Observed exposure data

Observed Canon EOS 5D Mark II settings

These distributions describe metadata from public portfolios of professional photographers, not camera menu setup or recommended settings.

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Current dataset

Sample and data quality

Photographs: 3,635
Professional photographers: 110
Public albums: 388
Settings completeness: 99.8%

The largest contributor accounts for 11.1% of this sample. Status: strong. These are observations, not recommendations or universal usage estimates. Observed dates span 2000-01-01 to 2024-09-15.

Data summary

Key observations

The sample contains 3,635 photographs from 110 professional photographers across 388 public albums.
At least three of ISO, aperture, shutter speed and focal length are present in 99.8% of observations.
ISO 201–400 has the highest ISO photo count, while ISO 51–100 has the largest photographer-balanced share.
These are observed metadata patterns, not recommended settings.

Observed settings

Settings distributions

Bars show photo-weighted frequency. The table separates photo counts from photographer-balanced share.

Photographer-balanced share gives every professional photographer equal total influence across a distribution, then reports the percentage assigned to each bucket. This reduces the effect of unusually large portfolios.

ISO

ISO 50 or lower 67

ISO 51–100 682

ISO 101–200 508

ISO 201–400 907

ISO 401–800 486

ISO 801–1,600 355

ISO 1,601–3,200 499

ISO 3,201–6,400 122

ISO 6,401–12,800 9

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns.

ISO distribution data
Bucket	Photos	Professional photographers	Photographer-balanced share
ISO 50 or lower	67	15	1.3%
ISO 51–100	682	68	25.5%
ISO 101–200	508	62	15.2%
ISO 201–400	907	73	22.2%
ISO 401–800	486	63	15.1%
ISO 801–1,600	355	48	9.4%
ISO 1,601–3,200	499	40	8.5%
ISO 3,201–6,400	122	22	2.7%
ISO 6,401–12,800	9	3	0.1%

Aperture

f/2 42

f/2.8 407

f/3.2 160

f/3.5 214

f/4 430

f/4.5 250

f/5 241

f/5.6 488

f/6.3 188

f/7.1 183

f/8 263

f/9 104

f/10 82

f/11 156

f/13 61

f/16 107

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns.

Aperture distribution data
Bucket	Photos	Professional photographers	Photographer-balanced share
f/2	42	15	2.6%
f/2.8	407	48	10.0%
f/3.2	160	40	4.4%
f/3.5	214	41	5.0%
f/4	430	60	11.5%
f/4.5	250	43	4.7%
f/5	241	44	4.5%
f/5.6	488	58	9.6%
f/6.3	188	40	3.8%
f/7.1	183	47	6.6%
f/8	263	48	8.1%
f/9	104	28	3.0%
f/10	82	29	2.3%
f/11	156	37	5.8%
f/13	61	24	3.2%
f/16	107	23	3.1%

Shutter speed

1/1290 s 66

1/1024 s 71

1/813 s 94

1/645 s 91

1/512 s 283

1/406 s 148

1/323 s 194

1/256 s 360

1/203 s 416

1/161 s 304

1/128 s 303

1/102 s 209

1/81 s 162

1/64 s 211

1/51 s 99

1/40 s 84

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns.

Shutter speed distribution data
Bucket	Photos	Professional photographers	Photographer-balanced share
1/1290 s	66	23	2.9%
1/1024 s	71	24	2.0%
1/813 s	94	32	2.5%
1/645 s	91	32	2.3%
1/512 s	283	41	3.5%
1/406 s	148	45	5.6%
1/323 s	194	46	4.4%
1/256 s	360	50	5.6%
1/203 s	416	59	10.6%
1/161 s	304	58	8.6%
1/128 s	303	58	9.0%
1/102 s	209	48	5.6%
1/81 s	162	37	3.4%
1/64 s	211	54	7.2%
1/51 s	99	35	3.6%
1/40 s	84	31	3.2%

Focal length

16 mm 129

17 mm 51

24 mm 482

27 mm 52

28 mm 119

30 mm 53

32 mm 56

35 mm 144

40 mm 58

50 mm 352

70 mm 219

85 mm 106

100 mm 109

105 mm 61

135 mm 89

200 mm 158

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns.

Focal length distribution data
Bucket	Photos	Professional photographers	Photographer-balanced share
16 mm	129	21	3.2%
17 mm	51	23	2.7%
24 mm	482	54	10.3%
27 mm	52	20	1.1%
28 mm	119	29	2.0%
30 mm	53	15	1.4%
32 mm	56	28	1.4%
35 mm	144	42	4.4%
40 mm	58	24	1.2%
50 mm	352	48	14.1%
70 mm	219	36	4.2%
85 mm	106	23	3.4%
100 mm	109	12	1.3%
105 mm	61	25	2.8%
135 mm	89	20	3.3%
200 mm	158	32	2.9%