Sunny 16 Rule

[gyoung]

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Good point Paul (and Gerry). For many years many amateurs had nothing but the box and the data sheet to go on. I often do not quite agree with the manufactures' stated ASA for B&W film, but for Kodachrome I believe Kodak which means I believe the box recommendations.

 

 

Tucked in a pocket in the back of the ever-ready case which came with my III is a small folded "Leitz Exposure Tables for Leica Cameras" It gets quite complex for such a relatively simple task as the sunny 16 rule.

Note film speeds in DIN and H&D! 11 DIN would be 14 in modern systems, speeds were doubled in the early 60s 'to eliminate the safety factor', so 40 ISO

 

scans below for your delectation

 

Gerry

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[NZDavid]

Here in New Zealand, where we have very bright and clear light, Sunny 16 is still only possible on very bright days or on the beach. Usually it's f/11-16 in bright sunlight. This rule is an excellent reference point to bear in mind when using your meter.

[spydrxx]

For me it is a seasonal thing, either Sunny 16 or 11. I usually spend about a week each year using solely my judgement and the Sunny rule, just to see if I still have the appropriate insight to exposure (for those times I'm caught without a meter). Last 5 years the exposures have been right on the button (on the last day of the reaccreditation, when I take an incident meter along, I haven't been more than 1/2 stop off). It certainly helps build the self confidence. Earlier this year I had a guest from the UK visiting...he, being much younger, had never used a manual camera, esp. a rangefinder or film. I gave him five minutes instruction on an old 1950s RF camera and the Sunny rule and we headed off to a local forest preserve for an afternoon. A week later, when I saw his prints I was delighted...he had hit 90% of his exposures (including backlighted situations) on the button without the aid of electronics. So I guess it isn't so hard after all, we just spend a lot of time fretting about it instead of honing our skills.

[abrewer]

I guess it isn't so hard after all, we just spend a lot of time fretting about it instead of honing our skills.

 

 

Of this I agree

 

If you've any eye at all you can guesstimate the exposure with film and be well-satisfied on result