ISO 18383:2025
(Main)Digital imaging — Specification guideline for digital cameras
Digital imaging — Specification guideline for digital cameras
This document identifies a set of features that describes digital still cameras (DSCs), and it specifies their definitions, measurement methods, and presentation methods. This document applies to DSCs designed and produced for and promoted to general consumers and need not be applied to those DSCs designed and produced to meet individual and special specifications agreed upon by particular business or industrial users and the manufacturer. The presentation methods specified in this document are intended for use as notations on camera bodies, on product packaging, on promotional materials for advertising and at the point of purchase, in electronic or printed catalogues and other materials, and in the relevant software.
Imagerie numérique — Ligne directrice de spécification pour caméras numériques
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
International
Standard
ISO 18383
Second edition
Digital imaging — Specification
2025-10
guideline for digital cameras
Imagerie numérique — Ligne directrice de spécification pour
caméras numériques
Reference number
© ISO 2025
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 2
3.1 General terms relating to products .2
3.2 Terms in pixel related specifications (See B.2.1) .2
4 Definition set of the product specifications of DSCs . 4
4.1 Basic requirements .4
4.2 Definitions of specifications .5
4.2.1 General .5
4.2.2 Optical system .6
4.2.3 Camera control system .10
4.2.4 Key components .16
4.2.5 Recording system .24
4.2.6 Image quality .27
4.2.7 Response time . . . 34
4.2.8 Miscellaneous features .37
Annex A (normative) Measurement methods of features not related to image quality . 41
Annex B (normative) Related standards .48
Annex C (informative) Commentary .69
Bibliography . 74
iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 42, Photography.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 18383:2015), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— Annex B was revised with taking the CIPA DCG-001: 2018, “Individual Guidelines for noting digital camera
specifications on Number of pixels, Image file and Focal length of the lens” and ANSI/IS&T IT10.7000:
2015, “Digital Still Cameras – Guidelines for Reporting Pixel-Related Specifications” into account.
— Item 1, 2, 4 were revised in accordance with the revision of Annex B.
— Item 3 was revised.
— Item 8 was revised with taking the newly published CIPA DCG-008-2022 “Guideline for Presentation
Method of Shutter Speed on Digital Cameras” into account.
— The provision for item 24 was added as (f) magnification with taking the newly published CIPA DCG-002-
2023 “Specification Guideline for Digital Cameras” into account.
— Item 48 was revised in accordance with progress in standardization of referenced ISO standard.
— New Note 1 was added in A.4.2 to explain the relation of AF standards; ISO 15781, ISO/TS 20490.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
iv
Introduction
The digital still camera (DSC) marketplace continuously produces and promotes new and competitive
cameras. Requiring that manufacturers produce DSCs with standard numerical specifications impedes the
technical progress, interferes with fair market competition, hinders the sound development of the industry,
reduces camera innovation, and limits the customer's choice. On the other hand, standardized definitions of
a fundamental set of camera specifications can help consumers to choose, purchase, and use these cameras
because they provide the information needed to understand and compare the numerical specifications
offered by the manufacturers and, thus, contribute to the fair competition in the market.
The various fundamental features of DSCs have close relationships with other features, such as camera
size or cost. Nonetheless, these features, their relationships, and their numerical values vary with time and
technological evolution. Manufacturers design and build their cameras to numerical specifications that
balance performance with their estimation of the competitiveness of the product in and the feedback from
the marketplace.
This document identifies a set of fundamental features that describe DSCs, along with their accepted
definitions, measurements, and presentation methods, but it does not define nor specify numerical values
for the features, functions for calculating these values, nor limiting values required for these features.
This document is based on Reference [1] prepared by Camera and Imaging Products Association (CIPA).
v
International Standard ISO 18383:2025(en)
Digital imaging — Specification guideline for digital cameras
1 Scope
This document identifies a set of features that describes digital still cameras (DSCs), and it specifies their
definitions, measurement methods, and presentation methods. This document applies to DSCs designed
and produced for and promoted to general consumers and need not be applied to those DSCs designed and
produced to meet individual and special specifications agreed upon by particular business or industrial
users and the manufacturer.
The presentation methods specified in this document are intended for use as notations on camera bodies,
on product packaging, on promotional materials for advertising and at the point of purchase, in electronic or
printed catalogues and other materials, and in the relevant software.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 516, Camera shutters — Timing — General definition and mechanical shutter measurements
ISO 517, Photography — Apertures and related properties pertaining to photographic lenses — Designations
and measurements
ISO 2720, Photography — General purpose photographic exposure meters (photoelectric type) — Guide to
product specification
ISO 12232, Photography — Digital still cameras — Determination of exposure index, ISO speed ratings, standard
output sensitivity, and recommended exposure index
ISO 12233, Digital cameras — Resolution and spatial frequency responses
ISO 14524, Photography — Electronic still-picture cameras — Methods for measuring opto-electronic conversion
functions (OECFs)
ISO 15739, Photography — Electronic still-picture imaging — Noise measurements
ISO 15781, Photography — Digital still cameras — Measuring shooting time lag, shutter release time lag,
shooting rate, and start-up time lag
ISO 17850, Photography — Digital cameras — Geometric distortion (GD) measurements
ISO 17957, Photography — Digital cameras — Shading measurements
ISO 18844, Photography — Digital cameras — Image flare measurement
ISO 19084, Photography — Digital cameras — Chromatic displacement measurements
ISO 19567-1, Photography — Digital cameras — Texture reproduction measurements
ISO 20087, Photography — Digital still cameras — Battery life measurement
ISO 20954-1, Digital cameras — Measurement method for image stabilization performance — Part 1:
Optical systems
IEC 61747-6:2003, Liquid crystal and solid-state display devices — Part 6: Measuring methods for liquid crystal
modules — Transmissive type
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1 General terms relating to products
3.1.1
factory shipping conditions
factory shipping settings
factory shipping values
factory shipping mode
camera settings and parameters as configured by the manufacturer for shipping from the factory
3.1.2
primary notation
notation which describes feature name and value presented solely or most noticeably
3.2 Terms in pixel related specifications (See B.2.1)
3.2.1
35 mm film equivalent focal length
measured focal length of a DSC camera lens multiplied by a normalization factor
Note 1 to entry: This is defined in B.2.1.5.11.
Note 2 to entry: The normalization factor is equal to the ratio of the diagonal length of the picture size used for 35 mm
film photography and the diagonal length of the sensor picture size of the image sensor used in th
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.