Camera Exposure Triangle Simulator & EV
Master manual photography with an interactive exposure triangle simulator demonstrating aperture bokeh, shutter motion blur, and ISO noise.
The Law of Reciprocity in Photography
If you stop down the aperture by 1 stop (e.g. from f/2.8 to f/4.0), you cut incoming light in half. To keep exposure balanced, you must either slow the shutter speed by 1 stop (e.g. 1/1000s to 1/500s) or double the ISO sensitivity (e.g. ISO 100 to ISO 200).
📷 Classic Photography Rule: "The Sunny 16 Rule"
On a bright sunny day, set your aperture to f/16, and your shutter speed will equal the reciprocal of your ISO. For example: at ISO 100 and f/16, your correct shutter speed is 1/100th of a second.
About this tool
How to use it
- Select your ambient lighting environment (e.g. Sunny Midday, Overcast Daylight, or Dim Indoor Night).
- Dial in your Aperture f-stop (controls depth-of-field blur), Shutter Speed (controls motion freeze/blur), and ISO Sensitivity (controls sensor gain).
- Observe the in-viewfinder exposure needle balance toward 0 EV.
- Review the resulting Depth of Field, Motion Capture, and Digital Noise trade-offs.
Why it matters
Shooting in Manual Mode on a DSLR or mirrorless camera requires balancing the 'Exposure Triangle' (Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO). Changing any one variable alters the incoming light, requiring compensation on the other two settings according to the Law of Reciprocity.
When to use it
Use this simulator when learning manual photography, preparing camera settings for outdoor portrait shoots or sports games, or understanding why low-light photos turn out blurry or grainy.
Good to know
An exposure value (EV) represents a combination of camera shutter speed and relative aperture that results in identical exposure under a given ambient illumination.
Common questions
What is the Exposure Triangle in photography?
The Exposure Triangle is the relationship between Aperture (lens opening), Shutter Speed (sensor exposure time), and ISO (sensor amplification). All three simultaneously govern both exposure brightness and creative artistic effects.
What aperture gives the blurriest background (bokeh)?
Wide apertures with low f-numbers (such as f/1.4, f/1.8, or f/2.8) produce a very shallow depth of field, blurring the background while keeping the subject sharply isolated.
What shutter speed is needed to freeze running sports?
A shutter speed of 1/1000s or faster is generally recommended to freeze fast-moving athletes, running dogs, and flying birds without motion blur.
What is the Sunny 16 Rule?
The Sunny 16 rule is an old photography rule of thumb: on a clear, sunny day, setting your aperture to f/16 results in a balanced exposure when your shutter speed is set to the reciprocal of your ISO (e.g. 1/100s at ISO 100).