Exposure Calculators
Calculate exposure settings, EV values, reciprocity, flash exposure, ND filters, HDR brackets and more.
Exposure Triangle Calculator
Balance aperture, shutter speed and ISO to achieve correct exposure. Adjust one setting and see how the others compensate. Free online calculator.
EV Calculator
Calculate Exposure Value from your camera settings or convert between EV, lux and foot-candles. Ideal for matching light meter readings. Free calculator.
Reciprocity Calculator
Compensate for reciprocity failure when shooting long exposures on film. Enter metered time and film stock for corrected exposure. Free calculator.
Sunny 16 Calculator
Estimate correct exposure settings using the Sunny 16 rule for outdoor photography. Select lighting conditions for instant aperture and shutter recommendations.
Flash Exposure Calculator
Calculate flash power from guide number, subject distance and aperture. Work out the correct flash-to-subject settings for any strobe. Free calculator.
ND Filter Calculator
Find the adjusted shutter speed when stacking ND filters. Enter your base exposure and filter density for the corrected long exposure time. Free calculator.
HDR Bracket Calculator
Plan HDR bracket sequences to cover the full dynamic range of a scene. Set EV steps and range for the optimal number of exposures. Free calculator.
Zone System Calculator
Map scene luminance values to Ansel Adams Zone System zones from 0 to X. Visualise tonal placement for precise black-and-white exposure control.
Histogram Calculator
Analyse your image exposure distribution across shadows, midtones and highlights. Detect clipping and check overall tonal balance. Free online calculator.
Light Meter Calculator
Convert between lux, foot-candles and EV values for accurate light metering. Match ambient readings to camera settings instantly. Free online calculator.
10 free calculators in Exposure
Understanding Photographic Exposure
Exposure is the foundation of every photograph. It determines how bright or dark your image appears and is controlled by three interdependent settings: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Together these form the exposure triangle. Each stop of change in one setting doubles or halves the light, and can be compensated by an equal stop change in another.
Exposure Value (EV) is a single number that represents a combination of aperture and shutter speed at a base ISO. EV 0 corresponds to f/1.0 at 1 second. Each increment of 1 EV halves the light. Typical outdoor daylight scenes range from EV 12 to EV 16, while indoor scenes may be EV 5 to EV 9. Understanding EV helps you quickly translate between equivalent exposure settings.
For long exposures, particularly with film, reciprocity failure becomes significant. Below a certain shutter speed (typically 1 second), film sensitivity drops and requires additional exposure time. Each film stock has its own reciprocity correction curve. Digital sensors do not suffer from reciprocity failure, but do accumulate noise on long exposures.
Our exposure calculators cover every aspect of photographic exposure, from the basic Sunny 16 rule for quick outdoor estimates to precise flash exposure calculations using guide numbers, ND filter corrections for long-exposure photography, and HDR bracket planning to capture the full dynamic range of a scene.