Observed exposure data

Observed Canon EOS 5D Mark III 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: 7,308
Professional photographers: 113
Public albums: 578
Settings completeness: 98.7%

The largest contributor accounts for 16.1% of this sample. Status: strong. These are observations, not recommendations or universal usage estimates. Observed dates span 2000-01-01 to 2025-12-02.

Data summary

Key observations

The sample contains 7,308 photographs from 113 professional photographers across 578 public albums.
At least three of ISO, aperture, shutter speed and focal length are present in 98.7% of observations.
ISO 201–400 is the most frequently observed ISO bucket by both photo count and 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 78

ISO 51–100 1,528

ISO 101–200 1,116

ISO 201–400 1,893

ISO 401–800 1,228

ISO 801–1,600 717

ISO 1,601–3,200 455

ISO 3,201–6,400 165

ISO 6,401–12,800 67

ISO above 12,800 59

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns.

ISO distribution data
Bucket	Photos	Professional photographers	Photographer-balanced share
ISO 50 or lower	78	12	1.4%
ISO 51–100	1,528	63	18.3%
ISO 101–200	1,116	68	13.8%
ISO 201–400	1,893	78	23.9%
ISO 401–800	1,228	75	18.2%
ISO 801–1,600	717	62	9.7%
ISO 1,601–3,200	455	53	9.6%
ISO 3,201–6,400	165	28	3.5%
ISO 6,401–12,800	67	14	1.5%
ISO above 12,800	59	4	0.2%

Aperture

f/2.8 757

f/3.2 219

f/3.5 362

f/4 646

f/4.5 245

f/5 326

f/5.6 705

f/6.3 371

f/7.1 223

f/8 383

f/9 249

f/10 139

f/11 565

f/13 823

f/16 209

f/22 245

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns.

Aperture distribution data
Bucket	Photos	Professional photographers	Photographer-balanced share
f/2.8	757	70	15.8%
f/3.2	219	48	4.9%
f/3.5	362	49	4.7%
f/4	646	71	12.3%
f/4.5	245	49	3.7%
f/5	326	54	5.4%
f/5.6	705	63	10.2%
f/6.3	371	52	4.7%
f/7.1	223	47	4.9%
f/8	383	56	6.3%
f/9	249	42	3.0%
f/10	139	34	2.0%
f/11	565	40	3.3%
f/13	823	25	3.4%
f/16	209	24	1.5%
f/22	245	21	2.7%

Shutter speed

1/2048 s 112

1/1625 s 122

1/1290 s 142

1/1024 s 217

1/813 s 201

1/645 s 225

1/512 s 421

1/406 s 274

1/323 s 316

1/256 s 453

1/203 s 558

1/161 s 713

1/128 s 1,239

1/102 s 247

1/81 s 217

1/64 s 196

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns.

Shutter speed distribution data
Bucket	Photos	Professional photographers	Photographer-balanced share
1/2048 s	112	35	1.7%
1/1625 s	122	32	2.0%
1/1290 s	142	39	4.4%
1/1024 s	217	50	4.2%
1/813 s	201	43	6.1%
1/645 s	225	53	4.3%
1/512 s	421	50	5.1%
1/406 s	274	51	3.4%
1/323 s	316	46	3.1%
1/256 s	453	58	6.3%
1/203 s	558	70	12.6%
1/161 s	713	58	8.2%
1/128 s	1,239	57	6.9%
1/102 s	247	48	6.2%
1/81 s	217	41	2.6%
1/64 s	196	44	2.6%

Focal length

16 mm 364

17 mm 196

24 mm 1,110

28 mm 317

32 mm 99

35 mm 310

40 mm 122

45 mm 172

50 mm 557

70 mm 389

85 mm 138

100 mm 193

105 mm 377

135 mm 88

200 mm 317

300 mm 93

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns.

Focal length distribution data
Bucket	Photos	Professional photographers	Photographer-balanced share
16 mm	364	35	6.3%
17 mm	196	28	2.2%
24 mm	1,110	60	10.7%
28 mm	317	34	1.6%
32 mm	99	23	0.6%
35 mm	310	52	4.4%
40 mm	122	27	2.1%
45 mm	172	27	0.9%
50 mm	557	50	9.0%
70 mm	389	58	6.3%
85 mm	138	38	4.3%
100 mm	193	39	6.5%
105 mm	377	30	1.5%
135 mm	88	31	3.4%
200 mm	317	39	4.7%
300 mm	93	18	1.0%