jcboy3

I use it to adjust exposure with respect to highlight levels. I also bracket a lot, and use it to adjust exposure prior to running a bracket burst.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

After a bit more thought, I do not have your model cameras but I am sure the method is similar.
My camera has a wheel on the back (7D) and in the viewfinder I see the proper exposure at the bottom with little marks at 1/3 stop increments + and -.
I take the photo and if what I want is over or under exposed I turn the wheel until what I think is a good amount over or under then try again.
Sometimes in P or auto aperture or shutter if I am shooting into a situation where the sky is overwhelming I start by over exposing about 2 stops and see what happens. Once I get it I keep that exposure compensation until I finish with the subject. And what is excellent, in my camera at least, you immediately see if you need to re-zero in the viewfinder and won't take weird exposures as you move on. I am sure your cameras have a similar in viewfinder letting you know where you are at at all times.
Finally it is something you just play with, get comfortable doing it and figure it out. PS, no cost in digital to play around and that is the absolute best way to figure things out and see what happens.

BebuLamar

While I don't have it any more as it was stolen from me in 1984 my first camera which was the Nikon F2AS ,a manual only camera, did have the exposure compensation although it's a crude one. Interestingly the Canon AE-1, AE-1 P and A1 which are automatic exposure camera didn't have the EC. Even the aperture priority only camera the Nikon EM doesn't have the EC either. The Pentax ME Super that I have does have it.

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Using it to help with bracketing sounds like a good idea.

Thank you for that, jcboy3!!

Dodie

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Sorry, I missed seeing your post but found it when I went back to the first page to reread something.

Thank you, wdross for sharing your process. Time well spent to obtain the best possible results. I'm taking notes from all the responses for some practicing/experimenting in the near future.

Dodie

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Sorry I missed seeing your post but found it going back to reread. Thank you so much for your input, kpmac. Like you I shoot manual but there may come a time when I have to choose an auto mode and it would be good to have an idea of how it works just in case.

Dodie

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

You are so right that practicing and experimenting with digital don't cost. I am taking notes from the responses to try all the suggestions and to have for the future in case the need arises.

On my LED screen the EC icon comes on but I will need to put on a lens and see what occurs in the viewfinder. It is predicated that we will have rain on Sunday so I will add this to my to-list. I'm now even more curious about this feature than when I posed the question.

Dodie

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

I had to go look but EC was available on my Nikon FA but I never used it. My first 35mm was a Chinon but I don't remember what model or if EV was available but I didn't use it then either if it did.

Dodie

User ID

Program AE combined with toggled AEL and the EC dial creates a form of Ultra Manual mode. I used it for a while. It works better on some cameras than on others ... some cameras cancel the AEL whenever you chimp :-(

The Aardvark Is Ready

I use it cause to me it simplifies the process and leaves one less thing to worry about. As mainly a landscape photographer, aperture is my main concern, so I use aperture priority. I then override the recommended SS if necessary by use of the EC dial. It's one less setting I have to worry about 90% of the time. If you're shooting manual when you set one of your parameters and then adjust the other above or below the recommended meter reading, you're using exposure compensation.
I remember in ancient times, you sometimes had to calibrate your meter by use of the EC dial to how much you felt it over/under exposed.

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Thanks!! Adding that to my notes.

Dodie

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Thank you, The Aardvark Is Ready!! Yes, I do my corrections manually. When I shoot a snow scene I will over expose by 1 stop and 2 if necessary. If I've miscalculated I will correct in post processing. Since I do that manually, I couldn't see the need for the EC option but now that it's been explained as an option for an auto mode I see where it would be needed. It is something I will experiment with to make sure I know how to use it if the need arrives but also a possible correction in case my camera is off in exposure. This is something I will work on this Sunday.

Thank you for your input; it's greatly appreciated.

Dodie

gwilliams6

As a worldwide award winning pro with four decades in the business, I have used exposure compensation dials on my cameras for many years in countless photo situations around the world. And as a longtime Professor of Photography at a state university, I have to teach about this to my photography students.

While viewing the scene and the otherwise "correct" exposure in my EVF, I may quickly determine by experience or with viewing the histogram without taking my eye off the EVF (cant do that in a DSLR) that my primary subject may need more or less exposure to retain detail in that subject's key tonal range .

Like moving from an all high-key subject in bright light ,like a winter scene in snow, then into a low-key subject in
shadow. No metered "correct" exposure can quickly handle the quick move I need, so a quick move of the exposure compensation dial can give the correct exposure I need, while retaining any key choice of f-stop or shutter speed chosen in either aperture priority or shutter priority.

I may be hard to visualize what I am talking about, but pros and hobbyists alike make great use of the exposure compensation dials on their cameras and I wouldn't want any camera without one.

With a DSLR and an OVF it would be more critical to be sure you returned it to zero when changing your scene. With a mirrorless camera you can easily see your exposure settings effect in the EVF. Both DSLRs and mirrorless will display the + or - of your exposure compensation settings.

https://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-use-exposure-compensation-to-take-control-of-your-exposure/

https://www.dpmag.com/how-to/tip-of-the-week/exposure-compensation-how-it-works-and-when-to-use-it/

Some online comments from experts on using the exposure compensation:
" It's likely that you'll need to use exposure compensation when you're shooting something that is predominantly black or white. Shoot a white scene (such as a snow-covered landscape) and the camera will tend to under-expose the whole scene."

"The exposure compensation dial (or adjustable menu setting) allows you to influence the way the camera determines a correct exposure. It's like your direct line to tell your camera, “Hey, whatever you think the correct exposure should be, I'd prefer it if you over- or under-exposed from there."

Cheers and best to you.

User ID

Youre welcome. Thaz the kind of stuff that you (almost) never learn from the herd, nor from the "world wide award winning" experts. But occasionally Ill sneak an original idea into the works.

Check it out. It might work for you.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind