Difference between revisions of "Light and Exposure Values (LV & EV)"

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''Light Value''' ('''LV''') and '''Exposure Value''' ('''EV''') are numerical scales for measuring the amount of light, and the exposure, respectively. These are often confused - not least by the labeling on some cameras; the difference is that LV measure how much light there is, and EV measures how much of the light is allowed into the camera. The scale is logarithmic- that is, each step up on the LV scale is twice the amount of light, and a step up on the EV scale correspondingly halves the exposure.
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'''Light Value''' ('''LV''') and '''Exposure Value''' ('''EV''') are scales for measuring the light value and exposure value, respectively. These are often confused, not least by the markings on some cameras. LV is absolute light intensity, while EV expresses the combination of shutter speed and aperture. The two are related by film speed; at ISO100 (DIN21) they are numerically equal. Each step up or down the scale doubles or halves the light respectively.
  
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LV is often used as a scale on a [[light meter]]; the LV must then have a factor added for the [[film speed]] to get the required EV.  
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Typical values of LV in daylight vary between about 16 (bright sun), down to around 10 (dark clouds) and of course, lower in very bad weather, at night or indoors. A range of 2 to 18, as offered by many light meters, covers most common photographing conditions. Many [[light meter]]s are not sensitive enough to reach even this range, although for some special purposes (such as astronomy) values beyond this range may be required.
  
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The '''Light Value System''' is a method of using the LV/EV on a camera, where the exposure is set by dialling the LV or EV; the camera may then have a fixed aperture/shutter combination, or possibly give the user an adjustment which moves the aperture and shutter settings together to maintain the same EV.
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The range LV 0 (semi darkness) to LV 16 (bright sunlight) corresponds to a light increase of 65,500 fold (2<sup>16</sup>), easily handled by our eyes but impossible for any film or camera sensor to encompass.
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Exposure meters often display EV which can be directly transferred to the exposure setting ring of some cameras, otherwise the value must be converted to corresponding aperture and shutter speed settings. These are usually shown on a calculator dial or scale on the meter itself.
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<div class="floatleft plainlinks" style="margin:15px 15px 15px 0px;">
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/24225011@N04/2579469995/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3156/2579469995_f0b2f91418_o.jpg
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|image_align= left
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|image_text= EV scale and locked aperture/shutter rings<br>on a [[Kodak Retinette]]
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|image_by= AWCam
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|image_rights= with permission
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}}
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</div>
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The [[Light-value system|'''Light Value System''']] is an arrangement of exposure controls used on some cameras (mostly ones with in-lens shutters), whereby the shutter speed and aperture controls are mechanically coupled. Once the exposure is set (using an EV scale), the exposure can easily be switched between different shutter/aperture combinations giving the same EV. For example, in the Retinette shown here, the EV is set (on the red scale) by depressing the lower (aperture) scale-ring to disengage it from the shutter scale, and turning it. Once re-engaged, the shutter speed and aperture scales turn together, maintaining a constant EV. Some cameras only have an EV scale (e.g. the [[Kodak_Pony_828/135#Pony_II|Kodak Pony II]] or the [[Kodak Auto Colorsnap 35 ]]) and do not have separate speed or aperture markings.
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<!-- commenting this out: the photo *doesn't* show an EV scale; the Colorsnap exposure guide uses arbitrary exposure numbers of Kodak's own devising.
  
 
{{Flickr_image
 
{{Flickr_image
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|image_text= Exposure calculator<br>on a Kodak Bantam Colorsnap
 
|image_text= Exposure calculator<br>on a Kodak Bantam Colorsnap
 
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The photo on the right shows an LV exposure calculator; the dial is rotated to set the weather on the left scale, and the EV read off on the right, against the film speed - which is shown in [[ASA|DIN]] and two example film types. The EV is then set on a scale on the lens.
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The photo on the right shows an LV exposure calculator, the dial is rotated to set the weather on the left scale and EV read off on the right against the film speed, which is shown in [[ASA|DIN]] with two example film types. The EV is then set on a scale on the lens.
  
 
The centre of the dial is the [[red window]] for frame counting.
 
