Manual exposure in bright sunlight: I am almost unable to set exposure in the manual mode of my D3200 Nikon in bright sunlight. If I use the viewfinder I find I have to use my hand to...

nimblenuts Loc: San Diego

I am almost unable to set exposure in the manual mode of my D3200 Nikon in bright sunlight. If I use the viewfinder I find I have to use my hand to cover the viewfinder, otherwise I cannot see the exposure setting. This slows me down considerably and makes me doubt that I should be messing with manual settings at all in bright sunlight. I have the same problem with back screen, it's just too bright out to reliably see the screen and exposure setting. Suggestions?

twowindsbear

Adjust the brightness of the back screen

Get a hood of some siort to cast a shadow on the back screen

Use an eye cup on the view finder to block the light shining around your face when you hold your camera to your eye

Good luck

nimblenuts Loc: San Diego

I wear eyeglasses so the shroud on the viewfinder cup will not prevent light from leaking in between the eyeglasses and the viewfinder. Are there any hoods manufactured for back screen? Seems that would help.

BebuLamar

I don't know I never have problem using the viewfinder. I do have the problem using the back screen.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

nimblenuts wrote:

I wear eyeglasses so the shroud on the viewfinder cup will not prevent light from leaking in between the eyeglasses and the viewfinder. Are there any hoods manufactured for back screen? Seems that would help.

LCDVFD Viewfinder

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1050127-REG/kinotehnik_lcdvfd_lcd_viewfinder_for.html?sts=pi

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

nimblenuts wrote:

I am almost unable to set exposure in the manual mode of my D3200 Nikon in bright sunlight. If I use the viewfinder I find I have to use my hand to cover the viewfinder, otherwise I cannot see the exposure setting. This slows me down considerably and makes me doubt that I should be messing with manual settings at all in bright sunlight. I have the same problem with back screen, it's just too bright out to reliably see the screen and exposure setting. Suggestions?

Bright sun?
Sharp, distinct shadows?
F/16,shutter reciprocal of ISO
(...or equivalent, balancing dark and bright stops)

‘nuff said?

Dave

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

nimblenuts wrote:

I am almost unable to set exposure in the manual mode of my D3200 Nikon in bright sunlight. If I use the viewfinder I find I have to use my hand to cover the viewfinder, otherwise I cannot see the exposure setting. This slows me down considerably and makes me doubt that I should be messing with manual settings at all in bright sunlight. I have the same problem with back screen, it's just too bright out to reliably see the screen and exposure setting. Suggestions?

I never use the rear screen, but I also wear glasses and I have found a wide brimmed hat is good for shading when looking through the view finder.

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

Mac wrote:

I never use the rear screen, but I also wear glasses and I have found a wide brimmed hat is good for shading when looking through the view finder.

My hat works great.

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

I use an eyecup like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Altura-Photo-Viewfinder-Eyepiece-Replacement/dp/B008MLAT78/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1517185641&sr=1-3&keywords=eye+cup+for+d3200

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

rwilson1942 wrote:

I use an eyecup like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Altura-Photo-Viewfinder-Eyepiece-Replacement/dp/B008MLAT78/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1517185641&sr=1-3&keywords=eye+cup+for+d3200

Mine liked to fall off quite frequently. I went with a Hoodman. PITA and hokey, but it works. At least it did a year or so ago before I shelved it.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1353031-REG/hoodman_h32mb_hoodloupe_3_2_outdoor_loop.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=hoodman%20crane&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=

twowindsbear

nimblenuts wrote:

I wear eyeglasses so the shroud on the viewfinder cup will not prevent light from leaking in between the eyeglasses and the viewfinder. Are there any hoods manufactured for back screen? Seems that would help.

Adjust the camera's diopter to your actual vision, then you can dispense with your eyeglass and the viewfinder cup will be more likely to work for you.

DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina

Why not use a or s priority and let tne camera do the rest. Methinks pure manual shooting in many instances is way overrated. Just my opinion.

WessoJPEG Loc: Cincinnati, Ohio

DeanS wrote:

Why not use a or s priority and let tne camera do the rest. Methinks pure manual shooting in many instances is way overrated. Just my opinion.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

nimblenuts wrote:

I am almost unable to set exposure in the manual mode of my D3200 Nikon in bright sunlight. If I use the viewfinder I find I have to use my hand to cover the viewfinder, otherwise I cannot see the exposure setting. This slows me down considerably and makes me doubt that I should be messing with manual settings at all in bright sunlight. I have the same problem with back screen, it's just too bright out to reliably see the screen and exposure setting. Suggestions?

Couple of things to consider.
1. You could get a device to go over your screen in bright sunlight so you can view your exposures. This one is from B&H.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1353036-REG/hoodman_h30mb_hoodloupe_3_0_outdoor_loop.html/?c3api=3679%2Cbing%2C2763659969%2C4585581963538034&msclkid=ed941374c341161441d5491a3f7a3450

2. Or, you can use the sunny 16 rule. That rule states on a sunny day you can get a good exposure using 1/iso at F16. ie. if your iso is 400 your bright daylight exposure is 1/400 at F16.

tcthome Loc: NJ

billnikon wrote:

Couple of things to consider. br 1. You could get... (show quote)

Or 1/200 ,f16 for 200 iso if I understand this correctly.