What Is Exposure Compensation?

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How to use Exposure Compensation In Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Manual Mode.
Exposure compensation is a tool to help you take photos that look the way you want them to look, but it’s sometimes a bit confusing.
As a concept, the term “Exposure Compensation” is kind of confusing because it’s not entirely clear why are we compensating the exposure, or what we’re compensating for.
Then, to make it more confusing, how exposure compensation works depends on the mode you’re shooting in!
So today I wanted to explain what exposure compensation is, why you’ll want to use it, and how to use it no matter what mode you’re shooting in. And I’ll explain how to use it with Auto ISO!
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[@tdrake59]

This is the best and most comprehensive description of this subject I've found.

[@amyttt910]

I just love the vibe you give. So engaging and enthusiastic! Thanks for sharing all that!

[@cycletim1]

My problem with other videos on the subject was that no one made it clear that in Manual mode you don't really use exposure control. They kept talking about how if the shot is too bright or too dark you adjust exposure control. But I kept thinking...why the hell are you not just adjusting your shutter speed, aperture and or ISO?????? Your video finally made it clear and I will now start to use exposure control when I'm out taking my damn photos!!! About to take a look at your other videos and subscribe...keep up the great work.

[@sinjon]

This guy is my hero. This is the most straight forward concise explanation I’ve found on KZbin. No BS with this guy. Thank you Spyros

[@TheMrBennito]

the subtitles in Closed Captions: the English version is almost flawless, meaning that your diction and pace are excellent/superclear. I can view this vid 530 AM without disturbing kid& wife still asleep, shutting down volume. The content itself is also superclear. Big thumbs up!

[@roeydaz]

Spyros your truly an awsome teacher. To explain complicated camera mechanics / electronics with such clarity in a short video. ...Great stuff!

[@lorrainelietz4384]

Most helpful explanation I have found for Exposure Compensation!!! Thank you!!

[@tehdreamer]

Finally, someone who can explain in the real terms as to what is happening in the camera on each settings! So many other "expert" photographers have no clue... :)

[@Dave_en]

Really the best and simplest explanation I have ever come across in KZbin. My doubts are clear now. You explained each mode with different cases making the best tutorial so far.

[@TheCoomer]

Thank you for your descriptions on how to use camaras. By explaining the concept of what the camera is doing and why, it allows you to understand what you have to do to achieve the photos you wish to take. Thank you

[@martingranger40]

Great video - quite loud, but very excellent points made, and the topic well covered - nice job!

[@Gruby7C1h]

The most informative video about EC I've found YT, thanks! BTW: you should get some more sturdy desk :)

[@sluggomagoo]

Great tutorial. You are the exposure comp subject matter expert. I use it all the time because I shoot white and yellow flowers and especially in macro they always fool the cameras exposure settings.

[@richerich8007]

Spyros, you ROCK, I couldn't tell you how many of your videos you watch and you rattle off these facts about photography, like its as simple as breathing.

[@spyrosheniadis]

Thank you!!! So glad you enjoy the videos :)

[@anantshukla9525]

Really very very well explained a very important topic. Hats Off.....

[@imahaingtia]

Thank you for clearing up the confusion.

[@souravbiswas80]

Most logical and scientific description on the subject!

[@arijitghosh6378]

The most comprehensive video on exposure compensation! Thanks Man.

[@spyrosheniadis]

Thank you Arijit Ghosh! Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂

[@AlexHernandez-kw2rv]

FINALLY a video that explains what I wanted to learn.

[@DiaSab08]

Very well explained and educative for a free video. Thanks

[@spyrosheniadis]

Thank you!!

[@Divineshot]

awesome video! 😊 always learn something new after watching your videos. 📸

[@tridibbiswas3361]

Thank you for this video. It gives a very clear explanation. After watching this I pulled out my old D7000 - put everything in manual - ISO,Aperture, Shutter and then tried the exercise in taking a shot. While doing so I also tried changing the Exposure Compensation using the EV Button - I found it changing in my ViewFinder screen from +ve to -ve , why is it so , when everything is set to manual. I rechecked my ISO - it was not auto ISO. Though I must admit I did not notice a considerable change in the pictures I had taken just changing the EV in this case keeping the others constant

[@cirilobiascanjr.2070]

Thank you . Just the information I needed the most. Now I know. This should improve my pictures from here on.

[@HXYZZZ]

This is great insight into EV Settings. Thank you.

[@rthyrsthdrfhfrdh]

Very clear explanation. Thank you so much.

