Appendix 1: Measuring Light Levels with a Camera

Equipment Required

  • 35 millimetre camera with a built-in light meter; and
  • white cardboard (about 30 - 40 square centimetres).

Method

  • place the cardboard in the same position and at the same angle as the object or area that is being measured;
  • set the camera to 800 ASA and without casting a shadow on the white cardboard, take an f-stop and shutter speed reading with the camera;
  • the cardboard should fill the frame in the viewfinder of the camera; and
  • use the coordinates obtained to determine the light level using the table shown below (for example, f8 at 1/30 sec = 700 lux).
  Lux 88 175 350 700 1400 2800 5500
F-stop 2.8 1/30 1/60 1/125 1/250 1/500 1/1000 1/2000
4 1/15 1/30 1/60 1/125 1/250 1/500 1/1000
5.6 1/8 1/15 1/30 1/60 1/125 1/250 1/500
8 1/4 1/8 1/15 1/30 1/60 1/125 1/250
11 1/2 1/4 1/8 1/15 1/30 1/60 1/125
16 1 1/2 1/4 1/8 1/15 1/30 1/60
22 2 1 1/2 1/4 1/8 1/15 1/30
32 4 2 1 1/2 1/4 1/8 1/15
Shutter speed in seconds

The values quoted in the table were obtained using a Gossen Lunasix 3 light meter, cross referenced with a range of Nikon cameras. Regard the readings as approximations only.