Exposure compensation: the dial that fixes bright and dark scenes
Your camera tries to make everything middle gray. Exposure compensation tells it when a scene should be brighter or darker than average.
Camera meters assume the world averages out to middle gray. That works for most scenes, but not when the scene is mostly bright or mostly dark. Exposure compensation is how you correct the camera’s guess in semi-automatic modes.
When to add exposure (+)
- White sand beaches in Progreso and the Riviera Maya
- White walls, white dresses and bright skies
- Backlit subjects in front of windows or sunsets
Typical adjustment: +0.7 to +2 stops.
When to subtract exposure (−)
- Dark backgrounds like stage performances
- Black products on black backgrounds
- Saving the color of a vivid sunset sky
Typical adjustment: −0.7 to −2 stops.
How it works in each mode
In aperture priority, compensation changes the shutter speed. In shutter priority, it changes the aperture. In manual with Auto ISO, it changes the ISO. In full manual without Auto ISO, the dial only moves the meter, so you adjust settings yourself.
Make it a habit
Look at the histogram after the first shot of every new scene. If highlights are clipping or the image is too dark, turn the dial and shoot again. It takes two seconds and saves the photo.
