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Manual Exposure Mode - Exposure Compensation
- Thread starter hp sauce
- Start date
IVN
Senior Member
If you are using manual mode, then you are obviously expecting to take control of the camera. Exposure compensation is an automatic, just like Auto-ISO. So what's the point of having that in manual mode? If you want to apply +1/3, you can do that by either adjusting shutter speed by + 1/3 or by opening the aperture by the same amount. Why would you need ExpoCom to do that?
Solution
No doubt, because you don't need manual control over manual control. For instance, if you manually set the exposure to 1/250 @ f8, and you figure you need exposure compensation, say, one stop darker, go to f11 and you know exactly where you stand. In program or auto, it makes sense to allow the camera to automatically adjust for subtle lighting changes, with your compensation factor dialled in.
Nikon simply forgot to implement it or decided that it isn't needed. In my opinion it's one of the biggest flaws of the Nikon 1 V1 (don't know if other Nikon 1 cameras have that feature).
IVN
Senior Member
How so? Per definition, having exposure compensation in manual mode would be a flaw/bug. Exposure compensation is only there in PAS-Modes, because they are "half-automatic" modes, and you need a way to manually influence the automatic part of the exposure triangle in those modes. Since manual mode has no automatic part, having exposure compensation would be a bug.
If V1 had exposure compensation in manual mode, I would send Nikon an E-Mail with the request to fix the bug.
But people are now wanting EC in M mode to take advantage of auto ISO so they can stick with the same Tv and Av with an adjustment from a middle needle reading not having to fiddle with shot settings. This is of benefit when having a lot of white, black or colors that deviate from neutral reflectance.
Manual mode allows the user to set the aperture and the shutter speed manually. It doesn't turn the camera in full manual mode since it doesn't affect ISO.
Reason 1:
M mode with Auto-ISO turns M mode into a semi-auto mode. Exposure compensation allows you to adjust the automatic exposure to your liking.
Using M mode with Auto-ISO might sound strange, but it's useful. It allows you to set the shutter speed in order to avoid blur, it allows you to use the aperture you want (depending on how much light you need or if you want more or less DoF), the camera uses AUTO-ISO to get the correct exposure. Possible uses are fast street photography or low light event photography.
Reason 2:
It makes spot metering easier. Exposure compensation can be used to change the bias of the exposure meter. Sure, you could just add the exposure compensation manually, but always going to the 0 on the exposure display in the EVF is easier.
And btw: my D90 has exposure compensation in M mode
No, it would also be called TvAv mode like Pentax/Ricoh has or had where you set the shutter speed and aperture value and the camera adjusts the ISO. And so EC should be expected in that mode. I would love to be able to set the apeture and shutter speed and let the camera do the rest.
André BARELIER
Forum Pro
IVN
Senior Member
All of this would be fixed with a correct Auto-ISO implementation, where you can set longest shutter speed.
Hmmm, I don't see why spot metering would be easier the way you describe it.Reason 2:
It makes spot metering easier. Exposure compensation can be used to change the bias of the exposure meter. Sure, you could just add the exposure compensation manually, but always going to the 0 on the exposure display in the EVF is easier.
And btw: my D90 has exposure compensation in M mode
This would allow for faster shutter speeds. Changing that longest shutter speed in the ISO menu is more complex than adjusting the shutter speed in M mode. An Auto-ISO mode with selectable longest shutter speed turns A mode into a bizarre and clumsy M mode in low light.
And you would need a setting in Auto-ISO to set the max aperture you want to use if you are in S mode.
I know M mode with Auto ISO sounds strange and it took me some time to understand that it's actually quite useful. At first I thought that Auto ISO in M mode is something nobody would want to use. Now it's the only way I use Auto-ISO.
You don't have to remember the value in changing conditions. It's easier to set the meter to 0, no need to count little dots in the viewfinder.
digital ed
Senior Member
In my film days when I wanted to shoot with a fixed aperture and shutter speed (there were times that was desirable, one example no motion blur and desired DOF) I would need to change to a film with a different ISO (ASA) or change my development chemicals and/or times.
With digital cameras it makes complete sense to me that with a fixed aperture and shutter speed I can use the ISO setting to get the correct exposure whether the ISO is set manually or automatically.
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Just a very serious amateur for over 55 years.
Last edited:
I never thought about using auto ISO with manual shutter speed and aperture. It does seem like it would have some practical applications. But I suppose it isn't really manual then, in terms of locking down the exposure. You're really just locking in a desired combination of speed and f stop, but not exposure (as I would understand it). Is manual exposure, in auto ISO, really manual?
IVN
Senior Member
I don't see why manual mode needs to be butchered, when all you and others here want is a combined A/S mode.
André BARELIER
Forum Pro
It could be interesting,as it allows using all iso stops, and not only full stops.
You've perfectly understood : you cannot lock exposure to your licking, as the camera will increase or decrease iso to get what it thinks is the "correct" exposure.
It isn't. And it's a pity. Manual exposure is really manual only when you don't use auto iso.
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André
Auto ISO basically turns M mode into a ISO mode. Set two of the 3 variables of exposure and let the camera do the rest. Yes, that's something I (sometimes) want. I don't care how it is called, but I see no reason why a new mode should be introduced that does exactly the same as M mode with Auto-ISO.
If you think it would be a bug to allow exposure compensation in M mode, then it is a big bug that Auto-ISO is available in M mode.
If Auto-ISO is available in M mode, then exposure compensation should be available.
And as I already wrote, exposure compensation (or exposure bias) is a nice little addition in M mode, even without Auto-ISO. Not really needed, but sometimes useful.
I see no reason why it shouldn't be available in M mode other than some puristic views on how M mode should work.
So, if auto ISO is used in program mode, you have fluctuating shutter speeds, apertures, and sensitivity. Holy cow, that's a lot of fluctuations. Is there a specific application for that many variables, or is it a general, point, shoot & hope for the best mode?
digital ed
Senior Member
I think this thread is primarily discussing adjusting ISO in Manual mode, whether auto ISO or manually setting ISO to get proper exposure.
bgD300
Senior Member
Yes. you also have control of ISO.
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