16-RULE

Most photographers complain about the lack of reactivity of their fully automated modern cameras. Especially those who practice street photography (which is not the case of the above picture).
Well, there is an effective way to cope with this issue. The goal is to make our camera skip the standard exposure and focusing routine, so that we can simply and quickly press the button and get the shot taken. No two-step pressing, no focus buzzing, no delay. As in the "good old times."
First of all, the lens must be set to manual focus. A short prime, like a 28 or 35 mm (or their equivalent) is the best choice. Otherwise a zoom lens set to the same focal lenght will do the job. Focus must be manually set to the hyperfocal distance, which is the distance allowing a depht-of-field, say, from 3-5 meters (10-15 feet) to infinity, provided that aperture is set to an average value like 8, with APS or the so-called full frame sensors. The smaller the sensor, the bigger the aperture: 4 or 5,6. In digital capture, smaller apertures are always to be avoided because of diffraction. As for the hyperfocal distance of your lens, it can be easily found: the web is full of dedicated, easy-to-consult charts.
So, with camera mode switched to manual, we set the aperture at 8. Now the question is: how can we be ready to shoot without a light metering procedure? In a recent comment to a post in Gordon Lewis' Shutterfinger blog, I recalled the time (only a few years ago, yet it feels like ages) when I mostly shot b/w with a meterless Leica M4-P, applying the so called 16-rule: under a bright daylight, with the aperture set to 16, shutter speed must be the reciprocal of the selected ISO value, i.e. 1/100" f/16 at ISO 100. Or 1/200" f/11. Or 1/400 f/8, which will be our option. If we like to get our photograph a little underexposed (1/3 IL is a clever choice, in street and candid photography) the exposure will be set to 1/500 f/8.
As simple as that. With cloudy weather, the 16-rule becomes the 11-rule, and so on.
By the way, Gordon Lewis' website is also worth a visit. Enjoy.

Comments

[Frank M.]

It is certainly refreshing to see that the old "sunny-16" rule can still useful in these modern times.

[Terence Amos]

Excellent article.

[Miserere]

"Sunny 16" and "Cloudy 8" rules. Classics :-)

There's also a "Shady 4" rule, if I recall correctly.

[Grant Mundell]

Hi Gianni - you mention: "The goal is to make our camera skip the standard exposure and focusing routine, so that we can simply and quickly press the button and get the shot taken." And: "A short prime, like a 28 or 35 mm. . .is the best choice. Otherwise a zoom lens set to the same focal length." Of course, I note the suggestions you make. However, have you used the Ricoh GX200 with stepped zoom (24mm, 28mm, 35mm, and 72mm) and Ricoh GRD III (fixed 28mm) BOTH with the excellent snap focus feature? These seem ideal solutions for the challenge you present.

[Gianni Galassi]

Grant,
no, I didn't have the chance to test the GX200 nor the GRDIII. I had a first version GRD, years ago, featuring the same snap function which was very useful and reliable. Unfortunately the image quality delivered by the GRD was poor.
Thank you for sharing your experience. It's very important we all help each other to find our way in the auto-digi-gimmick photography era. It's a new territory waiting to be conquered bit after bit. It's up to us to make it clear from everything getting in the way between our eye and the photograph we are taking.