Exposure compensation

[DCBarner]

I came to the stunning conclusion that I have no idea what exposure compensation is.

What I thought it was:

You push the "lightening bolt" button and turn the dial to plus and it's brighter or negative and it's darker.

Yes/no maybe so. Can you help me.

Dane

[TerryMC]

Originally Posted by TerryMC

Point your camera at a subject and half pressed the shutter to activate the meter. Then read the aperture, shutter speed and ISO values. Assuming the metering is within range (scale at 0 maker) then that's your meter reading.



Note that it may not be the proper setting for that particular image. You may have to use a different metering mode or adjust the exposure compensation.

Another way to describe a meter reading is by Exposure Value (EV). In this example, the metering reading is EV 16.9. That's why your camera has EV +/- (exposure compensation).

The aperture, shutter speed and ISO are interlocked in semi-auto modes (i.e., maintaining the same EV value). So you use the exposure compensation (EV +/-) to override the camera setting (EV).

BTW, "lightening bolt +/-" is Flash Exposure Compensation.

[inkista]

Originally Posted by DCBarner

You push the "lightening bolt" button and turn the dial to plus and it's brighter or negative and it's darker.

Anything with a lightning bolt is related to flash.

For exposure compensation, if you're in any shooting mode above the green-box-full-auto other than Manual, you simply turn the wheel on the back (under your thumb), and you'll adjust the exposure compensation. You got the + for lighter, - for darker right, though.

With full Manual mode, the compensation scale acts more like a meter, and you can choose how you want to adjust the exposure--either by shifting the shutter speed (back wheel) or the aperture (top wheel).