more stupid newbie questions

[photonewb]

okay so a little more reading today and I started thinking..

why, and in what sort of circumstances would you want to adjust EV instead of adjusting your shutter/aperture?

I can see that in some cases the aperture setting is somewhat limited by lens selection and what not. However unless it was something that by changing your shutter speed it got so slow that you'd end up with some vibration etc etc.

dunno...seems that shutter adjustment would be easier in many cases as your thumb is fairly close (at least on the Nikon D40) to the adjustment knob while adjusting the EV would require going into the menus and making the adjustment, which to me would suggest the possibility of losing the shot if it was something fast.

Also do some people just have specific choices they like for shutter/aperture for a specific lens or is it always trial and error? I can see that if you're doing something like a portrait and can take a shot then make adjustments and have plenty of time on your hand then it's not a big deal. However if you're out somewhere and say watching a parage other than getting there early and setting up for the spot you're planning to sit in is there some sort of "basic" setting that's a kind of catch all so to speak? Just curious.

god why couldn't these things be more like paintball markers...lol

[Daniel Bates]

Adjusting EV is a way to compensate for what the camera 'thinks' is the correct exposure in the automatic modes (Av, Tv, etc). Adjusting shutter speed and aperture only affects the exposure in M mode.

I prefer to shoot in M and ride shutter speed, instead of shooting Av and riding EC. But that's me.

[photonewb]

Originally Posted by Daniel Bates

Adjusting EV is a way to compensate for what the camera 'thinks' is the correct exposure in the automatic modes (Av, Tv, etc). Adjusting shutter speed and aperture only affects the exposure in M mode.

I prefer to shoot in M and ride shutter speed, instead of shooting Av and riding EC. But that's me.

see that's what I was thinking after reading a little today.

once you start looking through the viewfinder you see the meter on the bottom (at least with mine) and then with just a flick of the thumb you can adjust your shutter in an instant. Just seems to me it'd be easier/faster. The only problem would be if it got too slow maybe?

[Gordeez]

I think the EC, for me, since I shoot in AV, helps
out on objects that will have the highlights blown.
Increasing the shutter does help, but I think the EC does a little
bit more. But im not sure, that's just My Opinion.

[CaptainTom]

If you are shooting in manual mode, you are exactly right.

If you are using any form of auto exposure, if you adjust the shutter speed, the camera will auto adjust the aperture. IF you adjust the aperture, the camera adjusts the shutter.
It wants to make the image 18% grey.
When you adjust the EV, you are telling the auto adjust that you want to under/over expose the scene.

[amadjuster]

You will need to adjust the EV when shooting in snow or white sand. The meter reads it as 18% (?) gray and will underexpose every time. Adjust +2 stops, usually - open it up 2 stops. (This was a lot easier when cameras weren't so automatic.)

[Digital Daddy]

It would be great if we always had lots of time to think all our options through, but, one setting does not fit every situation. I don't know if practice makes perfect, but, it does make you better. Knowing your camera and its settings really helps. Watch your readings before and after you shift ev so you can see the effects.

[photonewb]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

If you are shooting in manual mode, you are exactly right.

If you are using any form of auto exposure, if you adjust the shutter speed, the camera will auto adjust the aperture. IF you adjust the aperture, the camera adjusts the shutter.
It wants to make the image 18% grey.
When you adjust the EV, you are telling the auto adjust that you want to under/over expose the scene.

yeah, I see that as a benefit of the manual modes. You can make much more fine tuning adjustments and faster/easier.

[photonewb]

Originally Posted by Digital Daddy

It would be great if we always had lots of time to think all our options through,

agreed, if you could make a shot, look at all the data and decide if you like the shot and need to make adjustments etc then retake it'd be a perfect world...but we know how that is...

but, one setting does not fit every situation.

yeah, but finding a good starting point is always nice too ;)

I don't know if practice makes perfect, but, it does make you better. Knowing your camera and its settings really helps. Watch your readings before and after you shift ev so you can see the effects.

yep...pretty much what I've been doing at this point is just taking picctures of my daughter playing with her ponies, or barbies or bears etc etc, taking pics of the door to the patio or just about anything I can at this point. trying to get myself to a point where I see a picture that's good the first time, at least IMO, and then be happy with it. When I make any adjustments I look at the data and see what exactly was different (from previous experience I always back up 1 step before making a 2nd change, thanks Navy for teaching me good troubleshooting ), and from there I try to decide if the changes were good or bad. If I liked the changes I try to remember them. I haven't been out much since I've only had the camera like 2 weeks, but I think eventually I might add a small notebook to my bag for making notes.

thanks for the input though

[jmoore01]

As you move toward a "professional" camera, you'll find that more settings are "pulled out" of the menus and put into controls at your fingertips. For my XT (not a "professional" camera), EC required pressing a button while turning a knob. For my 30d (closer to a "professional" camera, but still no cigar), it only requires turning a knob. On the Nikon side, I'm sure the same would be true as you move to the D50, the D70, and on to the D200.

Having EC so easily accessible makes a realistic and far more likely shooting option.

[dtscds]

On a somewhat related note...
I was told by someone at a local camera establishment that my 30D would benefit by setting it at 1/2 to 1 stop over and leaving it there. He said they seem to underexpose by default. Anyone want to comment?

[jmoore01]

Would make sense. I automaticallly add about 1/2 stop when importing all of my images into Lightroom. Rarely do I have to bring the exposure back down.

[laawaaris]

Related Question:

Let's say I am in Av mode, and I have 125 Shutter and 2.8 F/Stop, ISO 400. If I want to overexpose this scene by 1 stop using EC, I would use the Exposure Compensation Dial to set it at +1.0

What exactly is that changing in terms of the way the picture is taken? The EXIF data on the picture will show Shutter of 125, Av of 2.8 and ISO of 400. These 3 elements make up exposure from what I understand - so what exactly is EC changing to get an overexposure? Is it really using a shutter of 1/60th but not reporting it? Or changing the ISO without telling you?

[kachina]

Originally Posted by dtscds

On a somewhat related note...
I was told by someone at a local camera establishment that my 30D would benefit by setting it at 1/2 to 1 stop over and leaving it there. He said they seem to underexpose by default. Anyone want to comment?

Seems to be the case for mine. Sometimes I accidentally bump the exposure compensation down and make it even worse

[Arnor]

Hi Emmit,

Originally Posted by photonewb

why, and in what sort of circumstances would you want to adjust EV instead of adjusting your shutter/aperture?

When shooting in AV (aperture priority) or TV (timer priority) the camera meters the scene and depending on the composition of it, parts may be under or over exposed. In that situation you can adjust the EV to make sure that what you want to correctly exposed is not over/under exposed. I've found that with AV on my camera I tend to underexpose by 1/3 to 2/3 of a stop. If the EV/AV doesn't work out I just use manual mode. In manual you see what the camera is metering and you can adjust your shutter or aperture accordingly.

Best regards,