adjusting exposure


akagi07

Senior Member
Apr 6, 2006
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perhaps a noob quest.
in manual, while using matrix metering, when picturing a picture.
after adjusting the aperture and the shutter speed, to balance the metering in the viewfinder, say after all the nice adjustment, I set the exposure to -2.0 EV, the metering will change again, should I readjust the metering again? (I sound a bit stupid and confused)

supposing adjusting exposure compensation is to overwrite the exposure cam choose for the pic, so after I changed the value, I just shoot right?
 

not quite sure what do you mean, but the camera's metering system doesn't decide on the shutter and aperture in Manual mode.. for Nikon EV in M mode I suppose it only affects flash exposure if you have a flash mounted, correct me if I'm wrong..
 

perhaps a noob quest.
in manual, while using matrix metering, when picturing a picture.
after adjusting the aperture and the shutter speed, to balance the metering in the viewfinder, say after all the nice adjustment, I set the exposure to -2.0 EV, the metering will change again, should I readjust the metering again? (I sound a bit stupid and confused)

supposing adjusting exposure compensation is to overwrite the exposure cam choose for the pic, so after I changed the value, I just shoot right?
to get correct exposure, set your exposure according to the camera meter show at 0.0 when you meter the scene.

so if you see ....|...., this is the recommended exposure setting for this scene.

if you dial -2.0EV, the meter will show overexposed for 2.0 stop (.|...i....) at the same scene with the same exposure setting.

and when you dial your camera shutter speed, aperture and ISO to get meter showing ....|.... again, take a shot, you will get this scene at -2.0EV exposure


that is what you ask for, -2.0EV



.
 

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I do not mean metering will decide on the shutter and aperture..
I'm now bit confused over EV compensation.. I read up Scott Kelby's digital photography and tips from somewhere.
saying taking landscape shot outdoor with bright sky above, if picture taken with sky blown or overexposed, just adjust EV to underexpose the shot

example of current setup, f5, at 1/2000, sky overexposed (dull) but metering is well balance as focus is on a building
adjustment 1: f5, at 1/2000 I changed the exposure to -2.0 EV, the metering will show unexpose.. so should the metering be re-tuned or leave it as it is?

however, after the manual EV compensation, whole picture darkened, process it in photoshop later?
 

to get correct exposure, set your exposure according to the camera meter show at 0.0 when you meter the scene.

so if you see ....|...., this is the recommended exposure setting for this scene.

if you dial -2.0EV, the meter will show overexposed for 2.0 stop, (.|...i....)

and you dial your camera shutter speed, aperture and ISO to get meter show ....|.... again, take a shot, you will get the scene is -2.0EV.


that is what you ask for, -2.0EV



.
ooh thanks catchlight, this is what I'm trying to express my doubts
 

I do not mean metering will decide on the shutter and aperture..
I'm now bit confused over EV compensation.. I read up Scott Kelby's digital photography and tips from somewhere.
saying taking landscape shot outdoor with bright sky above, if picture taken with sky blown or overexposed, just adjust EV to underexpose the shot

example of current setup, f5, at 1/2000, sky overexposed (dull) but metering is well balance as focus is on a building
adjustment 1: f5, at 1/2000 I changed the exposure to -2.0 EV, the metering will show unexpose.. so should the metering be re-tuned or leave it as it is?

however, after the manual EV compensation, whole picture darkened, process it in photoshop later?
in simple words, adjusting EV will affect metering, if you are on auto, A, S or P mode, the camera will exposure according to the meter.

for M mode, you can follow the camera metering, or personal preference or base on experience to decide what exposure setting you want to set,
 

thanks again for the clear up. :)
 

I do not mean metering will decide on the shutter and aperture..
I'm now bit confused over EV compensation.. I read up Scott Kelby's digital photography and tips from somewhere.
saying taking landscape shot outdoor with bright sky above, if picture taken with sky blown or overexposed, just adjust EV to underexpose the shot

example of current setup, f5, at 1/2000, sky overexposed (dull) but metering is well balance as focus is on a building
adjustment 1: f5, at 1/2000 I changed the exposure to -2.0 EV, the metering will show unexpose.. so should the metering be re-tuned or leave it as it is?

however, after the manual EV compensation, whole picture darkened, process it in photoshop later?

You have set your aperture and shutter. Now you set -2.0 EV. The metering will show underexposed but this is what you want. So leave the metering as it is to get your underexposed pic. (Edit: This statement is wrong. LBL2009)

If the whole pic is darkened, your EV value could be too negative. Try different settings of EV and shoot again until you are happy with the pic. :)
 

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The EV is to compensate for the brigthness of the background. Can think of a reason why you want to make the whole picture darker though (-EV) :think:

The theory is this:
if you have a large background which is bright, the subject would be dark. The background tend to be washed out.

