Outdoor Exposure Calculator: Know Your Exposure Values

Exposure Calculator

Welcome to the Outdoor Photography Exposure Calculator, your go-to tool for mastering exposure in various lighting conditions. Whether you're capturing the serene beauty of a landscape at sunrise or the vibrant moments of street life in daylight, getting your exposure right is vital for stunning photographs. This interactive calculator allows you to adjust key settings such as aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, ensuring that every shot is perfectly balanced. Explore different scene types and time of day to see how adjustments can impact your images. Let’s get started on your journey to achieving breathtaking outdoor photography!

 
Outdoor Photography Exposure Calculator 1.2p

Outdoor Photography Exposure Calculator 1.2p

Visualise and calculate the perfect exposure settings for your outdoor photography.
For educational purposes only - real life light and situations may vary

Scene Settings

Scene Type
Time of Day
Subject Distance
? Distance to your main subject (focus point).
0.5m

Camera Settings

Aperture Priority
You set aperture, camera sets shutter speed
Shutter Priority
You set shutter speed, camera sets aperture
Manual
Full manual control of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO
Camera Type
Lens Focal Length
50.0mm
Aperture
? Controls depth of field and light. Lower f-number = more light, shallower depth of field.
Primary
f/3.5
Shutter Speed
? Controls motion blur and light. Faster speed = less light, freezes motion.
Auto 🔒
1s
ISO
? Controls sensor sensitivity. Higher ISO = more light, more noise.
Secondary
100
Auto ISO
Automatically adjust ISO for proper exposure
In Aperture Priority mode, the camera will automatically set the shutter speed based on your aperture and ISO settings.

Exposure Meter

Overexposed by 4.4 stops
Scene Preview
Motion Preview - Dancers
Motion
Shows how your shutter speed affects motion. Fast shutter speeds freeze motion, while slower speeds create blur.
1s
Noise
Shows how ISO affects image noise. Higher ISO values produce more visible noise, especially in shadow areas.
ISO 100
Depth of Field Preview - Row of Trees
Depth of Field
Shows how aperture affects depth of field. Smaller f-numbers create more background blur.
f/3.5

Scene Information

Exposure Value (EV):
? Measures the amount of light in the scene. Higher values indicate brighter conditions.
8.0
Hyperfocal Distance: i 24.7m

What is Hyperfocal Distance?

Hyperfocal distance is the focus point that gives you the greatest depth of field. If you focus here, everything from half that distance to infinity will be sharp.

Best used in landscape photography to keep everything from the foreground to the horizon in focus.

Depth of Field: i 0.49m - 0.51m (0.0m total) Shallow depth of field

What is Depth of Field?

Depth of Field (DoF) is the range from the nearest to the furthest object that appears sharp. A shallow DoF is great for portraits, while a deep DoF is ideal for landscapes.

The smaller your aperture (larger f-number), the more in-focus your scene will be.

35mm Equivalent:
? The equivalent focal length on a full-frame (35mm) camera, accounting for your sensor's crop factor.
50mm
Recommended Settings:
? Suggested camera settings for optimal exposure in the current scene conditions.
f/8, 1/4s, ISO 100

Exposure Histogram

Shadows Midtones Highlights

Photography Tips

Aperture Effects

The aperture controls both the amount of light entering your camera and the depth of field in your image.

Current Effect:

At f/4, you'll have a moderately shallow depth of field, good for isolating subjects while keeping important elements in focus.

Shutter Speed Effects

The shutter speed determines how motion is captured in your image and affects the amount of light reaching the sensor.

Current Effect:

At 1/60s, you can handhold your camera with good technique, and moving subjects will show some motion blur.

ISO Effects

ISO determines your camera sensor's sensitivity to light, with higher values introducing more noise.

Current Effect:

At ISO 100, you'll have the cleanest image quality with minimal noise, ideal for well-lit conditions.

Exposure Triangle

The relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO determines your exposure. Changing one requires adjusting another to maintain the same exposure.

Current Balance:

Your current settings will result in an overexposed image. Consider using a faster shutter speed, smaller aperture, or lower ISO.

Exposure Value (EV) Reference Table

This table shows typical EV values for different lighting conditions and their recommended camera settings.

EV Lighting Condition Typical Settings (f/5.6, ISO 100)
-6 Night, away from city lights, stars f/5.6, 2m 5s
-4 Night, distant city glow f/5.6, 30s
-2 Night scenes, city lights f/5.6, 8s
0 Night indoor, bright street f/5.6, 2s
2 Indoor lighting, twilight f/5.6, 1/2s
4 Bright indoor, deep shade f/5.6, 1/8s
6 Overcast day, open shade f/5.6, 1/30s
8 Cloudy bright f/5.6, 1/125s
10 Hazy sun f/5.6, 1/500s
12 Bright sunny day f/5.6, 1/2000s
14 Bright sun on sand/snow f/5.6, 1/8000s
16 Extremely bright (may need ND filter) f/5.6, 1/32000s (with ND filter)

© 2023 Photography Exposure Calculator | Developed by Alan Ranger Photography | Version 1.2p

All images used are for demonstration purposes only.

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Outdoor Exposure Calculator