--- title: The Sunny 16 Rule & Film description: The Sunny 16 Rule helps film photographers to approximate correct daylight exposures without a light meter. image: https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/hubfs/old-sad-songs-blog-sunny-16-rule.jpg --- [![old-sad-songs](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/old-sad-songs.png?width=319&height=50&name=old-sad-songs.png "old-sad-songs")](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com) - Shop - - [WALL ART](https://shop.oldsadsongs.com/collections/wall-art) - [PRINTS](https://shop.oldsadsongs.com/collections/prints) - [POSTCARDS](https://shop.oldsadsongs.com/collections/postcards) - [PRINT COLLECTIONS](https://shop.oldsadsongs.com/collections/photo-collections) - [Locations](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/locations) - [For Photographers](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/for-photographers) - [About](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/about) - Shop - - [WALL ART](https://shop.oldsadsongs.com/collections/wall-art) - [PRINTS](https://shop.oldsadsongs.com/collections/prints) - [POSTCARDS](https://shop.oldsadsongs.com/collections/postcards) - [PRINT COLLECTIONS](https://shop.oldsadsongs.com/collections/photo-collections) - [Locations](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/locations) - [For Photographers](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/for-photographers) - [About](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/about) ![old-sad-songs-blog-sunny-16-rule](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/hubfs/old-sad-songs-blog-sunny-16-rule.jpg) Oct 31, 2021 5:50:07 PM | [Photography](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/photography/blog/tag/photography) # The Sunny 16 Rule & Film The Sunny 16 Rule helps film photographers to approximate correct daylight exposures without a light meter. [Chris Ruiz](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/photography/blog/author/chris-ruiz) Share - [mailto:?&subject=The%20Sunny%2016%20Rule%20&%20Film&body=The%20Sunny%2016%20Rule%20&%20Film%0A(https%3A%2F%2Ffavorite.oldsadsongs.com%2Fphotography%2Fblog%2Fthe-sunny-16-rule-and-film)](mailto:?&subject=The%20Sunny%2016%20Rule%20&%20Film&body=The%20Sunny%2016%20Rule%20&%20Film%0A(https%3A%2F%2Ffavorite.oldsadsongs.com%2Fphotography%2Fblog%2Fthe-sunny-16-rule-and-film)) - - - The Sunny 16 Rule helps film photographers to approximate correct daylight exposures without a light meter.  ## Sunny 16 Explained Set the Shutter Speed to the closest match to the film ISO on a sunny day and select an Aperture from the table below. | Aperture | Conditions | | --- | --- | | f/22 | Snow or Sand | | f/16 | Sunny | | f/11 | Slight Overcast | | f/8 | Overcast | | f/5.6 | Heavy Overcast | | f/4 | Shade or Sunset | ### **For example, on a sunny day:** - With ISO 100 film, set the Aperture to f/16 and the Shutter Speed to 1/100. - With ISO 400 film, set the Aperture to f/16 and the Shutter Speed to 1/500. ### **Practical Uses** You can use The Sunny 16 Rule to help you choose the suitable ISO film to use or if you should even shoot at all, depending on what equipment and film you have.  ![Chris Ruiz](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/chrisruiz.jpeg?width=70&name=chrisruiz.jpeg) ### Written By: Chris Ruiz Hi, I'm Chris, a photographer, inbound enthusiast, and social media know-it-all. When I'm not working, I enjoy Texas-style BBQ, classic cars, and bourbon. [mailto:photographer@oldsadsongs.com](mailto:photographer@oldsadsongs.com) ## You May Also Like ### [![Old Sad Songs For Photographers - Social Media Image Sizes](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/hubfs/old-sad-songs-blog-social-media-image-sizes.jpg) *Feb 3, 2022 11:07:03 AM | Inbound* Social Media Image Size Cheat Sheet](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/photography/blog/social-media-image-size-cheat-sheet) ### [![old-sad-songs-blog-why-i-shoot-film](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/hubfs/old-sad-songs-blog-why-i-shoot-film.jpg) *Oct 31, 2021 7:46:31 PM | Photography* Why I Shoot Film](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/photography/blog/why-i-shoot-film) ### [![old-sad-songs-blog-exposure-triangle](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/hubfs/old-sad-songs-blog-exposure-triangle.jpg) *Oct 31, 2021 4:57:53 PM | Photography* The Exposure Triangle & Film](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/photography/blog/the-exposure-triangle-and-film) [Learn More](https://www.example.com) [![Old Sad Songs](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Email%20Signature-1.png?width=600&height=94&name=Email%20Signature-1.png "Old Sad Songs")](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/) - [SHOP](https://shop.oldsadsongs.com/) - [PRINTS](https://shop.oldsadsongs.com/collections/prints) - [POSTCARDS](https://shop.oldsadsongs.com/collections/postcards) - [PHOTO COLLECTIONS](https://shop.oldsadsongs.com/collections/photo-collections) - [FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/for-photographers) - [SERVICES](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/for-photographers) - [BLOG](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/for-photographers/blog) - [WEEKLY VIDEO CHAT](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com) - [ABOUT](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/about) - PORTRAITS - [CONTACT](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/about#contact) - [SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/signup-to-receive-updates-from-old-sad-songs) ©️ Old Sad Songs, LLC - All Rights Reserved | **[Shipping & Return Policies](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/payments-shipping-returns-refunds)** | **[Privacy Policy](https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/privacy-policy)** Search Search ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Chris Ruiz", "url" : "https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/photography/blog/author/chris-ruiz" }, "dateModified" : "2021-10-31T23:50:07.670Z", "datePublished" : "2021-10-31T23:50:07.000Z", "headline" : "The Sunny 16 Rule & Film", "image" : [ "https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/hubfs/old-sad-songs-blog-sunny-16-rule.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/photography/blog/the-sunny-16-rule-and-film", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://favorite.oldsadsongs.com/hubfs/Email%20Signature-1.png" }, "name" : "Old Sad Songs, LLC" } } ```