Exposure Compensation in Manual Mode
Apr 27, 2017 06:47:25 #
df389w wrote:
I also wanted to know the results to your question ( I shoot Nikon). But I must be pretty thick because in all the responses I don't see the answer.
Obviously there have been some different opinions. I just gave my answer for the D500 and D810 which is easy enough to prove or disprove. Have you tried to do any of the methods or ideas being expressed?
Apr 27, 2017 07:24:37 #
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."
Wow! Five pages!
Yes, that is confusing. Obviously, if you adjust exposure compensation, something is changing. Of course changing the EC will cause the meter to show that you are under or over exposing, according to what it thinks is right. It's like exposing for a backlit subject. The camera will automatically choose to expose for either the dark subject or the bright background. When you adjust exposure manually, the camera thinks the setting is wrong.
Apr 27, 2017 07:36:16 #
DaveC
Loc: Illinois
Linda From Maine wrote:
I'm asking specifically about manual mode, thanks.
I just tried it on my Nikon D7100. When in Program mode it changes the shutter speed. When in Manual mode it doesn't change anything, but just shows the under/over exposure amount.
Apr 27, 2017 08:12:43 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
In another topic I read that many cameras allow th... (show quote)
My photos ALWAYS seem to be a little under-exposed, no matter which mode I use. I keep it set at +0.3, but I haven't notice if this is ineffectual in manual mode.
Apr 27, 2017 08:16:45 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
In another topic I read that many cameras allow th... (show quote)
Great question
Apr 27, 2017 08:53:21 #
My Canon 60D allows for Exposure compensation / AEB (Auto Exposure Bracketing) - in manual mode it is Auto Exposure Bracketing while in program mode (Av/Tv Aperture priority/Shutter Priority) it allows for both.
Apr 27, 2017 09:04:51 #
DaveO wrote:
My D500 and D810,when in manual mode,must be set to Auto-Iso in order for the EC to work. I find it easy for a quick,minor adjustment. I typically shoot outside in Auto-Iso and it is easier to use one hand to change the Iso,as it were,by changing EC Button instead of using the Iso Button and Command Dial.
I shoot a lot of wildlife and have been frustrated with the ISO change on the D810...until Steve Perry suggested assigning the movie button to ISO. Problem solved! Nikon got the ISO location right on the D500.
Apr 27, 2017 09:07:54 #
DaveC wrote:
When in Manual mode it doesn't change anything, but just shows the under/over exposure amount.
Doesn't change anything? Are you saying the indicated under/over exposure amount remains the same no matter what EC you dial in? I think you should get the same result with your D7100 that RWR got with a Df.
Apr 27, 2017 09:16:00 #
mwsilvers wrote:
Yes almost all the time. Explicitly setting ISO is a problem in fast changing light situations, especially in sports or wildlife or any time a photo op presents itself that may be gone in a moment. With EC and auto ISO you can get the advantages of auto ISO's dynamic ability and still control it quickly to tailor it to your specific needs.
This is what I was hoping for....if I understand you correctly. Auto ISO for rapid changing light and EC to adjust for a white or black subject...plus or minus 1 stop. Is this correct?
Apr 27, 2017 09:16:03 #
Thank you all for your time; much appreciated! Results:
1. many cameras don't allow exposure compensation when in manual mode; it is grayed out of the menu
2. some cameras will show a change in the dial only. A few folks have talked about how this is a good tool for meters that are not accurate. I haven't quite wrapped my head around the technical aspects of that or how setting a -1 means you'll get an effective +1 when you set your parameters manually, but as my camera doesn't have the option anyway, I can live with my brain block
3. some cameras, and it seems to require your being in auto ISO, allow exposure compensation while in manual mode. For these, it is the ISO that is changed as you move the compensation dial. Your shutter speed and aperture remain as you originally chose. Handy-dandy!
1. many cameras don't allow exposure compensation when in manual mode; it is grayed out of the menu
2. some cameras will show a change in the dial only. A few folks have talked about how this is a good tool for meters that are not accurate. I haven't quite wrapped my head around the technical aspects of that or how setting a -1 means you'll get an effective +1 when you set your parameters manually, but as my camera doesn't have the option anyway, I can live with my brain block
3. some cameras, and it seems to require your being in auto ISO, allow exposure compensation while in manual mode. For these, it is the ISO that is changed as you move the compensation dial. Your shutter speed and aperture remain as you originally chose. Handy-dandy!
Apr 27, 2017 09:28:43 #
Brilliant question and discussions. I've often wondered what exposure compensation in 'full' manual actually was. And thank you so much for summarizing !
Apr 27, 2017 09:35:04 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
I just found another thread in some Q&A that s... (show quote)
In manual mode the makers assume that you will be setting your exposure parameters based on the reading of the built in exposure meter--that you will set the exposure to "0" and will expect to get a correctly exposed picture. Now let's suppose that you do so and find the image overexposed by one stop. Personally for me, knowing that, I would simply set the camera so that the meter read "-1". However if you insist on taking extra steps and can't remember to set it for -1 to compensate for the +1 of the actual exposure, the makers helpfully allow you to set the meter so that when the meter reads 0 it is actually setting the exposure for -1. I find this useless in the extreme, but perhaps it is helpful to some for some reason.
Apr 27, 2017 09:44:02 #
DaveC
Loc: Illinois
Winslowe wrote:
Doesn't change anything? Are you saying the indicated under/over exposure amount remains the same no matter what EC you dial in? I think you should get the same result with your D7100 that RWR got with a Df.
No, what I meant was that it doesn't actually change any of the manual settings, aperture, shutter or ISO, but rather just displays the amount of exposure compensation dialed in. Is that clearer?
Apr 27, 2017 09:47:17 #
I'm not going to answer your specific question, because I rarely use manual mode (and when I do, things don't turn out right!). I shoot in either aperture-preferred or shutter-preferred normally, depending on what I'm shooting. I've found when shooting flowers in bright sun, for example, that the petals give me "blinkies" unless I do an exposure compensation. I've always thought of it as being the "in-betweens" on exposure. For example, if I'm at f8 and the next one is f11, the exposure compensation allows me to go in between 8 and 11. Not sure if that's correct or not.
Unfortunately, if I set the compensation, it's usually to a negative. Then I forget to change it back and wonder why my subsequent pics are so dark!
Unfortunately, if I set the compensation, it's usually to a negative. Then I forget to change it back and wonder why my subsequent pics are so dark!
Apr 27, 2017 09:52:33 #
selmslie wrote:
And as usual, you think that anything I says is wr... (show quote)
Exposure compensation in the manual mode is NOT designed to compensate for meter errors but rather to compensate for your preferences; as good as they are, the camera's light meter cannot read your mind: if you consistently prefer lighter or darker images, you simple adjust the exposure compensation +/- accordingly (which changes the meter reading only) and manually adjust aperture, shutter speed, ISO or a combination of the three to bring the meter indicator back to zero.
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