ISO 500
Sensitivity
+2.3
Stops vs ISO 100
5.00×
Brightness gain vs ISO 100
ISO 500 in practice: Clean on almost any modern camera.
Shutter speeds at ISO 500#
| Light | f/1.4 | f/2.8 | f/5.6 | f/8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV 15 · Bright sun, distinct shadows (Sunny 16) | too bright | too bright | 1/5000 s | 1/2500 s |
| EV 12 · Heavy overcast / open shade | too bright | 1/2500 s | 1/640 s | 1/320 s |
| EV 10 · Just after sunset | 1/2500 s | 1/640 s | 1/160 s | 1/80 s |
| EV 8 · Bright interior, city street at night | 1/640 s | 1/160 s | 1/40 s | 1/20 s |
| EV 6 · Home interior, daytime | 1/160 s | 1/40 s | 1/10 s | 1/5 s |
| EV 4 · Candle-lit close-up, Christmas lights | 1/40 s | 1/10 s | 0.4 s | 0.8 s |
| EV 2 · Distant city lights | 1/10 s | 0.4 s | 1.6 s | 3.2 s |
| EV 0 · Dim interior, Milky Way in moonlight | 0.4 s | 1.6 s | 6 s | 13 s |
| EV -2 · Moonlit landscape | 1.6 s | 6 s | 25 s | 1 min |
| EV -4 · Aurora (bright) | 6 s | 25 s | 2 min | 4 min |
| EV -6 · Milky Way, starlight only | 25 s | 2 min | > 4 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 500 ≈ on | Equivalent ISO (same total light) |
|---|---|
| APS-C (1.5×) | ISO 222 |
| Micro Four Thirds (2×) | ISO 125 |
| 1-inch (2.7×) | ISO 69 |
| Medium format 44×33 (0.79×) | ISO 801 |
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 500 high?
Moderate. Clean on almost any modern camera.
When should I use ISO 500?
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