Sunny f/16 rule
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In photography, the sunny f/16 rule is a method to obtain correct exposure without using a light meter. Similar rules exist for moonlight photography.
The basis of the sunny f/16 rule are:
- Set the shutter speed to the nearest setting to the film speed
- Set the f stop according to the table below
| Aperture | Daylight Conditions | Shadow Detail |
|---|---|---|
| f/16 | Bright or hazy sun | Distinct |
| f/11 | Weak, hazy sun | Soft around edges |
| f/8 | Cloudy-bright light | Barely visible |
| f/5.6 | Heavy Overcast | No shadows |
| f/4 | Sunsets / Subject in open shade | |
| f/2.8 | Landscapes and skylines immediately after sunset. | |
| f/2 | Landscapes, city skylines 10 minutes after sunset. Neon lights, spotlighted subjects. | |
| f/1.4 | Las Vegas or Times Square at night. Store windows. Campfires, bonfires, burning buildings. Ice shows, football, baseball etc. at night. Interiors with bright fluorescent lights. |
For example: To shoot 100 ISO speed film in sunny conditions, set the shutter speed to 1/100 or 1/125 and the f-stop to f/16. With 200 ISO film, set the speed to 1/200 or 1/250. 400 ISO film, 1/500. As with other light readings, the shutter speed can be changed, as long as the f-stop is compensated. For example, 1/250th of a second at f/11 would be equivalent to 1/125th at f/16.
The rule works well for daylight outside photography. As the rule is based on incident light an experienced photographer could get better exposure than with any measure system based on reflected light.