Why does the E5 say to use ISO 200 and not 100 for standard use and what about when using strobes?

ISO 200 is the base ISO of the sensor; the point at which the sensor is capable of recording the most information, including having the widest dynamic range.ISO 100 will have less noise, but your image may suffer slightly in dynamic range. If you're controlling your lighting, reduced DR may not matter. -- http://www.photoklarno.com

Quite simply, Olympus has determined and other tests have borne out that ISO 200 produces the greatest Dynamic Range from the E-5 sensor. Although lower ISO's would tend to produce less noise in underexposed areas of an image, the noise at ISO 200 is not significant enough to warrant the loss of DR by shooting at lower ISO's.In practical use, it is pretty much 'hair splitting' in my opinion, but I do generally shoot at ISO 200 as a base ISO -- unless I need ISO 100 for shutter speed considerations.You can shoot with studio strobes at ISO 200, and at least be assured that you will record the maximum DR. Once again, if your exposures are correct it won't make a big difference if you shoot at ISO 100, 125, 160, or 200.God Bless, Greg http://www.imagismphotos.com http://www.mccroskery.zenfolio.com http://www.pbase.com/daddyo

Quite simply, Olympus has determined and other tests have borne out that ISO 200 produces the greatest Dynamic Range from the E-5 sensor. Although lower ISO's would tend to produce less noise in underexposed areas of an image, the noise at ISO 200 is not significant enough to warrant the loss of DR by shooting at lower ISO's.In practical use, it is pretty much 'hair splitting' in my opinion, but I do generally shoot at ISO 200 as a base ISO -- unless I need ISO 100 for shutter speed considerations.You can shoot with studio strobes at ISO 200, and at least be assured that you will record the maximum DR. Once again, if your exposures are correct it won't make a big difference if you shoot at ISO 100, 125, 160, or 200.I think I recall that there was a similar discussion thread when the E620 was new, with the same conclusion of a "standard" ISO 200 in regards to it and the E420. -- Zin