Exposure Compensation in Manual Mode: In another topic I read that many cameras allow the exposure compensation feature to be used in manual mode. How does this work exactly? If you...

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

In another topic I read that many cameras allow the exposure compensation feature to be used in manual mode.

How does this work exactly? If you are setting aperture, ISO and shutter speed manually, what does accessing the compensation feature do?

One thing I read online is, "When you vary the exposure compensation on most cameras in manual mode, the only thing that changes is the meter indication. You have to change one of either the aperture, shutter speed or ISO yourself."

That's even more confusing to me as I don't understand the point of just seeing the needle change

Thanks for any clarification!

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Will be following this along with you Linda.

Don

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Could it be referred to as tweaking or fine tuning your exposure by "over riding" your exposure meter?

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

When you use shooting modes other than Manual, the camera will set at least one of the three exposure controls (shutter speed, aperture, and/or ISO) for you. However, your camera provides you with an override called exposure compensation. To lightning more or darker by how much you tell it.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Linda From Maine wrote:

One thing I read online is, "When you vary the exposure compensation on most cameras in manual mode, the only thing that changes is the meter indication. You have to change one of either the aperture, shutter speed or ISO yourself."

The only to change is the output of the light meter. But the light meter is driving both the indicator and the AutoISO system. If you set Exposure Compensation to +1EV the indicator says there is 1 stop less light and the ISO is increased to make up for it. Since the actual light did not change your image will be brighter.

Note that that is exactly what happens if instead you were using Aperture Priority or Shutter Priority except the exposure would be increased instead of the ISO.

BebuLamar

I never used the exposure compensation but rather simply switch to manual mode. I did use the exposure compensation on one camera because its meter is off by a fixed amount so I set the exposure compensation for that amount and it's always set like that.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

DaveO wrote:

Could it be referred to as tweaking or fine tuning your exposure by "over riding" your exposure meter?

I just found another thread in some Q&A that suggest that. But that sounds to me like always setting your clock 15 minutes fast so you won't be late, lol.

If I set ISO to 200 and aperture to f/8 and in-camera meter suggests 1/500 sec, but I'm shooting white pelicans in bright sun against dark water, then I know I'm going to want to change to 1/1000 sec or f/11 to under-expose 1 stop (if I have my math correct). And if I have time, then I'll do some other exposures on the order of bracketing (edit - not the bracketing feature in-camera, just trying additional exposure changes such as what the meter would reflect at -1.5, -2 etc.)

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

dirtpusher wrote:

When you use shooting modes other than Manual, the camera will set at least one of the three exposure controls (shutter speed, aperture, and/or ISO) for you. However, your camera provides you with an override called exposure compensation. To lightning more or darker by how much you tell it.

I'm asking specifically about manual mode, thanks.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Apaflo wrote:

The only to change is the u output /u of the lig... (show quote)

Please explain your reference to "auto-ISO." I am not asking about auto ISO: I am saying when all is manually set. Thanks.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

BebuLamar wrote:

I never used the exposure compensation but rather simply switch to manual mode. I did use the exposure compensation on one camera because its meter is off by a fixed amount so I set the exposure compensation for that amount and it's always set like that.

Some folks, in another topic, say their cameras allow exposure compensation in manual mode. That is the question I'm trying to clarify here, thanks.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Linda From Maine wrote:

Some folks, in another topic, say their cameras allow exposure compensation in manual mode. That is the question I'm trying to clarify here, thanks.

With Nikon it does work as Apaflo stated.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

DaveO wrote:

With Nikon it does work as Apaflo stated.

OK, so the camera changes the ISO? That makes sense!

MichaelH Loc: NorCal via Lansing, MI

Linda, I just pulled out my GX85 and in M mode if you set the ISO to Auto it changes the ISO to bracket the exposure (based on your choices) but if you choose an ISO it brackets the exposure using the shutter speed. I guess that makes sense as changing the aperture would probably introduce some effects.

BebuLamar

Linda From Maine wrote:

Some folks, in another topic, say their cameras allow exposure compensation in manual mode. That is the question I'm trying to clarify here, thanks.

When I set the exposure compensation it stayed like that forever and in any mode including Manual.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Linda From Maine wrote:

In another topic I read that many cameras allow th... (show quote)

It probably varies by camera brand and model, but just putting the dial to 'M' mode can still allow for auto ISO to be in effect, so it isn't strictly completely manual unless ISO is also set to a specific value. In which case exposure compensation can be available, but it is also completely manual and doesn't move the needle without a little bit of help!