diff --git a/skellycam/system/diagnostics/check_auto_exposure.py b/skellycam/system/diagnostics/check_auto_exposure.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..58b740d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skellycam/system/diagnostics/check_auto_exposure.py
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+from typing import Union
+
+import cv2
+import numpy as np
+
+
+MIN_EXPOSURE = -13
+MAX_EXPOSURE = -3
+DEFAULT_EXPOSURE = -6
+
+EXPOSURE_SETTINGS = [DEFAULT_EXPOSURE, 'AUTO']
+EXPOSURE_SETTINGS.extend(list(range(MIN_EXPOSURE, MAX_EXPOSURE + 1)))
+
+
+def run_frame_loop(cap: cv2.VideoCapture, exposure_setting: int, auto_manual_setting:str, frames: int = 10) -> dict:
+    """Capture the mean brightness of frames from the video capture device.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    cap : cv2.VideoCapture
+        The video capture device.
+    frames : int, optional
+        Number of frames to capture, by default 30.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    dict
+        Dictionary with mean and standard deviation of brightness.
+    """
+
+    brightness_values = []
+    r = np.random.randint(0, 99999)# big number to keep window name unique
+    for fr in range(frames):
+        success, image = cap.read()
+        font = cv2.FONT_HERSHEY_SIMPLEX
+        font_scale = .5
+        color = (255, 0, 255)  # FFOOFF!
+        thickness = 2
+        position = (10, 30)  # top-left corner
+        position2 = (10, 60)  # top-left corner
+
+        # Add text to the image
+        #put transparent rect under text for legibility
+        annotated_image = image.copy()
+        cv2.rectangle(annotated_image, (0, 0), (300, 80), (255, 255, 255, .2), -1)
+        cv2.putText(annotated_image, f"(Fr#{fr}) Auto/Man: {auto_manual_setting}, Set: {exposure_setting}, Actual: {cap.get(cv2.CAP_PROP_EXPOSURE)}", position, font, font_scale, color, thickness)
+        cv2.putText(annotated_image, f"`np.mean(image)={np.mean(image):.2f}", position2, font, font_scale, color, thickness)
+
+        cv2.imshow(f"{r}Brightness Calibration (q to quit)", annotated_image)
+        if cv2.waitKey(1) & 0xFF == ord("q"):
+            break
+
+        if not success:
+            continue
+        brightness_values.append(np.mean(image))
+    return {
+        "mean": np.mean(np.asarray(brightness_values)),
+        "median": np.median(np.asarray(brightness_values)),
+        "std": np.std(np.asarray(brightness_values))
+    }
+
+
+HYPOTHETICAL_AUTO_EXPOSURE_SETTINGS = [0.75, 3]
+HYPOTHETICAL_MANUAL_EXPOSURE_SETTINGS = [0.25, 1]
+def main():
+    cap = cv2.VideoCapture(0, cv2.CAP_DSHOW)
+    print(f"Exposure on init: {cap.get(cv2.CAP_PROP_EXPOSURE)}")
+    cap.set(cv2.CAP_PROP_EXPOSURE, -6)
+
+    results = []
+    # Initial capture to let the webcam settle
+    for auto_exposure_setting, manual_exposure_setting in zip(HYPOTHETICAL_AUTO_EXPOSURE_SETTINGS, HYPOTHETICAL_MANUAL_EXPOSURE_SETTINGS):
+        print(f"\n-----------------------\nUsing `{auto_exposure_setting}` to enable auto exposure and `{manual_exposure_setting}` to enable manual exposure...")
+        for _ in range(30):
+            success, image = cap.read() # let it settle for a bit
+        print(f"Auto Exposure before set: {cap.get(cv2.CAP_PROP_AUTO_EXPOSURE)}")
+
+
+        for exposure_setting in EXPOSURE_SETTINGS:
+            if exposure_setting =='AUTO':
+                cap.set(cv2.CAP_PROP_AUTO_EXPOSURE, auto_exposure_setting)
+                print(f"Auto Exposure after set to {auto_exposure_setting}: {cap.get(cv2.CAP_PROP_AUTO_EXPOSURE)} (hypothetically auto exposure)")
+            else:
+                cap.set(cv2.CAP_PROP_AUTO_EXPOSURE, manual_exposure_setting)
+                print(f"Auto Exposure after set to {manual_exposure_setting}: {cap.get(cv2.CAP_PROP_AUTO_EXPOSURE)} (hypothetically manual exposure)")
+
+            results = run_brightness_test(auto_exposure_setting=auto_exposure_setting,
+                                          cap = cap,
+                                          exposure_setting = exposure_setting,
+                                          manual_exposure_setting = manual_exposure_setting,
+                                          results=results)
+
+
+
+    # Print the results as a table
+    headers = ["(SetAuto, SetManual)", "Exposure", "Mean Brightness", "Median", "Std Dev"]
+    header_format = "{:<20} {:<15} {:<20} {:<20} {:<20}"
+    row_format = "{:<20}  {:<15} {:<20.1f} {:<20.1f} {:<20.1f}"
+    print(header_format.format(*headers))
+    print("-" * 75)
+    prev = results[0]
+    for row in results:
+        if row[0] != prev[0]:
+            print("\n")
+        print(row_format.format(*row))
+        prev = row
+
+    cap.release()
+
+
+
+
+def run_brightness_test(auto_exposure_setting: float,
+                        cap: cv2.VideoCapture,
+                        exposure_setting: Union[str,int],
+                        manual_exposure_setting: float,
+                        results: list) -> list:
+    if not exposure_setting == 'AUTO':
+        cap.set(cv2.CAP_PROP_EXPOSURE, exposure_setting)
+
+
+    exposure = cap.get(cv2.CAP_PROP_EXPOSURE)
+    print(f"Exposure after set to {exposure_setting}: {exposure}")
+    brightness_data = run_frame_loop(cap=cap, exposure_setting=exposure_setting, auto_manual_setting=str(f"({auto_exposure_setting}, {manual_exposure_setting}"))
+    results.append([f"({auto_exposure_setting},{manual_exposure_setting})", exposure_setting,
+                    brightness_data["mean"], brightness_data["median"], brightness_data["std"]])
+    return results
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
\ No newline at end of file