jwmilam Loc: Horn Lake, MS

I have two digital cameras; they are Nikon D-70S and D7200 and both are messing up in manual mode. You can set the exposure fire the shutter and the setting change and you may or not get the picture. Every time you fire the shutter the exposure changes.

The reason I am asking is that; two different cameras are doing the same thing and that makes me wonder if I am the problem. There are so many setting in the camera I may have set up something that is fighting each other. Any thoughts on this matter would be appericated.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Confirm that you have not inadvertently set bracketing on.

bleirer

Just a thought to check exposure compensation? Even in manual if you have it set then centering the meter will give a compensated exposure.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Can't speak to the D 70 S, But on the D 7200, suggest you do a 2 button reset to factory spec, then push the Info button - take a picture of the D7200 monitor with your D 70 and post it. A lot of knowledgeable Nikon users glad to help.

CO

Do you have exposure bracketing turned on? If the camera is in manual mode, it would be changing the shutter speeds between shots.

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camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I am going to say that the suggested resetting of the cameras is a good start. Also check to see if you do not have spot meter set as your metering mode.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Check to see if you have limits set on shutter speed and/or ISO.

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

Do the two button reset on both.

Bill_de Loc: US

How do you set a limit on shutter speed in manual mode?

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jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Agree with ID guy and CO, sounds like bracketing was inadvertently set to ON.

Easy to check. Please Post here if that solved the problem.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

If the settings are changing, I don’t see where you could possibly be in 100% manual mode. It’s very likely that the problem lies behind the cameras.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Do you feel better now?

FYI your answer is also a “tell” about your knowledge of the subject matter. You might want to consider that Next time before posting a smug reply.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

If you are actually using fully manual mode, then... yes.... you are the problem. It cannot be the camera because when you shoot fully manual, all the exposure settings are up to you! They only change when you change them! The camera isn't supposed to be making any of the exposure settings at all and should not be changing them.... IF you are actually using a fully manual exposure mode.

I agree with several responses... one thing to check is whether or not you've set exposure bracketing. If that were done with it in manual mode, the camera will make one shot according to your settings, and then will make some additional shots where it overrides your exposure. In most cameras you get to decide how much difference there is between the unadjusted and the adjusted shots... in stops or fractions of stops. In some cameras you can only bracket three shots... in others you can bracket more shots than that.

Another possibility... I don't know if either of your cameras has it... but on some there is a "safety shift" where the camera will override your settings if it "thinks" they're not correct (which short of defeats the whole purpose of shooting manually).

Also, do you have "Auto ISO" enabled? Again, I don't know if both your cameras have it (D7200 probably does... D70, I don't know)... But if you have the exposure set to M, but have Auto ISO enabled, you aren't actually "shooting manually". You are using another form of auto exposure. You set the shutter speed and the lens aperture... the camera then chooses the ISO it "thinks" will make a correct exposure. That's an auto exposure mode.

Finally, to be brutally honest, I'm not sure you should be "shooting manual". Frankly, when you write "there are so many setting in the camera I may have set up something that is fighting each other", it suggests you don't have a very good understanding of the camera, why and how to properly set manual exposure. If that's the case, you may be better served using one or another of the auto exposure modes. Just as there's no "heroism" in shooting purely manual exposure, there's no "shame" in using auto exposure modes... in fact the auto modes are sometimes necessary... there are times full manual exposure mode is ideal to use, as well as times it's not. The trick is understanding and recognizing which is best to use in different situations, and then doing so correctly.

I would suggest you spend $18 over at Amazon to buy Brian Peterson's "Understanding Exposure". It's a good read a a thorough overview of how cameras work and... in my opinion... should be "required reading" for many photographers!

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

Smug reply?? I’m merely agreeing with the OP, who has admitted that he may be the problem. You are the only one I’m putting down!