"Sunny f/16 Rule". It says:

"On a bright, sunny day, the correct exposure for any subject is f/16 at the shutter speed nearest to the reciprocal of the film speed."

http://www.fredparker.com/ultexp1.htm#usethrow

I know the EV from the "Sunny f/16 Rule" matches with my Gossen Lunasix light meter.

Does the simple EV estimating method work on a M6?

Thank you for the reply,

James

-- JAMES LIN (SIGPE57@YAHOO.COM), May 02, 2001

Answers

Yes. It works for any camera, though if you have a meter you would probably do just as well to use it. I have an article on estimating exposure at http:/ /unblinkingeye.com/Articles/Exposure/exposure.html.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edb@unblinkingeye.com), May 02, 2001.

Great article, Ed. I really enjoyed reading it. Thanks!

-- Steve Hoffman (shoffman2@socal.rr.com), May 02, 2001.

The problem with the sunny rule is that most of the least interesting images are taken outside in bright sunlight. Early or late in the day, or during stormy weather, or in indirect sunlight is where the lighting is more interesting, it can be difficult to guess exposures correctly. Also, in the winter time, the exposures in the sun are usually a stop or so less bright than the sunny 16 rule would deliver. (sun less high in the sky=less intensity)

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), May 02, 2001.

Here in South Florida, it is "Sunny 22" rule. I have a very interesting exposure guide which came with my 9x12 Zeiss Maximar, which gives exposure for month of the year, time of day, latitude, and elevation!

-- Bill Mitchell (bmitch@home.com), May 02, 2001.

Interesting you mention that. After I moved to S. Florida I thought my eyes just gradually got more sensitive to the light, I would be squinting all the time outside. Then I noticed my guesstimate- exposure shots were all overexposed and finally it dawned on me. NOw when I go up north, especially in the winter (really hate to do that!) everything seems dim, like at noon in Michigan it's like S. Florda at 4PM. I guess the instructions on the Kodak film must be for upstate New York?

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), May 02, 2001.

A couple of decades ago Kodak film cartons had exposure charts printed inside them, the bright sunlight number corrresponding to the "sunny-16" rule. But the caveat, "mid morning to mid-afternoon in middle latitudes", or words to that effect, was included. It is brighter in the tropics.

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), May 06, 2001.

Very helpfull article, Ed. Many thanks!!

-- Nuno Fontes Nunes (Nuno.Fontes_Nunes@curia.eu.int), May 08, 2001.