EV 0 corresponds to an exposure of f/1.0 at 1 second at ISO 100. It represents a very low light level, equivalent to a dimly lit scene or deep twilight. Each EV increment halves the required exposure time.

What is the typical EV range for outdoor photography?

Bright sunlight on a clear day is around EV 15. Overcast skies are EV 12-13. Sunset or sunrise is EV 10-12. Indoor scenes range from EV 5-9 depending on lighting.

How does ISO affect EV?

The base EV is calculated at ISO 100. When you increase ISO, the adjusted EV increases because the camera needs less light. EV at ISO 400 = EV at ISO 100 + 2 stops.

Can I convert EV to lux?

Approximately. For incident light metering, Lux ≈ 2.5 × 2^EV. This is an approximation and varies with the calibration constant of your meter. EV 10 ≈ 2,560 lux, EV 15 ≈ 81,920 lux.

PhotoCalcs

EV Calculator — Exposure Value from Camera Settings

Calculate Exposure Value from your aperture and shutter speed, with ISO adjustment and lux approximation.

Aperture

Shutter Speed

ISO

How We Calculate This

The Exposure Value formula at ISO 100 is:

EV = log&sub2;(N² / t)

Where N is the f-number and t is the exposure time in seconds.

To adjust for ISO: EV_s = EV_100 + log&sub2;(S / 100) where S is the ISO value.

The lux approximation uses the incident light relationship: Lux ≈ 2.5 × 2^EV

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates based on standard optical and photographic formulas. Results may vary with specific equipment.