Sunny 16 Rule (Page 2): I just have to conclude that your camera ISO rating is overrated by 2 stops.

BebuLamar

I just have to conclude that your camera ISO rating is overrated by 2 stops.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

DeanS wrote:

Can’t figure out why the “Sunny 16 Rule” doesn’t work so well on my 5D/IV. The lens is Canon 70-200 F4 L/II.

Conditions: Bright, sunny, mostly clear sky. All three shots SOOC.

First (IMG_3321): A Priority, F16, 200 ISO, 1/20 Exp (Yes, 1/20th SS)
Second: (IMG_3322): Manual Mode, F16, 200 ISO, 1/200
Third (IMG_3323): Manual Mode, F8, 200 ISO, 1/200

Comments?

Thanks

The Sunny 16 rule is from an earlier time and is less valid with modern cameras, especially if you are using fast lenses that often display the results of diffraction issues by f/16. It is rare indeed for me to use aperture smaller than f/11 in virtually any situation.

Grahame Loc: Fiji

mwsilvers wrote:

The Sunny 16 rule is from an earlier time and is less valid with modern cameras, especially if you are using fast lenses that often display the results of diffraction issues by f/16. It is rare indeed for me to use aperture smaller than f/11 in virtually any situation.

Yes the sunny 16 rule comes from an earlier time but is still relevant as it refers to the parameter settings with respect to A,S and ISO when shooting during a sunny day, whether a wide or small aperture is used.

If you set your parameters in a configuration equivalent to 14.6 EV (sunny 16) and take a pic with sky included on a sunny day the sky will look reasonably correct, not as per the ops image 2.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Grahame wrote:

Yes the sunny 16 rule comes from an earlier time but is still relevant as it refers to the parameter settings with respect to A,S and ISO when shooting during a sunny day, whether a wide or small aperture is used.

If you set your parameters in a configuration equivalent to 14.6 EV (sunny 16) and take a pic with sky included on a sunny day the sky will look reasonably correct, not as per the ops image 2.

If I use my 17mm f/1.4 manual focus prime lens at f/16 for a landscape, which is the smallest aperture for that lens, the softening effects of diffraction will be very obvious. If you understand the exposure triangle and have an internal light meter in your camera the Sunny 16 "rule" is not really as important today as it once might have been, and as I pointed out in this post and my previous one, if you are using a fast lens and f/16 is your smallest aperture it definitely is not a good idea to use it.

Grahame Loc: Fiji

mwsilvers wrote:

If I use my 17mm f/1.4 manual focus prime lens at ... (show quote)

The OP's problem is that images have come out far too dark to what would be expected at the 'settings' he used.

The aperture/speed/ISO used, diffraction, metering methods and modes, bracketing or whether someone considers the sunny 16 rule/term significant are really irrelevant and not applicable to his problem/findings. His test/example images surely had no other significance other than demonstrating the final image 'brightness' anomaly results.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Grahame wrote:

The OP's problem is that images have come out far too dark to what would be expected at the 'settings' he used.

The aperture/speed/ISO used, diffraction, metering methods and modes, bracketing or whether someone considers the sunny 16 rule/term significant are really irrelevant and not applicable to his problem/findings. His test/example images surely had no other significance other than demonstrating the final image 'brightness' anomaly results.

I was aware of that. My point was just intended an argument against relying on the Sunny 16 "rule" in the first place.

BebuLamar

I must point out that when you use the sunny 16 rule you don't have to use f/16.

tdozier3 Loc: Northern Illinois

DeanS wrote:

Can’t figure out why the “Sunny 16 Rule” doesn’t work so well on my 5D/IV. The lens is Canon 70-200 F4 L/II.

Conditions: Bright, sunny, mostly clear sky. All three shots SOOC.

First (IMG_3321): A Priority, F16, 200 ISO, 1/20 Exp (Yes, 1/20th SS)
Second: (IMG_3322): Manual Mode, F16, 200 ISO, 1/200
Third (IMG_3323): Manual Mode, F8, 200 ISO, 1/200

Comments?

Thanks

Rules ? We don't need no stinking rules ! Rules are made to be broken .

AndyT Loc: Hampstead, New Hampshire

Whenever I've used the f/16 rule, it has always been underexposed so I always open up one stop.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

DeanS wrote:

Can’t figure out why the “Sunny 16 Rule” doesn’t work so well on my 5D/IV. The lens is Canon 70-200 F4 L/II.

Conditions: Bright, sunny, mostly clear sky. All three shots SOOC.

First (IMG_3321): A Priority, F16, 200 ISO, 1/20 Exp (Yes, 1/20th SS)
Second: (IMG_3322): Manual Mode, F16, 200 ISO, 1/200
Third (IMG_3323): Manual Mode, F8, 200 ISO, 1/200

Comments?

Thanks

Looks like a bracketed series! Sure bracketing was turned off?

Lucian Loc: From Wales, living in Ohio

tradio wrote:

#2 & 3 have the same settings but totally different results.....What about exposure compensation...?

Ummm, no they do not have the same settings. Take a look at the aperture, f8 and f16 are waaayyy different to each other, hence the different results.

BebuLamar

When you use the sunny 16 rule then bracketing or EC don't apply.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

DeanS wrote:

Can’t figure out why the “Sunny 16 Rule” doesn’t work so well on my 5D/IV. The lens is Canon 70-200 F4 L/II.

Conditions: Bright, sunny, mostly clear sky. All three shots SOOC.

First (IMG_3321): A Priority, F16, 200 ISO, 1/20 Exp (Yes, 1/20th SS)
Second: (IMG_3322): Manual Mode, F16, 200 ISO, 1/200
Third (IMG_3323): Manual Mode, F8, 200 ISO, 1/200

Comments?

Thanks

Why?
With today's exposure systems why even mess with a 19th century system.
I photograph for effect, either manual or aperture priority.
Too many variables in life to be stuck in the past.
Relax and let your camera reside in manual or aperture, you'll enjoy life better.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Maybe your camera doesn't like rules. : )

I prefer to use electronics over those old "rule of thumb" suggestions.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

AndyT wrote:

Whenever I've used the f/16 rule, it has always been underexposed so I always open up one stop.

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