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Metering Part 2: Exposure Compensation: AdoramaTV

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Digital Photography 1 on 1

By Mark Wallace

August 9, 2010

This week is the second episode in a four-part series about metering. In this episode, Mark will explain exposure compensation. He will also demonstrate this and show us how to use it correctly.

By photographing a white and black wall, Mark demonstrates a practical application of exposure compensation, and when you may need it.

Metering Part 2: Exposure Compensation: AdoramaTV

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He Who Mush Not Be Named -- Your camera meters for 18% grey. Anyur -- Exposure compensation is used when you are not setting your exposure manually. If you're in aperature priority mode because you're shooting portraits you just want to snap the pictures and let the camera set the exposure for you. But if you know the camera will under/over expose because of snow/black tuxes, you can adjust for that with exposure compensation. If you are shooting in manual though there is no need for exposure compensation.

by Cnicphoto in Nevada on September 21, 2011

0 of 0 people found this comment helpful

Grey %?

Could you explain? The camere is metering for 80% or 18% grey? I suppose 80% but I'm not quite sure

by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named You-Know-Who in Plovdiv, Bulgaria on July 6, 2011

0 of 1 people found this comment helpful

Thanks

This was just the information I needed it has cleared up a lot for me.

by Photog1 in Australia on June 3, 2011

0 of 0 people found this comment helpful

Awsum

Thanks MarK for clear Explanation. :)

by Vimmy in India on May 5, 2011

0 of 0 people found this comment helpful

Why not just manually adjust exposure?

What I'd like to know is, instead of dialing in the exposure compensation, wouldn't it be easier to simply take the shot while it is indicating the desired exposure on the meter? In other words, if you are not happy with the camera's idea of a correct exposure, simply take the next shot with settings that indicate an over (or under) exposed shot as you require. Why is it necessary to dial in the exposure compensation?

by Aynur in Asia on February 25, 2011

2 of 3 people found this comment helpful

Good explanation.

I think he covered all the basics as it relates to exposure compensation very clearly.

by kim in oakland on August 30, 2010

3 of 3 people found this comment helpful

Very good

I've been looking for a videos describing difficult exposure situations and how to deal with them. This is a very good start. I hope there are more to come, that really explore difficult exposure and how to properly expose in those situations.

by Spodeworld in New Jersey on August 18, 2010

3 of 3 people found this comment helpful

Exposure Compensation Made Simple

I didn't realize how all black and all white will look the same gray. I am now beginning to understand how the overall colors of a scene can change how the camera meters and Mark clearly and in simple terms explains how the exposure compensation is used to overcome this metering issue. Mark does a fantastic job in all his subjects. I cannot wait for metering part 3. This metering issue would seem to be less of an issue if you were to use an incident light meter instead.

by Scott in Wheeling on August 15, 2010

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Metering Part 2: Exposure Compensation: AdoramaTV

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