For film photographers, exposure is everything. Many classic cameras lack built-in light meters or automatic exposure modes, requiring users to rely on experience, handheld external light meters, or mental calculations. The Obscura simplifies this process by expanding on the Sunny 16 Rule via an analog mechanical complication providing quick exposure guidance at a glance.The concept behind the Exposure Gauge was first conceived over five years ago and officially patented in June 2024 (Patent No. 12,007,722).

Bridging horology and photography

Precision Engineering & Craftsmanship

Both mechanical watches and film cameras rely on intricate, precisely engineered systems—watches use gears and balance wheels, while cameras depend on timed shutters and aperture mechanisms. Both demand expert craftsmanship and calibration.

Time Measurement & Exposure

Watches measure time continuously, while cameras capture it in a decisive moment. The Exposure Gauge complication seamlessly unites these worlds, offering photographers intuitive control over light and time—enhancing both the creative process and the craft of making photographs.

Tactile & Analog Experience

Just as the hands-on nature of winding a watch mirrors rewinding a film camera, turning the Exposure Gauge bezel, with each satisfying click, evokes the tactile joy of adjusting a classic lens aperture—both timeless rituals for creators.

Durability & Longevity

Built to last, mechanical watches and film cameras outlive digital trends. A well-crafted Leica, Rollei, or Hasselblad—like a Nodus, Rolex, or Omega—remains serviceable for generations.

Understanding EV values leads to understanding the Exposure Triangle and its shortcut for calculating values without a light meter: the “Sunny Sixteen Rule”

Per Wikipedia: “In photography, the Sunny Sixteen rule is a method of estimating correct daylight exposures without a light meter. Apart from the advantage of independence from a light meter, the Sunny Sixteen rule can also aid in achieving correct exposure of difficult subjects. As the rule is based on incident light, rather than reflected light as with most camera light meters, very bright or very dark subjects are compensated for. The rule serves as a mnemonic for the camera settings obtained on a sunny day using the exposure value (EV) system.”

Innovation

The Sunny 16 Rule is a straightforward way to gauge daylight exposure using incident light rather than reflected readings. This rule states that on a bright, sunny day, an ISO 100 film shot at f/16 requires a shutter speed of 1/125s. The Exposure Gauge adapts this principle, offering settings for various other apertures, ISO’s, and the most common lighting conditions of sunny days and overcast cloudy skies. While night photographers already know they’ll be working with slow shutter speeds, daylight shooters will find the Exposure Gauge an indispensable wrist-worn reference.