What is Exposure Compensation and How to Use It

Exposure Compensation allows photographers to override exposure settings picked by camera's light meter, in order to darken or brighten images ... Home→PhotographyTechniquesInthisarticle,wewillgooverwhatexposurecompensationisonadigitalcameraandhowyoucantakeadvantageofittomakeadjustmentstoyourexposurewhenshootingincameramodessuchasaperturepriority,shutterpriority,programmodeandotherscenemodesofyourcamera.Everymoderncameratodayhasabuilt-incapabilitytoadjustexposuresettingsinordertomakeiteasiertoproperlyexposeimages.Insimpleterms,theideaistobeabletocontrolthebrightnessofanimage,sothatitdoesnotenduplookingtoobrightortoodark.Tobeabletodothis,onehastousetheExposureCompensationfeature,whichistypicallyprovidedeitherasadedicatedbuttononacamera,orasadialthatonecanmovefrompositiveexposurecompensationtonegative.Let’stakealookathowyoucanutilizethisgreatfeatureonyourcameraandtakeafullcontrolofyourexposure.Beforeweshowyouwhereyoucanfindtheexposurecompensationfeatureonyourcamera,let’sexplorewhatitdoesandinwhatcameramodesthefeaturecanbeused.Butfirst,ithelpstohaveagoodunderstandingofexposure,whichisthesumtotalofthethreemostimportantsettingsinallofphotography: shutterspeed,aperture,andISO.Collectively,theseformwhatisknownastheexposuretriangle.TableofContentsWhatisExposureCompensation?HowtoUseExposureCompensation?HowExposureCompensationWorksExposureCompensationwithAdvancedMeteringSystemsExposingtotheRightWhatisExposureCompensation?ExposureCompensationallowsphotographerstooverrideexposuresettingspickedbycamera’slightmeter,inordertodarkenorbrightenimagesbeforetheyarecaptured.Sincecamerametersworkbyevaluatinglightreflectedoffsubjectsandarestandardizedonmiddlegray(alsoknownas18%gray),anytimeacameraispointedatsomethingverydark,themeterwillworktheoppositewaybybrighteninguptheexposure,whereasaverybrightsubjectwillcausethemetertodarkentheexposure.Thisisdoneinordertogetasclosetothemiddlegrayaspossible,sothattheresultingimageisnottoodarkortoobright.Whilethisworksoutquitewellinmostcases,onemightexperienceoverexposureorunderexposureinmorechallenginglightingconditions,wherethecamerametermightbeadjustingtheexposuretooaggressively.ThisiswhereExposureCompensationcomesintoplay,withphotographermanuallytakingcontrolofthebrightnessoftheimageandoverridingitusingtheexposurecompensationfeatureofthecamera.Let’stakealookatanexample,wheremycamera’smeteringsystemdidapoorjobatproperlyexposingthescene:Underexposedimagebasedoncamera’smeter(shotinAperturePriorityMode)[email protected],ISO200,1/13,f/11.0WhileshootinginAperturePrioritymode,thecamera’smeterendedupunderexposingtheimage,becausethescenewasratherchallenging–theskyandthewhitesandintheforegroundwerebright,sothecameraendedupdarkeningthewholeimage,whichresultedinmysubjectsinthesceneappearingwaytoodark.Toaddressthisproblem,IusedtheExposureCompensationfeatureofmycameraanddialed+1EV(ExposureValue),whichresultedinamuchbrighterimage:Properlyexposedimageafterdialing+1EVusingExposureCompensationDSC-RX100M4+24-70mmF1.8-2.8@10.15mm,ISO200,1/6,f/11.0Theimageisnowproperlyexposed,withthewholesceneappearingmuchbrightercomparedtowhatthecamerathoughtwastherightbrightness.ByusingtheExposureCompensationfeatureofthecamera,Iwasabletotakecareoftheprobleminamatterofseconds.Note:ifyouarewonderinghowdifferentmeteringmodesimpactyourimages,pleaseseeourdetailedarticleonCameraMeteringModes.HowtoUseExposureCompensation?Inordertouseexposurecompensation,youmustbeinoneofthecameramodesthatutilizesthecamerameter,suchasaperturepriority,shutterpriority,programmode,oranyother“scene