foxfirerodandgun Loc: Stony Creek, VA

This question would mainly apply to someone using/learning a newer advanced camera, or to someone expanding their learning curve in photography, and applies to subjects that are not fast moving and/or basically static. All helpful comments/opinions welcomed.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Not sure exactly what your question IS ?? Can you elaborate.

Normally I strive to decide on an appropriate shutter speed and set it and then leave it alone until the circumstances warrant a change - in which case I would be using exposure comp to make exposure changes - most probably using auto ISO for the change.

foxfirerodandgun Loc: Stony Creek, VA

Reading, watching videos, and understanding that both shutter speed & manual EV will alter exposure; and in the process of learning the effects of both; coupled with learning the best way to use my new D7200; attempting to expand my learning curve in a simplistic manner and learn to make changes by muscle memory rather than by having to think about it is the reason for my question. Your method seems easy enough, although I guess that I'm looking for a "one size fits all" approach when dealing with one set of circumstances. I'm not sure if my reasoning makes sense or not, or if I'm actually over thinking it and creating more of a problem rather than a solution.

A good example that comes to mind are the images that I took a week or so back of the 1958 Plymouth Savoy, (Mystery Car), that I included in a previous post. I had the shutter speed set @ 250 & ISO @ 100, if I remember correctly, and was curious if they would have turned out better if I had used a slower shutter speed and/or had added EV, or higher ISO. Below is one of the images with no editing.

(Download)

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

I do not see a question!

foxfirerodandgun Loc: Stony Creek, VA

The question is in the title of the post.

BebuLamar

What do you mean by manual EV? and by shutter speed you mean changing the shutter speed with the camera in manual mode?

foxfirerodandgun Loc: Stony Creek, VA

The button on the top right side, close to and slightly behind the display panel that will add, +1, +1.3 etc. or lessen, -1.0, 1.3, etc. levels of exposure. No, the camera is set to Shutter Priority Mode, and the shutter speed was set to 250 and ISO set to 100. I know that I could have increased the ISO but wanted to try to stay at 100. Manual mode was not being used. I hope this helps.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

The photo you posted looks terrific IMO. Your light goes from harsh bright white to deep shadows, yet you've captured the details in nearly every part of the scene.

Exposure is exposure, meaning whatever combination of settings you choose, you will get one result when metering the same part of the scene. If you want to darken or lighten your result, then you change one or more of the settings. For the purpose of light or dark, it doesn't matter which you change. But your choice should be dependent on specific factors relative to each photo op:

1. shutter speed affects motion blur (from subject or photographer)
2. aperture affects depth of field
3. ISO if too high introduces digital noise/grainy look

When in shutter priority mode, setting exposure compensation will change the aperture. Do you want the depth of field that the change produces? That's one of the decisions you make at the time and one size rarely fits all

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Annnd...if shooting a non-moving subject, consider using aperture priority. You choose the aperture for the depth of field you want for that composition, then if you need to use exposure compensation, the camera changes the shutter speed.

If not using a tripod and if your exposure compensation is to the plus side, you need to keep an eye on shutter speed so that it doesn't drop so low you introduce blur from your own movement. You can always raise the ISO as alternative and/or as part of the adjustment.

To recap and address the question in your title: "manual EV compensation" in the way you defined it just means that as you move that dial, your camera changes one or two of the three components that comprise exposure: shutter speed, aperture, ISO. For the purposes of light or dark, it doesn't matter which is changed.

For purposes of motion blur, depth of field or noise, it does matter.

BebuLamar

Thank you! Now I got it. Personally I don't use either shutter priority nor the exposure compensation but the 2 as you described work differently.
If you change the shutter speed the exposure doesn't change but the aperture does to give you the same exposure.
If you change the exposure compensation (Manual EV Compensation as you said it) the aperture changes and also the exposure changes but the shutter speed doesn't change.

foxfirerodandgun Loc: Stony Creek, VA

Thank you Linda for your kind words and explanation. It makes perfect sense. I really appreciate it. Now all I have to do is to put it into practice. That is if the sun ever shines again here in SE VA. We have had nothing but overcast skies and rain for so long I'm beginning to have an idea as to what Noah may have felt.

foxfirerodandgun Loc: Stony Creek, VA

You are very welcome. Now, thanks to Linda of Maine, we both have a better understanding of how these things interact with each other. It now gets me to thinking, (sometimes this can be dangerous), maybe using Manual Mode would be a better setting to experiment and learn from. This way one can experiment with shutter & aperture settings without one compensating for the other. Just a thought.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

With manual mode you would be doing the same thing the camera is, but making the adjustment directly and deliberately, whereas in one of the priority modes you might forget to check what the camera has been up to I just want to make sure you understand that "exposure compensation" is not a negative term; it's simply a way you achieve the desired exposure result in tricky lighting.

"Tricky" lighting examples:
- dark bird against white sky
- white bird in shadow
- anything in strong backlighting, such as person standing in front of sunny window
- snow
- the full moon after dark

I used aperture priority for many years, 'til I realized I needed to always set the shutter speed higher because I was getting wobbly. So now I set aperture and shutter speed, and if the lighting is not tricky, I use auto ISO. I also use it in quickly changing lighting conditions such as bird in flight or mist rising from pond as I'm shooting towards sunrise.

A discussion of auto-ISO from one of our pro photographers: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-517754-2.html

I haven't watched the video he produced (linked in that comment), but many have said it explains very well.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Linda did quite well and let me add a bit to the thought.

Assuming your static subject and assuming a steady camera, tripod, then shutter speed can range from very fast to very slow with no appreciable difference, unless there is wind or fast moving clouds etc.
So you wish to set ISO which on most cameras ISO 100 gives the least noise and best overall results. And unless there is a reason for higher ISO, like a night shot with motion a possibility as noted above, leave it there.
So now we are to the aperture. Shallow or deep depth of field, what do you as a photographer want?

As to EV do you want what the camera says is correct per the meter? if so then shoot away as above. If not what is priority? More or less light into the camera with DOF as a priority change shutter to a slower or faster speed. If the shutter speed is needed to remain then change aperture unless DOF is needed to be specific then change ISO leaving the others set.

Bottom line is what combination gives YOU the results that YOU are looking for. Just remember higher ISOs will create more noise as you move off 100 and your tolerance for that noise is your limit.

Hope this helps.

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

Try manual mode, set shutter speed and aperture, and put your camera in auto ISO (with upper limit).

Steve Perry has an excellent video on this topic.