exposure compensation

[rdking647]

i have a question. what is exposure compensation ever used for. my camera has it to add or subtract from the exposure. Why would you use it as opposed to just changing the aperature or shutter speed?

 

[RockstarPhotography]

an example would be if you were exposing for the sky, but then it darkened your foreground. exposure composition would help bring the foreground back

 

[o hey tyler]

It's a camera function that's used mostly in auto modes. Basically what it does is it tells your camera to under or over expose the photograph by a certain amount. Meaning, it meters the scene for what it should be properly exposed for, and then adjusts the settings to expose the photograph for +/- the EV in 1/3 increments.

It's no different than changing the aperture or shutter speed, it's just that you don't have any control over what is determining your exposure. Your camera does. So if it wants to shoot on a smaller aperture to underexpose a scene, it will (unless you are on Av). I find that the best way to get consistent results is to use manual, and determine what a good exposure for the area I am in is, and then decide if I should slightly overexpose, or underexpose depending on the situation.

But it's all personal preference really. Hope this helped, as I'm a few drinks deep.

 

[o hey tyler]

an example would be if you were exposing for the sky, but then it darkened your foreground. exposure composition would help bring the foreground back

Yes, but it would also blow out the sky. Exposure compensation doesn't give you increased dynamic range. You may be confusing it with HDR (high dynamic range).

 

[dexterlitonjua]

Im not sure about this but... for example you are shooting in high noon and want to shoot at the biggest opening with flash. When you got the reading without flash the camera shows 1/800s, f/2.8 @ iso 100. but when you turn the flash on the camera will only do 1/200 if you took the image with that shutter speed automatically the image will be over exposed right? what you do is compensate the image up to how many stops to reach 1/800s. from 1/200s - 1/800s it's about 5 stops so that is -5 on the compensation level.

 

[o hey tyler]

Im not sure about this but... for example you are shooting in high noon and want to shoot at the biggest opening with flash. When you got the reading without flash the camera shows 1/800s, f/2.8 @ iso 100. but when you turn the flash on the camera will only do 1/200 if you took the image with that shutter speed automatically the image will be over exposed right? what you do is compensate the image up to how many stops to reach 1/800s. from 1/200s - 1/800s it's about 5 stops so that is -5 on the compensation level.

1/200s is your cameras flash x-sync speed. Meaning that when you're using the on board flash, or a hotshoe mount flash that doesn't support High Speed Shutter sync (HSS), you can't shoot any faster than 1/200s. Exposure compensation doesn't have to do with your x-sync speed, and your shutter speed can't be set higher with it while flash is in use.

 

[dexterlitonjua]

so you don't use the exposure compensation at that situation then?

 

[o hey tyler]

You can, I suppose. But you won't be able to change your shutter speed. Exposure will be determined by aperture and ISO only (if the situation is bright). This is also dependent on what metering mode you're using and what the lighting is like where you're shooting.

 

[dexterlitonjua]

Im actually not talking about the shutter speed but more of the exposure outcome. Im not talking about flash sync but talking about an example. thank you

 

[o hey tyler]

I don't understand what you're asking. Under the conditions you specified, that's what will happen. If you want to take a photo of a bright scene and you want to expose the ground as well as the sky you'll be using flash. Since your camera is locked at 1/200th of a second at the fastest, the camera will set the aperture smaller or the ISO lower to expose the scene correctly.

 

[RockstarPhotography]

an example would be if you were exposing for the sky, but then it darkened your foreground. exposure composition would help bring the foreground back

Yes, but it would also blow out the sky. Exposure compensation doesn't give you increased dynamic range. You may be confusing it with HDR (high dynamic range).

yea, your right. I never use it so I forget to sometimes.....lol

 

[KmH]

i have a question. what is exposure compensation ever used for. my camera has it to add or subtract from the exposure. Why would you use it as opposed to just changing the aperature or shutter speed?

Nikon D300 Users Manual - Exposure Compensation is used to alter exposure from the value suggested by the camera, making pictures brighter or darker. It is most effective when used with center-weighted or spot metering.

What does it say in your camera users manual?

Note: Nikon dSLR cameras when in manual mode, setting an exposure compensation value biases the in-camera light meter and does not directly effect aperture or shutter speed.