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Picture Too Dark? Picture Too Bright?

Decrease Exposure or Dim Light or
Increase Exposure or Add Flash or CAMERA EXPOSURE CHART
Use a larger f/stop, more time, or higher ISO Use a smaller f/stop, less time, or lower ISO
Aperture: Camera Aperture Sizes are called f/Stops. The aperture controls the brightness & amount of light entering the camera & depth of field.

f/2 f/2.2 f/2.5 f/2.8 3.2 3.5 f/4 f/4.5 f/5 f/5.6 f/6.3 f/7.1 f/8 f/9 f/10 f/11 f/13 f/14 f/16 f/18 f/20 f/22 f/25.3 f/28
INCREASE IN EXPOSURE DECREASE IN EXPOSURE
Larger Opening in the Lens Smaller opening in the lens
Each f/stop is either
Lets in more light Lets in less light
1/2 or twice the size
Less depth of field More depth of field
of the one next to it.
Requires less time (faster shutter speed) Requires more time (slower shutter speed)

NOTE: Full stops are shown in bold type & underlined – 1/3 stops are shown between f/stops and shutter speeds

Shutter Speeds: Shutter controls how long light will enter the camera and whether motion will be sharp or blurred.
B 1 sec 1/2 1/4 1/8 1/15 1/30 1/60 1/125 1/250 1/500 1/1000 1/2000
* * 1.3 1. 6 * 2,5 3 * 5 6 * 10 13 * 20 25 * 40 50 80 100 160 200 320 400 640 800 1250 1600

INCREASE IN EXPOSURE Each shutter speed is either DECREASE IN EXPOSURE

Longer - more exposure time 1/2 the time or twice the time Shorter - less exposure time
Slower shutter speed of the one next to it. Faster shutter speed
Action blurred Action stopped
*Slower Shutter Speeds - Use a cable release and a tripod for a 50mm lens.
Minimum Hand Held The minimum hand held shutter speed for any lens is the next shutter speed that is faster than the focal length of the lens.
Shutter Speed Formula: Example: 50mm lens use 1/60; 200mm lens use 1/250; 300mm lens use 1/500

ZONE SCALE - ZONE SYSTEM

BLACK Zone Zone Zone Zone Zone Zone Zone Zone Zone Zone WHITE
Decrease In I II III IV *V* VI VII VIII IX X Increase In
Exposure Exposure
Each zone represents a one stop change in exposure. ZONE V (5) is middle gray.
Negative Film: Keep important values between Zones II-VIII (2 & 8) Slide Film or Digital: Keep important values between Zones II & VII (2 & 7)

Revised 8/26/17 Page 1

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CAMERA EXPOSURE CHART

ISO – International Standards Organization – Is a measurement scale that determines the sensitivity of film or digital media to light. Each full ISO is either ½ or 2x
the amount of light as the next ISO.

The higher the ISO of the film or setting for your digital camera the less light you need to record an image. If you need one light bulb to create an image at ISO
6400, you’ll need to double that for ISO 3200, double that for ISO 1600 and so on. The lower the ISO the more light you need to take a picture. The higher
the ISO, the less light you need. However, remember that higher ISO’s have less detail, lower quality, more grain, and more digital noise. Low ISO’s produce
pictures with finer quality, detail, and less grain & digital noise. It all depends on how much light is present when you take the picture what ISO you will choose. If
it’s dark, you’ll usually use a higher ISO. If it’s bright you’ll probably want a lower ISO. If quality is the goal, the lower ISO the better. It’s always a balancing act.

ISO 50 (64, 80)* Best quality & detail – low digital noise ISO 100 (125, 160)* ISO 200 (250, 300)* ISO 400 (500, 640)*

ISO 800 (1000, 1250)* ISO 1600 (2000, 2500)* ISO 3200 (4000, 5000)* IS0 6400 Lowest Quality &
detail - More digital noise

ISO
* The numbers in (parentheses) represent P
the 1/3 stops between each ISO
The Aperture, ISO, & Shutter Speed all work together and
create and image based on the amount of light present in
your scene. A change in one affects the others.
Photographic
Triangle Shutter
Aperture Speed
Revised 8/26/17 Page 2