DIN system

photography

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June 25, 2026

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The DIN system in photography is a standard for measuring the sensitivity of photographic materials to light. It's derived from "Deutsche Industrie-Normen," meaning German industry standards.1

This system quantifies how much exposure a film needs to achieve a specific density of silver deposit after development. A higher DIN number indicates greater sensitivity to light, allowing for photography in dimmer conditions or with faster shutter speeds. For example, a film with a higher DIN rating is considered "fast" film, while one with a lower rating is "slow" film. The DIN scale is logarithmic, with a 3° increase representing a doubling of film speed.23

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technology of photography
Sensitometry and speed
…the speed (and matching the DIN speeds still used in parts of Europe). A film of 200/24° ISO is twice as fast (and for a given subject requires half as much exposure) as a film of 100/21° ISO, or half as fast as a film of 400/27° ISO.
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…the speed (and matching the DIN speeds still used in parts of Europe). A film of 200/24° ISO is twice as fast (and for a given subject requires half as much exposure) as a film of 100/21° ISO, or half as fast as a film of 400/27° ISO.
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