bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Changing EC doesn't change any camera settings. What it does do is change the targeted level of exposure. With EC set at zero the camera determines what it "thinks" is the correct exposure (which becomes the targeted level of exposure). Adjusting EC changes the targeted level of exposure. How that exposure is achieved is determined by the shooting mode that's being used. If it's a mode that uses the camera's meter display, the centre point on that display will indicate the targeted level of exposure. If it's a mode that includes setting values that are provided by the camera (e.g. auto ISO), those values will will self-adjust in such a way as to achieve the targeted level of exposure.

If you think about EC in terms of which settings change, it gets confusing. Just think of EC as adjusting the targeted level of exposure. As others have stated, how that level of exposure is achieved will depend on the shooting mode (that is true whether EC is used or not).

was_a_guru

Thanks all for your responses. And I agree that wanting to know how all the modes work and what effect EC has on them is NOT a useless distraction. I believe the better the understanding of my cameras and how they operate makes me a better photographer (at least technically, composition is a whole different subject).

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Of course, it depends on which mode you're in!

srt101fan

Hi was_a_guru,

Your question is:
“When I use exposure compensation…, which of the three light controlling parameters are changed- aperture, shutter speed, or ISO? Does that depend on which mode I am in (A, S, M or P) or would it be the same regardless?”

I think I have a more complete answer for you (I still don’t know what happens in P with fixed ISO!). As I said before, for M, S, A, and M+Auto ISO:

> The way the camera reacts to exposure compensation depends on the shooting mode.
> In M (Manual), EC will shift the light meter reading but shutter speed, aperture and ISO settings will not change
> In M + Auto ISO, EC will cause the camera to adjust ISO.
> In S (Shutter Priority) with fixed ISO, EC will cause a change in aperture.
> In A (Aperture Priority) with fixed ISO, EC will cause a change in shutter speed.

From a Nikon website (https://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/a/tips-and-techniques/understanding-auto-iso.html):

> In S + Auto ISO, EC will cause a change in aperture until “the aperture determined to achieve the correct exposure is beyond the aperture range of the lens used, then ISO Auto will increase the sensitivity value.”
> In A + Auto ISO, EC will cause a change in shutter speed until “the shutter speed required to achieve the correct exposure is beyond the shutter speed range of the camera, [then] ISO Auto will increase the sensitivity.”
> In P +Auto ISO, “When the shutter speed required to achieve the correct exposure is beyond the shutter speed range of the camera and the aperture cannot be adjusted any further by the camera system, ISO Auto will increase the sensitivity.”

Hope this helps.

BebuLamar

The D7500 manual doesn't have a program chart while a higher end model does.

srt101fan

BebuLamar, I've appreciated your comments on many topics and have learned from you. But your statement that the "discussion about how the modes work should be a separate discussion" is ludicrous.

The OP's question WAS about "how the modes work". So you're basically saying that the question he asked should be the subject of another thread!?!? 😕

srt101fan

But you didn't explain how EC works with different shooting modes, and that is what the OP asked about...

BebuLamar

If we want to discuss how the modes work we should leave the EC out and I welcome to discuss how each mode works. Because all the modes work the same way they always do. If you set the EC it only bias the meter.

srt101fan

Linda, I think you're right. I haven't found anything on how the camera selects settings in P mode. Tests seem like a reasonable approach.

BebuLamar

There are description chart in the manual on how the P mode works on higher end cameras but not the D7500.
There is one chart in the Nikon D5 manual and in the Df manual but not in the D850 or D500. There was also one in my F5 manual. There is also one such thing in the manual of the first Nikon with P mode the FA.

srt101fan

Why do you and Apaflo ignore the OP's question? Bias, shmias, who cares if, how, and why the meter is biased. You guys just seem to want to show off your knowledge that EC doesn't DIRECTLY lead to changes in exposure settings. Who cares? The important thing, the question that has practical applications, is WHAT HAPPENS AFTER the poor meter is "biased". And that, in my opinion, is what the OP asked about.

BebuLamar

Because how the camera behave in each mode is totally separate issue from EC. You don't want to mix them.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Hope all are having a good time....

anotherview Loc: California

On a Canon camera, the photographer can put aperture and shutter speed in manual mode while putting ISO in auto mode. Thus, exposure compensation would affect ISO only. If I understand these settings correctly.

Others here more checked out may clarify this matter.