how do you manually adjust the exposure correction

It's been a long time since I used that camera; maybe three or four years. I just found it and I could charge up the battery to see. But that would take some time.

From memory I think I know what you are talking about. If I would use auto ISO in manual mode, I could adjust the shutter speed and F-stop. But I could not adjust the exposure compensation. As a workaround, I could use Aperture priority and auto ISO. I would set the F-stop to something like F9. The shutter speed would depend on the length of the focal length of my zoom lens (the camera picked that shutter speed). Then I could change the exposure compensation.

If it turns out my memory is not accurate and no-one gives you the answer you seek, then let me know...and I'll charge up the battery...and play around with the Canon T2i (550D) camera for a while to refresh my memory.

The newer Canon Rebels like the T7i (800D) camera I'm using do not have that limitation. It did annoy me.

I did charge up the battery enough to test the Canon T2i (550D) camera.  What I wrote is correct concerning the exposure compensation with auto ISO in manual mode.  You have to use a workaround (such as the one I mentioned) or maybe there's something else that could be done that I'm not aware of.  You might want to call a Canon tech representative.

Lisa, he (or she) was talking about being in Manual (M) mode.  Do you have that camera?  I do have that camera and what I wrote with the settings I described is correct.

Yes, you can change exposure compensation most of the time, but again there is one limitation that I described when in Manual Mode (which should not be confused with manually changing something).  The OP has not written back, so we don't know exactly what he (or she) is experiencing...or exactly what he (or she) means.

Would you like for me to take a picture of the Canon T2i (550D) settings that show that you cannot change exposure compensation when in Manual (M) and auto ISO?  When you try to do that, it only gives you the option for AEB bracketing.  Now if there's something in the menu or some other button we can push to change that, please let me know.  I'd be curious.  With my updated cameras, there is no longer that limitation.

It's raining again today...waah...I got plenty of time to go over this.  But I'd much rather be out taking pictures.   The West Coast is getting soaked over and over again with atmospheric rivers.  I'm tempted to go outside anyway with my giant umbrella.

dostoyevski wrote:

how do you manually adjust the exposure correction in manual (M) mode? On a canon eos 550d.

In Manual (M) mode, you decide the values for aperture, shutter speed and ISO level.

For example: f/4.5, 1/100 sec, ISO 250.

If you want to “adjust the exposure” you simply change any or all of those 3 values.

In most cases, the deliberate choice of “aperture and shutter speed” reflects a particular artistic vision (or look, or mood), so usually the value that gets changed is ISO level.

Practical hint: the Exposure Level indicator (Light Metering scale) gives you an idea whether the current exposure is acceptable (needle at 0), too dark (needle at some negative mark), or too bright (needle at some positive mark).

Canon EOS 550D Instruction Manual, page 19

Yes, you are correct. It's a little tricky with auto ISO. If we are using auto ISO in Manual (M) Mode and we raise or lower the exposure compensation we are telling the camera to make the picture brighter or darker than what it would normally set it to (with the ISO level). A simple test makes that apparent.

So, with my Canon T7i (800D) camera in Manual (M) Mode I chose 1/250th s.s., F9 and Auto ISO. The exposure compensation was set to 0. The ISO value came out to be 1600 with my test picture. Now to exaggerate it some with this test, I set the exposure compensation to +2. The ISO value was then 8000.

On my Canon T2i (550D) camera I could not do that in Manual (M) Mode with auto ISO. I could not "force" the picture to be darker or brighter than what the camera wanted in that manner with exposure compensation.

I took pictures of the Canon T2i (550D) settings if anyone wants to see them. Instead of lower or raising the exposure compensation (like we can get with the Canon T7i (800D) camera), all we get is AEB bracketing. I'm not sure if that is what the OP is referring to. That's why I suggested a workaround for him or her.

Another workaround is to play around with the ISO levels as you describe and forget about using auto ISO. I would do that also if I knew the lighting would consistently be the same or close to the same. Since I chimp a lot I would raise or lower the ISO value as required (while I kept looking at the images in the LCD screen). At events, I would keep the shutter speed at certain level for the action with a chosen aperture (to control the depth of field). I think I did that at one of the polar plunges.

Thank goodness I don't have to do those workarounds any longer. The newer Canon T7i (800D) camera has been a real blessing.

I used that Canon T2i (550D) camera for years and years (two of them actually). Yes, of course I read what you wrote and have tried to do it for years. But it's hard to understand exactly what you are saying.

In Manual (M) Mode with auto ISO this is what I see. When I try to adjust the exposure compensation, all I get is AEB bracketing. Maybe you could take some picture too and show us exactly what you mean. It would help visually.

Photo No. 1 - With the Canon T2i (550D) camera this what we first see or when we move the dial to the left.

Photo No. 1 - I move the dial to the right once and the AEB bracketing is shown like this.

Photo No. 3 - If I move the dial again to the right, then this is what I see...and so forth.

I've done my best to show you this visually. Again, with the Canon T2i (550D) camera please show us exactly what you are doing (with photos). I'm not saying you are wrong. I'm just saying I'm correct with the way I understand it. But I'm open for another way to do this. There may be another way...I don't know...but I never was able to use the Canon T2i (550D) camera the same way that I use the Canon T7i (800D) camera. I explained that in other posts on this thread.

This may or may not help the OP. But it's interesting.

Lisa, did you do that with a Canon T2i (550D) camera?  The OP had questions with that older camera, not one of the newer Rebels.