Sunny 16 Rule
Estimate exposure without a meter. On a sunny day at f/16, set your shutter speed to 1/ISO for correct exposure.
Calculate exposure
Select your ISO and lighting conditions
Recommended exposure for sunny
f/16
aperture
@
1/500
shutter
ISO 400 • Clear sky, distinct sharp shadows
Equivalent exposures
Same exposure, different aperture/shutter combinations
| Aperture | Shutter | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| f/1.4 | 1/4000 | Shallow DoF, low light |
| f/2 | 1/4000 | Shallow DoF, low light |
| f/2.8 | 1/2000 | Shallow DoF, low light |
| f/4 | 1/2000 | Portraits, some background blur |
| f/5.6 | 1/1000 | Portraits, some background blur |
| f/8 | 1/1000 | General purpose |
| f/11 | 1/500 | General purpose |
| f/16 | 1/500 | Landscapes, maximum DoF |
| f/22 | 1/250 | Landscapes, maximum DoF |
Sunny 16 quick reference
Aperture settings for different lighting conditions
| Condition | Aperture | Shadow |
|---|---|---|
| Snow or sand | f/22 | Bright reflective surfaces in direct sun |
| Sunny | f/16 | Clear sky, distinct sharp shadows |
| Slight overcast | f/11 | Sun visible, soft shadows |
| Overcast | f/8 | No shadows visible |
| Heavy overcast | f/5.6 | Dark cloudy day |
| Open shade / Sunset | f/4 | Subject in shade on sunny day |
Understanding the Sunny 16 Rule
The Sunny 16 rule is a method for estimating daylight exposure without a meter. The basic principle is simple:
On a sunny day: f/16, shutter speed = 1/ISO
From this baseline, you adjust aperture (not shutter) for different lighting:
- f/22 — Snow, sand, bright reflections
- f/16 — Sunny, distinct shadows
- f/11 — Slight overcast, soft shadows
- f/8 — Overcast, no shadows
- f/5.6 — Heavy overcast
- f/4 — Open shade, sunset
Tips for accuracy
- Judge shadows, not how bright it "feels" — eyes adapt
- Look for distinct shadows for "sunny", soft shadows for "slight overcast"
- In doubt, bracket your exposures
- Negative film has latitude — err toward overexposure
Log your exposures with Silverlog
Coming soon