ISO sensitivity

ISO 800

Exposure tables and noise expectations for ISO 800.

ISO 800
Sensitivity
+3.0
Stops vs ISO 100
8.00×
Brightness gain vs ISO 100
ISO 800 in practice: Clean on almost any modern camera.

Shutter speeds at ISO 800#

Lightf/1.4f/2.8f/5.6f/8
EV 15 · Bright sun, distinct shadows (Sunny 16)too brighttoo bright1/8000 s1/4000 s
EV 12 · Heavy overcast / open shadetoo bright1/4000 s1/1000 s1/500 s
EV 10 · Just after sunset1/4000 s1/1000 s1/250 s1/125 s
EV 8 · Bright interior, city street at night1/1000 s1/250 s1/60 s1/30 s
EV 6 · Home interior, daytime1/250 s1/60 s1/15 s1/8 s
EV 4 · Candle-lit close-up, Christmas lights1/60 s1/15 s1/4 s0.5 s
EV 2 · Distant city lights1/15 s1/4 s1 s2 s
EV 0 · Dim interior, Milky Way in moonlight1/4 s1 s4 s8 s
EV -2 · Moonlit landscape1 s4 s15 s30 s
EV -4 · Aurora (bright)4 s15 s1 min2 min
EV -6 · Milky Way, starlight only15 s1 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 800 ≈ onEquivalent ISO (same total light)
APS-C (1.5×)ISO 356
Micro Four Thirds (2×)ISO 200
1-inch (2.7×)ISO 110
Medium format 44×33 (0.79×)ISO 1,282

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 800 high?

Moderate. Clean on almost any modern camera.

When should I use ISO 800?

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