How the Bracketing Assistant works
Builds a list of bracket exposures around your metered value.
Where to find it
Tools tab Bracketing
Summary
Calculator that generates a bracketing table around the metered exposure: number of frames, step size in stops, and which axis (aperture, shutter, ISO) varies.
Detail
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How it works
Bracketing means shooting the same scene at several exposures, one above and one below the metered value, so you have insurance against being slightly off. This modal generates the list of exposures and tells you what to set on the camera for each.
Number of frames
Three frames is the classic spread (under, normal, over). Five frames gives you wider coverage. Seven frames is for tricky high-contrast scenes or HDR work.
Step size
How far apart the brackets are, measured in stops. A 1/3-stop spread is fine for slide film and gives subtle differences. A full stop spread is better for negative film or harsh light. A two-stop spread is for HDR or extreme conditions.
Which axis
You can bracket by changing aperture, shutter, or ISO (for digital and instant film). On most film cameras the easiest is shutter, since it does not change depth of field. For long exposures or shallow DOF work, bracket aperture or ISO instead.
Reading the table
Each row is one frame. Shoot them in order, write the bracket on the back of the print, and pick the best one in the darkroom or scan.