”modethatperformsautomaticexposureadjustments.UnlessonehasAutoISOturnedon,exposurecompensationwilldoabsolutelynothinginManualmode.Oncethepropercameramodeisselected,itwillbepossibletoadjustthebrightnessoftheimagebyusingtheexposurecompensationfeatureofthecamera.Sowheredoyoufindtheexposurecompensationfeatureonacamera?Unfortunately,itallvariesbycameramakeandmodel.Whilemostcameraswillhaveadedicatedbuttononeithertoporthebackofthecamera,somecamerasmighthavethisfeatureavailableonlythroughadial.Identifyingtheexposurecompensationbuttononacameraisprettyeasy–lookforabuttonthathasplusandminussigns,similartothefollowingillustration:Andifyoucannotfindsuchabutton,theremightbeadialonthetoporthebackofthecamerathatgoesfromanegativevaluetoapositivevalue,suchas-3to+3,withsmallincrementsinbetween.Ifyouarehavingahardtimefindingtheexposurecompensationbutton/dial,pleasecheckyourcameramanualfordetails.IfyouareusingaNikonDSLR,itwillmostlikelybeabuttonneartheshutterreleaseofthecamera:IfyouareusingaCanonDSLR,theremightbean“AV”buttononthebackofthecamera:Andonsomeothercameras,especiallymirrorlesscameraswitharetrodesign,youmightfindanexposurecompensationdialontopofthecamera,asinthecaseoftheFujiX-T20below:Usingexposurecompensationisveryeasy.Ifanimageappearstobedark,youdialapositivenumber(+EV),whereasiftheimageappearstobebright,youdialanegativenumber(-EV).Forcamerasthathaveabutton,youwillneedtoholdthebuttonandrotateoneofthethumbdials,orpressitonceandusetheLCDscreentoadjusttheexposurevalue.Forcamerasthathaveadialitisevensimpler–allyouhavetodoismoveitintheproperdirectionandyourexposureshouldgetadjustedaccordingly.SinceDSLRcamerashaveopticalviewfinders,theywillhaveanexposurecompensationareawithintheviewfinderthatlookslikethefollowing:Asyoustartmakingadjustmentstoyourexposurethroughexposurecompensation,youwillnoticeabargoingtotheleftortotherightofthemiddle“0”value,whichindicatesthatyouaredialingnegative(-)orpositive(+)exposurecompensation(ifyouhaveneverusedthisfeature,youmightnotevenseetheareahighlightedinreduntilanexposurecompensationvalueisadded).Ifyouareusingamirrorlesscamera,adjustingexposurecompensationshouldbrightenordarkentheimageonthecamera’sLCDandelectronicviewfinder(EVF),makingiteasytoseetheendresult.Alongwiththeautomaticbrightnessadjustments,thereshouldbeaninformationoverlaythatshowsthecurrentexposurecompensationvalue.Itmightbeshowninone,ormultipleareasoftheviewfinder:Onceyoumakeadjustmentstoexposurecompensation,the+-EVvalueswillbeshownintheLCDandtheEVF.Ifyoucannotseethosevaluesaftermakingchanges,youmightneedtoturnoninformationaloverlaysfromthecameramenu.HowExposureCompensationWorksExposurecompensationworksbyadjustingoneormoreoftheexposurevariables,dependingonwhatcameramodeyouareusing.WhenshootinginAperturePrioritymode,thephotographersetsthecamera’sAperture,whilethecameraautomaticallysetstheShutterSpeeddependingonthereadingfromthecamerameter.Whenadjustingexposureviaexposurecompensation,thephotographeressentiallyoverridestheshutterspeedsetbythecamera.Takealookatthebelowsamplechart,wherewewilltrytoadjustexposureusingexposurecompensationinapertureprioritymode:CAMERAMETEREDEXPOSURE(APERTUREPRIORITY)f/1.4f/2.0f/2.8f/4.0f/5.61/10001/5001/2501/1251/60Dialingin-1EVviaexposurecompensationwillincreasetheshutterspeedfrom1/250thofasecondto1/500thofasecond,whilekeepingtheapertureconstant:APERTUREPRIORITY,-1EVEXPOSURECOMPENSATIONf/1.4f/2.0f/2.8f/4.0f/5.61/10001/5001/2501/1251/60Thisessentiallydarkenstheimage,sincethereislesslighthittingthesensor.Ontheotherhand,ifwedial+1EV,wewillendupwithabrighterimageandtheshutterspeedwillbehalved,resultinginabrighterimage:APERTUREPRIORITY,+1EVEXPOSURECOMPENSATIONf/1.4f/2.0f/2.8f/4.0f/5.61/10001/5001/2501/1251/60WhenshootinginShutterPrioritymode,usingtheexposurecompensationfeaturewillimpactthecamera’sapertureinsteadofshutterspeed.Let’sstartwiththesamebaseexposure,whereweset1/250thofasecondastheshutterspeed:CAMERAMETEREDEXPOSURE(SHUTTERPRIORITY)f/1.4f/2.0f/2.8f/4.0f/5.61/10001/5001/2501/1251/60Dialingin-1EVviaexposurecompensationwilladjustthecamera’saperturefromf/2.8tof/4.0,whilekeepingtheshutterspeedconstant:SHUTTERPRIORITY,-1EVEXPOSURECOMPENSATIONf/1.4f/2.0f/2.8f/4.0f/5.61/10001/5001/2501/1251/60Whereasdialingin+1EVwillopenuptheaperturetof/2.0andthusbrightentheimage:SHUTTERPRIORITY,+1EVEXPOSURECOMPENSATIONf/1.4f/2.0f/2.8f/4.0f/5.61/10001/5001/2501/1251/60WhenshootinginManualMode,theonlyvariablethatcanchangeisCameraISO,butitfirsthastobesettoAutoISO,aspointedoutearlier.Itwouldworksimilarlyasintheabovecases,exceptbothapertureandshutterspeedwouldremainconstant.ExposureCompensationwithAdvancedMeteringSystemsAlthoughIhavestatedabovethatmeteringsystemsoncamerasstandardizeonmiddlegray,manyofthemoderncamerasnowcomewithsophisticatedmeteringsystemsthatarecapableofrecognizingscenesbasedonpre-loadeddataandmakenecessaryadjustmentstotheexposure,essentiallyminimizingtheuseoftheexposurecompensationfeature.Somecamerasareevenabletorecognizethepresenceofpeopleinanimage,basingexposureprimarilyonpeople’sskintonesinordertoreducethechanceofoverorunderexposure.Becauseofsuchadvancements,ourcamerasmightrequirelessandlessmanualinterventionbyusingtheexposurecompensationfeature.However,nomatterhowintelligentourcamerasaregoingtoget,knowinghowtoquicklymakeexposureadjustmentsisstillimportant,notjustbecauseyoumightneedtouseitoneday,butalsobecauseyoucanpushthelimitsofyourcamerabytakingadvantageofsuchtechniquesasexposingtotheright.GFX50S+GF63mmF2.8RWR@63mm,ISO160,1/500,f/5.6ExposingtotheRightAlthoughthereisnosuchthingas“properexposure”foreverysceneduetothefactthatweasphotographersoftenpickrelativebrightnessofthescenedependingonwhatwearetryingtoportray(suchasintentionallydarkeninganimagetohighlightsilhouettes,asintheimageabove),therearecaseswhereonecanmakeexposureadjustmentsusingtheexposurecompensationfeatureinordertogetthebestouteveryimage.Thistechnique,knownas“ExposingtotheRight”,allowsphotographerstomakeimagesasbrightaspossiblewithoutblowingoutanyhighlights,whichessentiallyresultsinobtainingimagesofhighest-qualitypossible.Bewarnedthatthisisnotabeginnertechniquebyanymeansthough,asitrequiresshootinginRAWvsJPEGtogetthebestresults.Ifyouwouldliketoexplorethistopicinmoredetail,pleaseseeourExposingtotheRightarticle.AboutNasimMansurovNasimMansurovistheauthorandfounderofPhotographyLife,basedoutofDenver,Colorado.Heisrecognizedasoneoftheleadingeducatorsinthephotographyindustry,conductingworkshops,producingeducationalvideosandfrequentlywritingcontentforPhotographyLife.YoucanfollowhimonInstagramandFacebook.ReadmoreaboutNasimhere.LabelName*Email*ΔLabelName*Email*Δ98CommentsNewestOldestMostVotedInlineFeedbacksViewallcommentsJeffersonHammondDecember28,20214:02am“thecamera’smeterendedupunderexposingtheimage,becausethescenewasratherchallenging”-wrong.Thesceneisnotchallenging,thecameraunderexposedduetothehighlevelofbrighttonesintheimage.Infactthecameragottheexposure“right”accordingtoitsalgorithms.Thisisafundamentalaspectofhowcamerasworkandalackofaproperunderstandingofthisoftenleadstopoorandovercomplicatedarticlestryingtoexplainsomethingthatisfactrelativelysimple.0ReplyPeteAReplyto