repleo Loc: Boston

I use EC frequently in conjunction with the histogram to ETTR. If necessary, I will adjust EC to bring the histogram down to the base line at the right edge of the graph or maybe a half stop beyond. I usually shoot in aperture mode. Depending on how much EC I need the camera will adjust the shutter speed first until it comes down to about 1/100 and then it will start to change the ISO.

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

BebuLamar

I don't use the EC either but I wonder which camera you have that doesn't have it?

MountainDave

I mostly use Av mode with manual ISO. The EC dial is a very convenient way to adjust exposure. With mirrorless, I get instant feedback with a histogram in the EVF. Usually +/- 1/3 stop does the trick but occasionally I'll need much more. In this setup, it changes shutter speed. I prefer that over changing the aperture. Exposure can be changed in post, but I get better results if I get it correct in the camera.

Day.Old.Pizza Loc: Maple Grove, MN

It’s handy when shooting outdoors in Winter on a bright, snow covered day. It keeps the Snow looking White instead of Gray.

kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy

EC is extremely useful in auto modes A and S. If, for instance you are shooting a scene where your meter is allowing the highlights to be blown out, just adjusting the parameter that is fixed (for instance decreasing the aperture in A mode) will cause the camera to compensate by lowering the shutter speed to maintain the exposure it has chosen. EC tells your camera in auto mode that you want a darker or lighter exposure. In manual mode EC is useless.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

One dial adjusts the exposure compensation while the other dial adjusts the aperture/shutter relationship. This is just two fingers on one hand near the shutter button. With the electronic viewfinder giving one a direct of feedout of the "final" image, this gives one near full control of the image. ISO can be set to either auto or a set value for total control. If one needs a set shutter speed or a set aperture, it is easier to switch to shutter speed mode or aperture mode. I set the exposure compensation (does the image exposure look correct?) and then set the aperture/shutter relationship. It works extremely quick. Sometimes one has to work with the ISO if one ends up at the open aperture limit or an aperture too small (e.g., f11 to f22). But for most shooting, it is not an issue. Due to IS, shutter speed is rarely a concern. This is why I normally shoot program mode. Note: program mode is not auto mode. It is extremely rare for me to use auto mode. My mode usage goes from program (near 100% usage) to aperture to shutter to manual to auto. And one should learn when to switch to another mode to create and achieve the image they want. And exposure compensation is available in every mode except with total manual sets of shutter, aperture, and ISO.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

For wildlife I often shoot M mode with auto ISO. I want the widest aperture and I want to make sure my shutter speed is what I need. If I’m shooting birds against the background of trees my exposure is great but then I’m tracking a bird against the bright sky. The bird would be underexposed. But I can quickly add a couple of stops with EC to get a good exposure.

jcboy3

Many cameras are ISO independent, or have two ranges of ISO independence. For these cameras, ISO has no real affect on exposure. It just controls the brightness of the image. Which is important if shooting JPG, but is not important when shooting RAW. However, ISO will affect the image brightness in the viewfinder/LCD unless you have set the view to ignore camera settings. In that case, EC will change the image brightness as viewed, and that can help with subject identification.

Big Clam Loc: Near Seattle

With the event of digital photography, I'm no longer concerned how many images I capture, even though I discard most. So, I use exposure bracketing (-1, 0, +1) and I usually get one that's exposed correctly. If not, I try again if the subject is still there. And I use the histogram to ensure that an important part of the image isn't blown out. Seems a lot simpler than using exposure compensation and taking one shot.

Dennis833 Loc: Australia

I shoot landscapes as a profession and always shot in Aperture priority even back in my large format days. I always choose my aperture first based on the required depth of field need for each composition. I then adjust the shutter speed with the EC dial if needed. It's important to note that I always shoot from a tripod so I don't have to worry about camera shake at slow shutter speeds with low ISO settings. The main benefit of shooting with Aperture priority over manual is speed. Every time you turn a mirrorless camera on it will be very close to the correct exposure regardless of how far away the last exposure was and this can make a big difference in getting the shot.

fantom Loc: Colorado

In manual mode EC adjusts ISO if AutoISO has been selected. But you need to be aware of what your ISO set points are because it will not go beyond them. I suppose it works this way for all modern cameras.

Dan' de Bourgogne

Usually I take the pictures in mode "M" (EC being left at "0), but sometime I use the manual mode (setting SS and Aperture as I need them) and dial in ISO Auto...So, depending on existing light level AND reflectance from subject, I also might set EC + ou -...the exposure being then achieved by the ISO Auto and corrected by EC.
It works rather well.

jcboy3

I use exposure compensation along with live view highlight display to adjust exposure so that the darkest exposure in a bracket has no blown highlights. I decide after the fact which exposure is best, or if I want to generate an HDR merge or masked merge. For speed, I shoot in Aperture priority and have EC set on the front control dial.

nikon123 Loc: Toronto, Canada

I typically shoot in Aperture priority mode as such suits, for me, the types of photography that I prefer. I prefer street photography which often includes candid portraits of people that I 'target' and meet. I usually have my EC set to +1/3rd stop. I use back button focusing and rely on Exposure Compensation to quickly change the exposure, without increasing the ISO beyond the amount that I had set it to. I have used Auto ISO but infrequently. I also typically use centre weighted metering for daytime shooting. I did a shoot a few weeks ago of a client's grandchildren. All hand held, all in the shade, all with aperture priority and applied EC where necessary. If I do say so myself, the late afternoon light combined with a verdant setting produced some wonderful and well-exposed images. Since the images are a surprise gift for the grandmother, I cannot at this time share the images with you. I don't know that my camera will allow or prevent the use of EC in Manual mode, but why would you? It's manual mode! I also find that the use of EC is very helpful in situations where thye light meter is fooled, e.g. black objects, snow.