Dynamic Range: what you need to know about capturing all the tones in a scene

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How to measure the dynamic range

To get the right exposure, you need to know the brightness range you’re dealing with. Here’s how to do it.

Switch to manual
In M mode you can note down the exposure readings and choose how you interpet them, rather than relying on the camera’s ideas about correct exposure.

Choose an aperture
If you select a specific aperture, you only need to change one variable – the shutter speed – to work out the best exposure. Let’s go for f/8.

Swap to spot
Now select the spot metering mode. This takes an exposure reading from a small area around the selected focus point only – so switch to single-point AF mode.

Measure the brightest area
Position the AF point over the brightest area (but not the sun) and adjust shutter speed to centre the exposure bar, here it’s 1/500sec.

Measure the darkest area
Now do the same for the darkest area of the picture and, again, make a note of the shutter speed – this time it’s 1/30sec.

Check them on the chart
If the two readings are no more than 4EV apart (check the table opposite), choose a shutter speed right in the middle – 1/125sec.