JeffersonHammondDecember29,20215:09am“thecameraunderexposedduetothehighlevelofbrighttonesintheimage”Youhavethatbackwards.Thecameraunderexposedtheimageduetothehighlevelofbrighttonesinthescene.0ReplyJerryNovember22,20217:28amThanksforthisgreatarticle.Wellexplainedsothateveryonecangrasptheconceptofexposurecompensation.0ReplyRobJuly15,202110:14amReallyeasytofollowexplanationsandoutcomeexamples–thanksforhavingthemhere.0ReplyMarcValJune10,202110:25amFormytypeofphotographyIhaveneverusedexposurecompensation.Ishooteverythingmanualwhichismucheasier!IselecttheapertureIwantandadjusttheshutterspeedandviceversa.Ifasceneischallenging,Icloseoropentheaperture(orshutter)toobtaintheperfectexposure.1ReplyCedricMay18,20218:17pmAmostinformativeandusefularticle;wellexplained!0ReplyrumeshnelumdeniyaApril30,20219:48amDearNasim,Iwentthroughmanywebsites,videosandtutorials…butnothingisbetterthanyours…Thankyouverymuchforsharingthis..keepitup1ReplyAndyCladApril29,202112:23amThankyouforamostinformativearticle.1ReplyTatraScramblerFebruary18,20212:20pmUnlessonehasAutoISOturnedon,exposurecompensationwilldoabsolutelynothinginManualmodeIgetwhatyoumeanbutthisisnotentirelycorrect.Thecamerawillinfactshiftthe“neutral”0positionofthelightmeteraccordingtotheEVyoudialedin.Saytheproperexposureforagivensceneasjudgedbythelightmeteris1/500sec@f/5.6.Atthesesettingsthelightmeterindicatorissmackinthemiddle,at0.Ifyouthendialin,forinstance,+1EVitwillactuallyshowyouthataccordingtothisnewoverwrittenvalue,youare1stopunder-exposedandsoifyoutriedtobringthelightmeterindicatorbackto0bychangingeitheryourf-stop,shutterspeedorISO,youwouldendupwithanoverexposedimage.WithAutoISOthelightmeterindicatoralwaysstaysat0nomatterwhatexposurecompensationyoudialin,providedyoudon’texceedyourmin-maxISOrange.2ReplyGmannAugust28,20201:20pmMyquestionconcernsmeteringonadarkfootballhelmetandjerseyinfootballstadiumatnight.ItooksomephotosfromamiddleschoolfootballgamelastnightusingmyNikonD7100,croppedsensorcamerausingaNikkor70-300Zoomlens.Itriedshootingmypicswithshutterpriority,Zoomedtothe400wherefStopIsf3.5andIwantedmyspeedat1000tofreezemovement,iso400.Andmypicswereallunderexposed?SinceIwasshootingfromthestandsonthestadiumIwasnotexactlysurewheretometermycamera.Icouldnotsetanyexposurecompensationformysituation.IfinallyresortedtousingmanualmodeandIusedlessshutterspeedandalotofISO,2000togetthemypicturestobrighten?1ReplyAnthonyDecember6,20191:24pmIjustpurchasedaNikonZ6mirrorlesscameraandalwaysusetheviewfinderforfocusandexposure.WhenIshootindoorswithincandescentandfluorescentlighting,theimageintheviewfinderisalwaysmuchbrighterthantheactualscenethatisbeingfocused.IfIuseExposureCompensationtodarkentheimagetomyliking,theimagethatissavedtotheXQDcardismuchdarkerthanwhatIsawintheviewfinder.ItseemstomethatExposureCompensationisuselessunlessyoustartwiththeviewfinderimageandactualsceneatthesamelevelofbrightness.Inthiscase,amIsupposedtolowertheviewfinderbrightnessleveltocorrespondwiththeactualbrightnessinthescenebeforeIuseExposureCompensation?0ReplyLoadMoreCommentsPrimarySidebarLearnBeginnerPhotographyLandscapePhotographyWildlifePhotographyPortraiturePost-ProcessingAdvancedTutorialsReviewsCameraReviewsLensReviewsOtherGearReviewsBestCamerasandLensesPhotographyTutorialsPhotographyBasicsLandscapePhotographyWildlifePhotographyMacroPhotographyComposition&CreativityBlack&WhitePhotographyNightSkyPhotographyPortraitPhotographyStreetPhotographyPhotographyVideosSupportUsSubscribeviaEmailIfyoulikeourcontent,youcansubscribetoournewslettertoreceiveweeklyemailupdatesusingthelinkbelow:SubscribetoournewsletterFooterSiteMenuReviewsMoreInsertYouaregoingtosendemailtoSendMoveCommentMove