So after focus and setting all the exposure and the shutter speed, in normal circumstances, this would be the 'perfect' exposure

But to reduce the too bright background, you would reduce the EV, making the background darker. in this instance, the subject would usually be too dark

Normally I use EV to compensate for the bright background and brighten up my subject at the expense of the overexposed background.

But I can't think of any use with -EV, maybe someone can enlighten me:think:
 

The EV is to compensate for the brigthness of the background. Can think of a reason why you want to make the whole picture darker though (-EV) :think:

Normally I use EV to compensate for the bright background and brighten up my subject at the expense of the overexposed background.

But I can't think of any use with -EV, maybe someone can enlighten me:think:

-EV when you have a dark background and a bright subject. You get your subject right at the expense of underexposed background.
 

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suggest you guys better pick up this book to read.

Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson

Understanding+Exposure+%28Revised+Edition%29+by+Bryan+Peterson.png
 

not quite sure what do you mean, but the camera's metering system doesn't decide on the shutter and aperture in Manual mode.. for Nikon EV in M mode I suppose it only affects flash exposure if you have a flash mounted, correct me if I'm wrong..
for Nikon, EV compensation affect metering, so if you set EV compensation in M mode, and you follow the camera metering recommendation, your exposure will be bias towards the EV compensation setting.
 

I do not mean metering will decide on the shutter and aperture..
I'm now bit confused over EV compensation.. I read up Scott Kelby's digital photography and tips from somewhere.
saying taking landscape shot outdoor with bright sky above, if picture taken with sky blown or overexposed, just adjust EV to underexpose the shot

example of current setup, f5, at 1/2000, sky overexposed (dull) but metering is well balance as focus is on a building
adjustment 1: f5, at 1/2000 I changed the exposure to -2.0 EV, the metering will show unexpose.. so should the metering be re-tuned or leave it as it is?

however, after the manual EV compensation, whole picture darkened, process it in photoshop later?

Logically speaking, if you take 2 shots with exactly the same settings (aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc), but with one showing 0EV and another showing -2EV, do you think there will be any difference in the photos?

* hint: why not you try it for yourself to find out? Shouldn't take more than 5 mins. Better than waiting hours for reply.
 

You have set your aperture and shutter. Now you set -2.0 EV. The metering will show underexposed but this is what you want. So leave the metering as it is to get your underexposed pic.

TS, please ignore the comment I made above. I was wrong. Please follow catchlights' advice.

for Nikon, EV compensation affect metering, so if you set EV compensation in M mode, and you follow the camera metering recommendation, your exposure will be bias towards the EV compensation setting.

Thanks. I tried. Your advice to the TS is most accurate and you have corrected my wrong understanding on setting EV in M mode.
 

TS, please ignore the comment I made above. I was wrong. Please follow catchlights' advice.



Thanks. I tried. Your advice to the TS is most accurate and you have corrected my wrong understanding on setting EV in M mode.

no problem.
field tested today :)
 

Logically speaking, if you take 2 shots with exactly the same settings (aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc), but with one showing 0EV and another showing -2EV, do you think there will be any difference in the photos?

* hint: why not you try it for yourself to find out? Shouldn't take more than 5 mins. Better than waiting hours for reply.

i know clubsnap culture and of cos i had tried shooting..
this thread was to clear up my doubts and questions abt exposure compensation.
 

good job!
actually i'm a bit puzzled why exposure compensation should be allowed in Manual mode (not sure for Nikons only or all DSLRs)...
coz if I intend to have the picture overexposed by a stop, easier to just meter for +1stop, rather than tune the EV and then adjust my aperture/shutter speed to get the meter at 0. ~shrug~
 

good job!
actually i'm a bit puzzled why exposure compensation should be allowed in Manual mode (not sure for Nikons only or all DSLRs)...
coz if I intend to have the picture overexposed by a stop, easier to just meter for +1stop, rather than tune the EV and then adjust my aperture/shutter speed to get the meter at 0. ~shrug~

Yes. Me too. :bsmilie:

It is no wonder why some people (me included) thought EV doesn't work in M mode becoz they didn't adjust the aperture/shutter to get the meter at 0.
 

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Yes. Me too. :bsmilie:

It is no wonder why some people (me included) thought EV doesn't work in M mode becoz they didn't adjust the aperture/shutter to get the meter at 0.

hi,
i'm still confused :confused:

in M mode, once aperture, shutter speed and ISO are set, and if camera meter supposed to be showing -.....l.....+ (no bias at all), adjusting EV compensation can change the exposure?

if i need -EV, i'd adjust faster shutter speed or smaller aperture(let's keep ISO constant); in that case the camera meter will show, say,
-..l..l.....+

if i'd need +EV, i'd do the opposite..

i don't think tweaking EV to - or + will change the exposure of your final image unless you change the shutter, aperture or ISO in M mode..

please enlighten me why there is a need of EV compensation in M mode(let's not say about using flash)..

thanks :)
 

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