[@deepakkumaragrawal6328]

great explanation about exposure compensation

[@daud798]

Great Video, Very Informative. Thank You

[@ryanryan7059]

Very informative. I'm learning a lot. Just bought a Nikon 3500

[@spyrosheniadis]

Fantastic! Happy my videos are helpful!

[@jimmi8928]

ThNkz you the best I’ve been learning a lot of from you tube videos .. I just got me a so y A7ii with no idea how to use

[@poeticflairphotography7087]

Spyros. Love listening to you. You speak clearly and specifically. Great work. I have a question. If I increase my exposure compensation using the button on my Nikon will it prevent the camera from using a high ISO number?

[@bboylils3742]

helped me a lot, liked and subscribed, thanks

[@ignatiusetenikang5555]

Nice tutorial, thanks with this am gonna improve my photography skills

[@columbiars]

This video was simply what I was looking for!

[@liz2959]

You are such a great teacher! Thank You!

[@spyrosheniadis]

My pleasure! So happy I can help and share what I've learned with my fellow photographers!

[@jessiewhite3173]

Thanks man all your videos are really helping me out

[@calebhunte2340]

Thanks for sharing very informative...If i am shooting in manual mode...should my exposure compensation be always at zero? Should that be my aim?

[@miapasag8895]

What a great mentor. Thank you.

[@jros9312]

lol I think this guy is hilarious. he sounds so intense and explains everything so well. he did wake up my 4 month old infant haha but I love his enthusiasm so much that I don't care.

[@spyrosheniadis]

😂😂😂I'm so sorry I woke up your baby!

[@dianecrumbley90]

He scared my dog last night. She got up off the couch beside me and moved across the room to another chair! 😂😊

[@lifeismovementislife9647]

Best explanation so far man... thanks a lot.

[@fkironsofficial]

Great video and explanation. But usually when shooting raw you would want that snow to look grayish like in the example you showed and do all the processing in. post.

[@michebre]

Thanks so much, great explanation!

[@spyrosheniadis]

Thank you!!

[@MrFigg]

Brilliant explanations. Seriously helped me out!

[@spyrosheniadis]

Glad I could help!!!

[@saulmirandaaliaga]

Amazing video, thank you very much man!

[@toxicmunkii685]

Awesome work mate!! Very informative 👌🏻

[@spyrosheniadis]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@andristefanus]

"camera is a stupid machine" good quote

[@dunnymonster]

Excellent and clear explanation :-D

[@krisjoyal5095]

Great video! I am shooting in Manual. I am taking photos of college lacrosse games. Should I leave my exposure compensation on zero? I am not a professional. Just capturing memories for my son and his team. Thanks in advance for your help.

[@spyrosheniadis]

If you're shooting in manual, then yes, leave your exposure compensation at 0. Unless you're using Auto ISO, it won't make any difference in manual mode, but it's still better to leave it at 0 so you don't accidentally have it set somewhere you don't want it and it ends up ruining your photos.

[@berniestang2616]

EXCELLENT EXPLANATION -- THANK YOU!

[@berniestang2616]

LOVE ALL YOUR VIDEOS !!!

[@papadakis1967]

Helpfull. Thank you Spyro! Ευχαριστώ!

[@blondebobbi4505]

This is wonderful, thank you!

[@karthikeyanthiyagarajan662]

Thankyou very much

[@LMoProVisualComm]

Most informative channel...

[@michaelokewole8544]

well explained... Thanks

[@zachyeay8286]

superb explanation..tq sifu

[@sweeneyvisuals]

your videos are amazing thank you!

[@DesigedByNino]

Information about the different exposure modes is in-correct, AV - Aperture Priority let’s you manually control the aperture but the camera is controlling the rest, When in TV - Shutter Priority - you control the shutter speed and the camera does the rest and so on for any other “Exposure” Priority mode. Be careful what you learn and from who. ;)

[@Misha2010Tube]

Thank you, Spyros, for the comprehensive explanation! You confirmed my hidden fears that "exposure compensation" is not a gamma correction. It's really sad that engineers who designed cameras are so stupid that they didn't even think about the gamma correction. No control over the gamma correction turns every camera into a toy.

[@nabukodonosor777]

Can I use Exposure compensation if I don't have ND filters and want longer exposure in daylight?

[@anantshukla9525]

However, at 3 min 24 second onward, the way you explain Shutter/Aperture/Priority and Program Auto modes is a bit confusing. Kindly replay and review and see....(I am talking about the explanation of what settings Camera controls in these modes and what we do) but still a great great video. Thanks

[@thrills1022]

was really helpful thanks a lot spyros.

[@rahulkumarsett1981]

Thank you. Much appreciated. Regards,

[@avkinyou]

thanks for the video sir . . .

