Exposure Triangle Simulator

Pick the scene and play with ISO, aperture and shutter speed: the simulator tells you instantly whether the exposure is correct and what creative effect you get.

Free Instant No sign-up

Build your exposure

Scene (light)
ISO (sensitivity)
Aperture (f)
Shutter

Raise one setting and compensate with another to keep the same exposure.

Exposure result
0stops
—
0Scene EV
0Your settings EV
—Depth of field
—Motion
Creative scenarios
Simulated preview · brightness = exposure · background = aperture · streak = shutter · grain = ISO

How the exposure triangle works

Correct exposure is a balance between the scene's light and your three settings. We measure it in EV (exposure value):

EV=log₂aperture²shutter time− log₂(ISO ÷ 100)

When your settings EV matches the scene EV, exposure is correct. Each stop doubles or halves the light: so closing the aperture one stop, you recover the light with twice the shutter time or twice the ISO.

The numbers printed on a camera are rounded: f/5.6 is really 5.657, f/11 is 11.31, 1/125 is 1/128 and 15 s is 16 s. The simulator uses the exact value of each series, so one stop is always exactly one stop.

Example: the Sunny 16 rule

In bright sun, the Sunny 16 rule:

  • ISO 100 · f/16 · 1/125 → correct exposure (0.0 stops).
  • Want a blurred background? Open to f/2.8 (5 stops more light) and compensate by raising the shutter to 1/4000: same exposure, creamy background.

The simulator recomputes the deviation in stops the moment you touch any setting.

Exposure triangle FAQ

What is the exposure triangle?
The three settings that control how much light a photo gets: ISO (sensitivity), aperture and shutter speed. Change one and you must compensate with another to keep the same exposure.
How do I keep the same exposure when I change a setting?
Each stop doubles or halves the light. Close the aperture one stop (less light) and recover it with twice the shutter time or twice the ISO. The simulator instantly shows whether you end up over or under.
What creative effect does each setting have?
Aperture controls depth of field (blurred background or all sharp); shutter freezes or blurs motion; ISO raises brightness at the cost of more noise.
What is a "stop" of light?
A stop is doubling or halving the light reaching the sensor. f/2.8→f/4, 1/125→1/60 or ISO 100→200 are each one full stop.
What is the Sunny 16 rule?
A meter-free guide: in bright sun, use f/16 with a shutter speed of 1/ISO or the closest one (ISO 100 → 1/125). The simulator starts on exactly that combination — a correct exposure.