How To Correctly “Guess” Daylight Exposure Without A Light Meter?

by Jaxon S on May 2, 2010

in Tips and Tricks

This is perhaps suitable only for those with a DSLR camera or an advanced point-and-shoot that allows a full manual control.

For those with a point-and-shoot which offers only programme and pre-programme modes, well, there is nothing much you can do except to just point your camera and shoot and hope for the best.

Here it goes: when taking photograph in a bright, sunny day, remember this formula: f/16 + 1/ISO. It a proven technique to estimate daylight exposure without a light meter.

The formula, sometimes known as the Sunny 16 rule can be explained in one sentence: “On a sunny day, set the exposure value to f/16, and make sure the shutter speed and ISO value are about the same number“. More information on the Sunny 16 technique…

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