[@toeriest]

So in full manual mode you do not need exposure compensation? I use histogram + liveview in full manual

[@premswaroopkolluru4500]

Can i use the exposure compensation +3 or what ever number instead of rising the ISO so that i can avoid grain is it right ?

[@ivanjabay5362]

Thank you so much sir!

[@edinosmanovic8798]

Simple&clear

[@spyrosheniadis]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@armandozertuche4054]

I need help, I have a Nikon every time I mess with Exposure Compensation nothing seems to change. If I shoot a dark subject with low light and increase the comp to a +2 the picture stays the same... I can't get it to manually brighten up without having to mess with shutter speed or ISO, or Apature. Any tips? Thanks.

[@TheRealStevenGlen]

Best Lesson

[@jesusdeblascasas3163]

Awesome thanks!

[@robox2725]

I totally get it now thanks to you.

[@spyrosheniadis]

Awesome!!! Glad I could help!!

[@fhffvdhvb]

when im in aperture priority i adjust iso to raise exposure and i swear it works. youre suggesting it doesnt do anything because the camera will adjust shutter speed to make it zero again...? so if thats what youre saying should i always shoot in low iso and use exposure compensation to correct? low iso is most sharp right?

[@spyrosheniadis]

So you're saying that when in Aperture Priority, changing the ISO results in a change in the actual exposure value (brighter image)? That shouldn't be happening unless you've also adjusted the exposure compensation. Without more information I can't speculate on what might be happening there. Regardless of that, generally speaking you want to use the lowest ISO possible, but the highest ISO necessary to get a good exposure for the photo. Lower ISO will result in less noise in the image, which will help maintain the sharpness/detail of the image.

[@fhffvdhvb]

okay, thanks for replying! so if im taking a shot at 200 iso and im in aperture priority, and the shot is too dark should i raise the iso to say 400? now that ive raised iso to 400 the camera is speeding up shutter speed to compensate for that increased sensitivity. so whats the point of raising iso? should i just pick a random low iso and use exposure compensation? exclusively

[@fhffvdhvb]

when i increase iso, the shutter speed increases... when i increase exposure compensation, the shutter slows actually letting in more light. this seems like the only way i could brighten up a shot... so i guess my question is why would i worry about iso while in aperture priority?

[@subhadipbose18]

@@fhffvdhvb The more you increase ISO in Aperture Priority mode, the more camera will compensate down ( higher shutter speed )to get a balanced exposure( 0 EV, as per it's light meter) but you might think that's not as per your taste. So, if you want to crank up the overall exposure for the shot, you should probably increase the Exposure Compensation. When you +ve EV, then the camera will keep the Aperture and the ISO as chosen by you , and vary the shutter speed to give you - the overexposure you wished to have in the image. Hope, it's clear now :)

[@fhffvdhvb]

@@subhadipbose18 yes thank you!

[@ebrahemmh]

Thanks for the video. Just to clarify one point. I have nikon d7100. When I shoot full manual and my iso is NOT auto. How the exposure compensation works here? Thanks.

[@ebrahemmh]

Another question. In my same scenario. Will the exposure compensation affect my RAW files or just the JPEG preview? Thanks.

[@ebrahemmh]

But I can change the exposure compensation in full manual. I use nikon d7100

[@ebrahemmh]

Spyros Heniadis Thank you so much :) I took multiple pictures with zero EC and with +5 EC in full manual mode. It does nothing to the exposure they are all the same. But it change the camera light meter and the flash icon started to flash to tell to use the flash. Thanks.

[@flyboytech8246]

When I click the link it says page not found.

[@therookiefisherman5234]

You are right I look at my pics on my camera screen and they look perfect when I look at them on my computer and them totally different wow that's not right.

[@spyrosheniadis]

Yeah. It’s a little frustrating, but if you’re aware of it, you can plan for it and get the shot looking the way you want.

[@poeticflairphotography7087]

Wow....Sorry the rest of the video answers the question. lol. Thanks.

[@therookiefisherman5234]

Ok, so unless I change the shutter speed the exposure compensation won't change?

[@spyrosheniadis]

If you're in manual mode, you changing the ISO, Aperture or Shutter Speed is exposure compensation (by setting the settings to where you want, whether it's over or under exposed). If you're in one of the priority modes, then you just change the exposure compensation itself, and the camera will change the appropriate setting to compensate.

[@balasundar6599]

Super explanation

[@spyrosheniadis]

Thank you!!

[@balasundar6599]

Spyros Heniadis I am using canon 1300d and I later found it doesnot have spot metering , am I correct?