The centre of the dial is the [[red window]] for frame counting.
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The EV/LV system became popular during the 1960s, when the growth of colour photography made accurate exposure more important, but it died out again into the 1970s as cheaper, more compact electronics made in-camera light measurements possible.
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<br style="clear:both;"/>
  
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In [[photography]] the EV or '''Exposure Value''' is a scale used for light measurements. [[Light meter]]s are often scaled in EVs, and many cameras feature an EV scale for setting the exposure.
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The EV/LV system became popular during the 1960s, when the growth of colour photography made accurate exposure more important, but it died out again into the 1970s as cheaper, more compact, electronics made in-camera light meters possible and coupling to exposure controls made manually transferring values redundant.
  
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The EV can be calculated thus:
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EV can be calculated from the aperture and shutter speed thus:
  
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EV = log<sub>2</sub> (N<sup>2</sup>/t)
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  EV = log<sub>2</sub> (N<sup>2</sup>/t)  &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (or, since log<sub>10</sub>(2) = ~3.322, EV = 3.322 log<sub>10</sub>(N<sup>2</sup>/t) )
  
 
where
 
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* and '''t''' is the exposure time ([[shutter]] speed).
 
* and '''t''' is the exposure time ([[shutter]] speed).
  
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so, for example, an exposure of 1/250s at f8 is an EV of log<sub>2</sub>(8*250) = 11 (to 2 figures, actually 10.98578...)
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so, for example, an exposure of 1/250s at f/8 is an EV of log<sub>2</sub>(8*8*250) = 14 (to 2 figures, actually nearer 13.96578...)
  
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===Link===
 
  
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*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exposure_value Wikipedia article]
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==Links==
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* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exposure_value Wikipedia article]
 
* [http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/ev.htm Ken Rockwell explains]
 
* [http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/ev.htm Ken Rockwell explains]
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{{glossary}}
 

Latest revision as of 13:09, 8 September 2013

Glossary Terms

Light Value (LV) and Exposure Value (EV) are scales for measuring the light value and exposure value, respectively. These are often confused, not least by the markings on some cameras. LV is absolute light intensity, while EV expresses the combination of shutter speed and aperture. The two are related by film speed; at ISO100 (DIN21) they are numerically equal. Each step up or down the scale doubles or halves the light respectively.

Typical values of LV in daylight vary between about 16 (bright sun), down to around 10 (dark clouds) and of course, lower in very bad weather, at night or indoors. A range of 2 to 18, as offered by many light meters, covers most common photographing conditions. Many light meters are not sensitive enough to reach even this range, although for some special purposes (such as astronomy) values beyond this range may be required.

The range LV 0 (semi darkness) to LV 16 (bright sunlight) corresponds to a light increase of 65,500 fold (216), easily handled by our eyes but impossible for any film or camera sensor to encompass.

Exposure meters often display EV which can be directly transferred to the exposure setting ring of some cameras, otherwise the value must be converted to corresponding aperture and shutter speed settings. These are usually shown on a calculator dial or scale on the meter itself.

2579469995_f0b2f91418_o.jpg
EV scale and locked aperture/shutter rings
on a Kodak Retinette
image by AWCam (Image rights)

The Light Value System is an arrangement of exposure controls used on some cameras (mostly ones with in-lens shutters), whereby the shutter speed and aperture controls are mechanically coupled. Once the exposure is set (using an EV scale), the exposure can easily be switched between different shutter/aperture combinations giving the same EV. For example, in the Retinette shown here, the EV is set (on the red scale) by depressing the lower (aperture) scale-ring to disengage it from the shutter scale, and turning it. Once re-engaged, the shutter speed and aperture scales turn together, maintaining a constant EV. Some cameras only have an EV scale (e.g. the Kodak Pony II or the Kodak Auto Colorsnap 35 ) and do not have separate speed or aperture markings.


The EV/LV system became popular during the 1960s, when the growth of colour photography made accurate exposure more important, but it died out again into the 1970s as cheaper, more compact, electronics made in-camera light meters possible and coupling to exposure controls made manually transferring values redundant.

EV can be calculated from the aperture and shutter speed thus: 

  EV = log2 (N2/t)          (or, since log10(2) = ~3.322, EV = 3.322 log10(N2/t) )

where

  • and t is the exposure time (shutter speed).

so, for example, an exposure of 1/250s at f/8 is an EV of log2(8*8*250) = 14 (to 2 figures, actually nearer 13.96578...)


Links

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