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Comprehensive calculator for exposure values, ISO, aperture, and shutter speed
Exposure Value (EV)
EV 11.9
Light Value (LV)
LV 11.9
Shutter Speed
1/125s
| EV | Lighting Condition | ISO 100 @ f/16 | ISO 100 @ f/2.8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EV -6 | Night, no moon | 16 min | 15 sec |
| EV -4 | Night, crescent moon | 4 min | 4 sec |
| EV -2 | Night, half moon | 1 min | 1 sec |
| EV 0 | Dim ambient light | 15 sec | 1/4 sec |
| EV 2 | Distant city lights | 4 sec | 1/15 sec |
| EV 4 | Home interior | 1 sec | 1/60 sec |
| EV 6 | Bright interior | 1/4 sec | 1/250 sec |
| EV 8 | Landscape in shade | 1/15 sec | 1/1000 sec |
| EV 10 | Cloudy sky | 1/60 sec | 1/4000 sec |
| ISO | Low Light Performance | Noise Level | Speed Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISO 100 | Poor | Minimal | Slow |
| ISO 200 | Fair | Very Low | Moderate |
| ISO 400 | Good | Low | Good |
| ISO 800 | Very Good | Moderate | Fast |
| ISO 1600 | Excellent | Noticeable | Very Fast |
| ISO 3200 | Outstanding | High | Extremely Fast |
| ISO 6400 | Extreme | Very High | Maximum |
The exposure triangle consists of three fundamental elements that control how light or dark your photographs appear: ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed. Mastering these three components is essential for creative photography.
ISO measures your camera sensor's sensitivity to light. Lower ISO values (100-400) produce cleaner images with less noise but require more light. Higher ISO values (1600+) allow shooting in darker conditions but introduce digital noise. Modern cameras handle high ISO better than ever, but it's still best to use the lowest ISO that gives you the shutter speed you need.
Aperture controls how much light enters through the lens opening and affects depth of field. Wide apertures (f/1.4-f/2.8) create shallow depth of field with blurred backgrounds, perfect for portraits. Narrow apertures (f/8-f/16) keep more in focus, ideal for landscapes. Aperture is measured in f-stops, where smaller numbers mean larger openings.
Shutter speed determines how long the sensor is exposed to light and controls motion blur. Fast shutter speeds (1/500s+) freeze action, crucial for sports and wildlife. Slow shutter speeds (1/30s or slower) create motion blur, useful for waterfalls or light trails. The reciprocal rule suggests using a minimum shutter speed of 1/focal_length to avoid camera shake.
EV is a single number representing all combinations of aperture and shutter speed that give the same exposure. Each increase of 1 EV doubles the light, each decrease halves it. The EV system helps you quickly adjust exposure by understanding that changing any element by one stop can be compensated by changing another element by one stop in the opposite direction.
The Sunny 16 rule states that on a bright sunny day, set your aperture to f/16 and your shutter speed to the reciprocal of your ISO (e.g., ISO 100 = 1/100s). This gives you a properly exposed image and serves as a starting point for other lighting conditions.
Use the reciprocal rule: your shutter speed should be at least 1/focal_length. For a 50mm lens, use at least 1/50s (or 1/60s). For longer lenses or when handheld stability is difficult, increase shutter speed, use image stabilization, or raise ISO to compensate.
One stop equals one EV. Increasing exposure by one stop (opening aperture one stop, slowing shutter speed by one stop, or doubling ISO) increases EV by 1. All three elements of the exposure triangle work together in this way.
Not necessarily. Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority modes are excellent for most situations. Use Manual mode when you need complete control (studio lighting, consistent exposure across multiple shots) or when lighting is tricky. The best mode is the one that helps you capture the shot.
Start with the lowest ISO that allows your desired aperture and shutter speed. If you need a faster shutter speed or smaller aperture in low light, increase ISO. Modern cameras handle ISO 1600-3200 well, so don't be afraid to raise it when needed.