Sunny 16 Rule for Great Exposure

Sunny 16 Rule

If you shoot with a mechanical camera with no light meter, a manual camera with broken meter, or you just want to learn how to shoot without using a meter with this is a great technique for you. The Sunny 16 rule will help you shoot without a meter and it’s very accurate when done right.

1. Set your aperture based on your conditions.
2. Set shutter speed* to match the film iso you’re shooting.
   100iso = 100th | 200iso = 200th | 400iso = 400th | 800iso = 800th
   *Round down if your camera doesn’t have the specific shutter speed. Example – both 100th, shoot at a 60th, no 200th, shoot at 125th.

Keep in mind, the Sunny 16 Rule is less of a rule and more of a guide. It’s really a starting point—and the more you use it the better you’ll understand it. When using this technique we recommend shooting only color negative and black & white film, which both have great exposure latitude. This way, you can safely err on the side of overexposure without worrying about blowing out your highlights.

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Metering for Film Photography How to Get a Good Exposure