Essential Nikon camera settings: 3. Exposure Compensation

Desire to assume more control of exposure, but don't know where to start with manual mode? Exposure compensation is a lot more comfortable to apply, and a good deal more intuitive as well…

What is it in a nutshell?

Exposure compensation is fundamentally a means of brightening or darkening shots in aperture-priority, shutter-priority, or even program mode without having to resort to manual exposure.

This is idealistic for those situations where the camera's automatic metering produces under- or over-exposed results, such as when shooting very easy or really obscure themes.

Why is it so important?

Even a metering system as sophisticated as Nikon's 3D Matrix metering system can be fooled into under- or over-exposing when the field contains a big measure of dark or light shades. Determining when and how to apply exposure compensation is a critical tool in your arsenal for getting spot-on exposures.

Thither are many places where this can be useful, but the classic is when the background is much darker or lighter than the subject you're shooting, such as a person standing against a windowpane. In these instances, exposure compensation is perfect for ensuring that your subject is correctly displayed, quite than the ground.

SEE MORE 10 Camera Settings You Need to Learn to Master Your Nikon

How do you use it?

You apply exposure compensation by taking down the +/- button on the camera body, and then utilizing the rear input dial to determine the measure of compensation involved. The mounts that this affects will vary depending on which exposure mode you are practicing.

If you're using aperture-priority mode, for instance, the aperture value will remain the same, but the shutter speed will change to let in more or less brightness. The reverse is true when you're shooting in shutter-priority mode; in this instance, the shutter speed will stay unchanged, but the aperture will vary, again to let in more or less brightness.

All you need to remember is that positive exposure compensation brightens images, while negative compensation darkens them.

Just how much exposure compensation, you need to dial in will vary depending on how much of the scene is light or dark, but a respectable starting point is to set + or - 1, and then take a test injection.

What you can ignore: Auto exposure lock

Exposure lock (AE-L) is another mode to manipulate the exposure in all auto exposure modes, but in order to use it you have to place the camera at a topic that contains mostly mid-notes, lock the exposure using the AE-L button, and then recompose your picture. This isn't convenient in most posts, thus it's normally safer to apply exposure compensation.

Taking it further: Exposure bracketing

Estimating exactly how much exposure compensation to function can be crafty. One alternative is to put up your Nikon to capture a serial publication of pictures, each applying different amounts of compensation.

You require to choose the number of shots (there is normally enough) and the sum of exposure compensation (start with +/- 1). Then push the shutter release three times, and your camera will need a series of shots at -1, 0 and +1.

Source Link: http://www.techradar.com/how-to/photography-video-capture/cameras/10-camera-settings-you-need-to-learn-to-master-your-nikon-and-10-you-can-manage-without-1320864

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