[@spyrosheniadis]

That is correct, though it does have partial, which is like spot, but covers a larger area (approx 15% around the center focus point)

[@sheed321]

So basically since I only shoot in manual mode, I really don't need to worry about the exposure comp function?

[@burnedprog]

Any chance of getting cheat sheet without email?

[@nougatbitz]

Full auto or fully manual for me, no worries about what that exp. compensation would otherwise do 😅

[@therookiefisherman5234]

Ok, I have my camera in hand. If I press the +- button and turn the wheel to the + side all the way once I let go of the button on the camera screen it still shows - side all the way. on the screen it shows the +- and next to it shows a +4.3

[@spyrosheniadis]

Okay. So the +4.3 setting you changed is your exposure compensation. By setting that to +4.3 you’re telling the camera, “make the photos I take 4.3 times brighter than you normally would.” The thing you’re looking at on the camera screen with the +/- is the exposure indicator, which tells you how over or underexposed your photo will be based on your current ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed settings Now, setting your exposure compensation doesn’t automatically mean your exposure indicator will end up on the + side, even if you’ve set the exposure compensation to something like +4.3. First of all, if you’re shooting in Manual Mode, your exposure compensation doesn’t change anything because you are in full control of all three exposure settings (ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed). In order for exposure compensation to work, the camera needs to be able to control at least one of the three exposure settings, so that when you change the exposure compensation, the camera can change the setting it controls to make the exposure adjustment. The only time exposure compensation will work in Manual Mode is if you enable the Auto ISO function (if your camera has auto ISO) With Auto ISO enabled, the camera would increase the ISO 4.3 stops in order to make your exposure compensation adjustment of +4.3, at which point you would see your exposure indicator move from the negative, likely into the positive.

[@ihop1040]

Thanks !!!

[@anubhavagarwal7985]

How to manage EV during holy grail. Should I stick to 0 or start from +1 and then as it get start getting dark go to -1

[@spyrosheniadis]

I’d start at 0 and then adjust as needed.

[@kongking1880]

desk: "ouch! ouch! ouch!"

[@thepunisher1951]

Thank you.

[@spyrosheniadis]

Thanks John!

[@hall7120]

Whoa! When shooting in manual mode, changing my changing my iso, aperture, shutter settings so exposure is something other than zero IS exposure compensation? I just had a small ah-ha moment.

[@avkinyou]

I have a normal question sir . Where is an sensor Mark is marked on camera body . In nikon and cannon there is there a mark like this (image sensor mark) or its just a lie.

[@izeshmikurac]

so wait, if i want something to be darker, i can just shoot a photo when the meter is in minus, in this case, it doesnt matter what number. so why would i set the exp comp with button to minus something, that would alter the zero on the ev meter? i mean, its the same? shooting in the minus, or setting exp comp button to minus so that the ev would show zero in the lighting. also, you can forget you even have the exp comp set, so the zero value would not be "accurate" for all situations, except for those where it remembers you want it to be darker??

[@stevea5985]

what it changes the shutter speed

[@nigelzenda]

Woow dude! Well fucking explained

[@Artswoman]

Thank you!

[@spyrosheniadis]

Thank you Cynthia Cooper!

[@ginaheaton2203]

I never shoot in auto ISO. I always watch my histogram and adjust accordingly.

[@galaxynote9127]

Oh my god ..all this info..i dont think i abdorbed it all .

[@spyrosheniadis]

Good thing you can watch it again if you need to! :)

[@wolfschindler8921]

I prefer exposure lock over exposure compensation because it's faster and I'm lazy, lol.

[@JoysofNature]

there is no card right there. :)

[@Makta972]

Meh I always shoot in manual..

[@Jakiyyyyy]

Not understandable, have a great day. ✌

[@artat777]

What?

[@dahliacross3584]

Very very well explained. My only suggestion : don,t speak so loud ;_; you sound like you're screaming

[@dahliacross3584]

ok maybe not go into full psychological analysis on a comment I only posted so he can put down the volume a little. You sound like an emotional uncontrolled person yourself maybe u should check urself

[@dahliacross3584]

lmao your answer proves my point. Alright have a good nap

[@robmelonephotography2408]

I just turned down the volume control myself....maybe you've heard of that technique...lol. Great explanation of Exposure Compensation Spyros...

[@dahliacross3584]

Don't worry I've heard. But scream whisper isn't my style. I was giivng constructive comment, can you slack off

[@stms.africa4690]

How many ways can you say the same thing? Let me count the ways. Once, twice, thrice.....

[@a.keithclarke7975]

Pointing and jabbing fingers and hands in viewers faces is never going to turn out well for you! #annoyingjustcant!

[@TrueIndianAccent]

too much talk