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Interpreting Incident Lightmeter Readings By… Frank Dispensa, M.Photog.Cr., API, APM                 Camera Display: DSLR cameras display whole and intermediate f-stops in the conventional f-stop notation: (f/1.4, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16, f/22 etc.).  In addition, camera menu options allow the display of intermediate f-stops in either one third or one half stop increments.     Hand-held Lightmeter Readings: When using hand-held lightmeters the f-stop display will indicate the f-stop using conventional f-stop notation, plus a decimal value indicating the additional amount of light over the displayed f-stop. The meter displays the additional light measured in tenths of a stop decimals shown here in Green: (f/4.6, f/5.6.5, f/8.3).   Third Stop Example: When your hand-held meter displays f/8.3, the .3 indicates a decimal intensity value equal to one third of a stop more than f/8. This is displayed, on your camera, as f/9 the conventional f-stop notation.   Put your camera in third stop mode (menu option) Rotate the aperture dial to display f/8 Rotate one more click and it will display f/9 f/9 is one third of a stop more than f/8 Rotate one more click and it will display f/10 f/10 is two thirds of a stop more than f/8 Rotate one more click and it will display f/11   Half Stop Example: When your hand-held meter displays f/8.5, the .5 indicates a decimal intensity value equal to one half of a stop more than f/8. This is displayed, on your camera, as f/9.5, the conventional f-stop notation.   Put your camera in half stop mode (menu option) Rotate your aperture dial to display f/8 Rotate one more click and it will display f/9.5 f/9.5 is one half of a stop more than f/8 Rotate one more click and it will read f/11   I hope you found the above information informative and useful.