The Sunny 16 Rule for correct exposure in bright daylight with a digital SLR camera that does not meter with legacy lenses.
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Photo enthusiasts who shoot in fully manual mode may refer to the 'Sunny 16 Rule' for a rule-of-thumb guide on how to set the camera for correct exposure in bright daylight without using a meter. The rule, based on the understanding of the 'exposure triangle,' states that 'if you have a clear, sunny day and your aperture is at f/16, whatever ISO you are using, your shutter speed will be the reciprocal value of that ISO value (ISO X = 1/X seconds shutter speed).' So, if your ISO is 200 at f/16, your shutter speed will be 1/200 seconds, or if your ISO is 100, your shutter speed will be 1/100 seconds.
Experiencing, or experimenting with the rule does not necessarily require a fully manual old-school film camera, as a modern digital (SLR) camera with PASM (Program, Aperture-priority, Shutter priority, Fully Manual) exposure modes can also be used with the exposure dial set to 'M.' While some of these cameras will meter for correct exposure when mounted with a legacy (fully manual) lens built for older generation 35mm SLR film cameras, a few, including the Nikon D80 used for this shoot, will not.
While the sophistication of modern metering systems may dismiss the good old 'Sunny 16 Rule' as a relic, it is nevertheless still useful as a tool to guide newbie photographers on the principles of metering, or used as a comparative tool to evaluate the camera's metering capability. Unlike the camera's metering system, the Sunny 16 Rule is based on incident lighting (based on the brightness of the light only) instead of reflected light, and not how the light is reflected off the subject into the camera.
Nikon Series E 35mm 1:2.5, Series E 50mm 1:1.8, Tamron SP 90mm 1:2.5
Nikon Series E 35mm 1:2.5, Series E 50mm 1:1.8, Tamron SP 90mm 1:2.5
The legacies, Nikon Series E 35mm 1:2.5 (left), Nikon Series E 90mm 1:1.8 (center), and Tamron SP 90mm 1:2.5 (right), are elements within their rights, regarded highly by peers of vintage and modern photography while enjoying their fame as go-to lenses or cult classics. On the APS-C Nikon D200, the 35mm 1:2.5 is equivalent to a 52.5mm lens on a full-frame, the 50mm 1:1.8 to a 75mm short tele, and the 90mm 1:2.5 the equivalent of a 135mm catwalk tele.
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Nikon Series E 35mm 1:2.5
Nikon Series E 50mm 1:1.8
Tamron SP 90mm 1:2.5
Nikon D80
The inability of the Nikon D80 to meter with legacy lenses is based on the camera design which does not have a lens index to register legacy lenses' focal length within its menu system, and a missing 'aperture coupler arm' used by the camera (on other models) to control the aperture automatically.
This does not deter, however, from the fact that the Nikon D80, launched in 2006, is highly acknowledged for its functionality and performance making it a solid choice for photography hobbyists, especially CCD enthusiasts, and those looking for low-cost options to start their interest in.
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