| Micro Four Thirds (2×) | ISO 400 |
| 1-inch (2.7×) | ISO 219 |
| Medium format 44×33 (0.79×) | ISO 2,564 |
Exposure calculator#
Your metered (or known good) exposure
New settings — change aperture and/or ISO, we solve the shutter speed
Equivalent shutter speed—
Exposure value (EV₁₀₀)—
Light conditions—
Other ISO values#
Frequently asked questions#
Is ISO 1,600 high?
Moderate. Fine on APS-C and full frame; visible noise in shadows on small sensors.
When should I use ISO 1,600?
When you need the shutter speed and aperture shown in the table above for your light level. Raise ISO only after you've reached the slowest safe shutter speed and widest useful aperture.
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources