The exposure compensation dial. What's it for, exactly? And who on earth uses this completely useless knob that's taking up precious space on top of so many camera bodies?
These were my questions as I stared at the range of Fujis and Sonys in the camera store the other day. In the 15 years that I've been shooting on an SLR and a DSLR, I've never used it, and can't imagine a situation where I would ever need it.
I'm not a manual purist but I always like to know exactly what my camera is doing. I base my exposure decisions first on the camera's recommended exposure, and then on the histogram once I've fired off a test shot (this will probably change if and when I shift to mirrorless as the in-view histogram and accurate EVF will reduce the amount of chimping). Given that I spend a lot of time shooting upwards and incorporating a lot of sky, I often have to ignore my camera's suggested exposure and let more light into my lens, trying to achieve detail in the shadows while retaining a slither of information from the highlights so that I can squeeze a bit of detail into the sky when editing. This often means shooting one or two stops above what my camera says is correct and, despite this, still creating an image that is slightly underexposed (with a histogram in which the mountains are mostly on the left) that gives me more flexibility in postproduction.
For those of you unfamiliar with exposure compensation, here's a quick explanation. Cameras detect the amount of light of any scene and make a judgment on what will make the best exposure. In fully automatic mode, this is used to decide the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO, and even in manual mode, many cameras will give an indication of whether your settings will give an exposure that it regards as under, over, or perfectly exposed. However, despite the technological advances of the last couple of decades, cameras are still very easily confused by surprisingly simple things like snow, large amounts of sky, or darkness.
Snow and sky, two factors that are bound to confuse even the best of cameras.
The exposure compensation dial gives you the opportunity to adjust the camera's assumptions of what is the right amount of light. For example, shooting a snowy scene can mean that there's a lot of light entering the lens, and the camera's recommended exposure can often try to make a more balanced image, letting in less light than we might want, and making snow appear dull and gray rather than bright and white.
My approach might be to shoot a test shot in auto (often "P" on a camera's mode dial), check the histogram, switch to manual mode, and make adjustments from there. Alternatively, with the exposure compensation function, you can stay in auto mode but can tell the camera to allow more light in, often by increments of one-third of a stop. On a Nikon or a Canon, this is adjusted by holding a button marked "+/-" and turning one of the dials. On a Fuji or a Sony, this can be achieved slightly more efficiently by using the huge dedicated dial found on top of the camera.
This dial is a complete waste of space. For anyone learning photography and trying to get their head around the exposure triangle, exposure compensation is an unnecessary distraction, complicating an already complex set of variables and their confusing number systems.
The Fujifilm X-T2. That enormous dial on the far right is completely unnecessary.
When I'm photographing, I always want to make sure that my camera isn't creating a setting that's going to disrupt my intentions for a shot. For example, for my action photography, I want to be sure that my camera isn't choosing a shutter speed that's too low, an aperture that's too wide, or, occasionally, an ISO that's too grainy.
Furthermore, I know that the camera's recommended exposure is just a vague clue as to what the histogram is going to tell me, and it's through the histogram that I'm going to make a judgment on the correct exposure.
Shooting straight into the sun and coping with dark shadows — guaranteed to befuddle the hell out of any camera. In this situation, checking the histogram is absolutely essential.
Given how useless the exposure compensation function is, why do some manufacturers insist on having such a massive dial dedicated to it? Maybe I was missing some crucial trick that could improve my photography. Intrigued, I asked my Fstoppers colleagues if they ever used exposure compensation. The answers were quite surprising.
From my random, completely unscientific straw poll of 13 photographers, 6 said that they don't use it, with most of those never once using it during their time as photographers. "Exposure who?" asked Tihomir Lazarov, explaining that, other than exposing manually, he rarely uses any of the additional functionality of his camera beyond formatting a memory card. Nicole York agreed. The thought of a dedicated dial seemed as ludicrous to them as it was to me.
The remaining seven photographers had completely different thoughts. Wasim Ahmad, Alex Cooke, and Lee Morris use exposure compensation extensively. Ahmad finds that his camera's decision making often creates shots that are over-exposed, and Cooke likes to make sure that he's not blowing highlights when shooting baseball with his ISO set to auto. As Alex Armitage pointed out, it's always better to recover shadows in post-production than blow highlights when shooting, so in high contrast situations, he tweaks his exposure compensation to -1.
Suddenly this setting was beginning to make a little more sense, but a huge, dedicated dial still felt like overkill. And then this from Jason Vinson: "I use it so much I'd never consider a camera that didn't have a dedicated dial for it. If I'm not focusing, my thumb is on the dial." And as Morris observed, "With flash photography, it’s the quickest way to dial an exposure without going full manual."
So here's my second straw poll: our readers. Do you use it? And if you use it, do you need a giant dial dedicated to it, or is that knob a stylized hangover that's wasting precious space on an already crowded camera body? Please vote and, as usual, let us know your thoughts in the comments.
I use it but would never want a giant knob like that on my camera for it. Canon's implementation for it is perfect IMO.
I shoot aperture priority almost 90% of the time and every shot is adjusted by EV +/- for me. That makes it a super useful feature for me on my xpro2. So if u feel it's useless or waste of space that's just your opinion that nobody asked for. Fstoppers running out of ideas ?
I also shoot aperture priority the vast majority of the time and use EC extensively. For me, it's much easier to thumb the dial without having to take my eye from the viewfinder.
Hey Anjum, thanks for your comment. If you read to the end of the article, you'll find out that I question my own initial assumptions and ask a bunch of photographers what they used it for so that I could learn something and also create a discussion.
By the way, not sure if you're new to this, but other than porn, the internet is mostly a bunch of opinions that no-one asked for. 😆
Absolutely new to this. That was my first ever comment, maybe I got sick of internet opnions. Basically nobody likes anything on the www except porn 😂. But I feel at least the title of this post needs to be something else
Hi! Good that you use it all the time, I hope you'll be able to to answer one thing for me.
This has always confused me: what does the camera change when you turn that dial?
I mean, if you shoot aperture priority and you have set a fixed ISO, I guess it changes shutter speed? And if you're in manual with auto Iso, you set shutter speed and aperture so I guess it changes ISO. But what if you shoot aperture priority with auto-ISO, do you have a way to know what your camera will do? I.e. will it choose to adjust shutter speed or ISO? Or will it always adjust ISO first until your limit on auto ISO then only shutter speed? Or...it will just pick something different every time?
Thanks a lot in advance if you can answer that one!
Andy, from the article, it looks like you're warming up to exposure compensation. You mentioned that you've used SLRs and I'm assuming that you used film.
I had the opportunity to photograph a Space Shuttle launch. Since it was the final launch, I asked for advice from Florida Today. Their photographer suggested since it was a day time launch to shoot ISO 100 film and under expose -1/3. I made an executive decision to underexpose -2/3.
For sunrise and sunset photography, I set my compensation to -2/3. With my Canon A-1 and New F-1, it is an easy process to change and also check. With my 5D III, I have to hit the Quick Menu button to change or check; I frequently forget that I've changed exposure compensation.
Exposure compensation is very helpful if you're using a metering mode like center-weighted metering where the camera is less likely to get the exposure right. While the dial is in some ways a relic of film-camera aesthetics, I find it useful. I prefer turning a single knob to holding a button and twisting a dial, and the knob makes it easier to remember that I have dialed in a change to my exposure. I think exposure compensation is actually well suited to the kind of shooting you describe, of letting the camera set the initial exposure but then correcting it as the scene dictates--some people prefer only adjusting one setting. Exposure compensation may be a little antiquated these days, but to the extent anyone still believes in getting a shot right in camera, exposure compensation has a place. It is also helpful for cameras that consistently under or over-expose, like the D7000 was rumored to do. Perhaps the space could be used for something better but I think the knob is handy enough overall to justify it and easy enough to ignore.
Wow. I think the editors messed up on this article and let it through. Just when does one become expert enough to write an article for a web magazine? Seems all it takes is a trip to the camera store to look at cameras. You'd think minimal qualifications would be to actually try out the functionality for a while and then make a judgement. To have someone coming from an SLR or DSLR background and make these comments is even more incredible.
Yes, an argument can be made that a dedicated knob on the camera is overkill. Fujifilm moved to a smaller button on one camera. But, I think someone with more experience with the functionality should be writing about the pros and cons.
The quality of this reporting was so low that I felt it necessary to create an account to make this comment. I'm now wondering if I should just take this website off my reading list.
I'm a 100% manual type of shooter so it's useless for me. I don't mind it staying there but I'd love to see it re-purposed as a custom dial so that I can actually make use of it whilst others could still use it for EC.
This is one of those deliberately obnoxious posts designed to elicit traffic and fired up comments. It's also a dumb viewpoint.
I combine it with spot metering and use it all the time for fast decisions while I am running or street photography. I look at the scene , decide what to meter off , decide if I want to over or under expose the chosen spot, point and shot . Quick and in the vast majority of the shots I get the exposure I want .
The EM1mkII lets you map dials and buttons beyond recognition. You can even change the position of the power switch.
For me the real power is when I'm using the EVF on my Fuji. I can pick if I want to lock either shutter or aperture depending on the situation. I then set the opposite control to automatic. With the EVF I can use the EC knob to dial in the picture how I want it in a single place. I've already made the pick whether or not it's controlling the aperture or shutter. If I'm shooting the big DSLR I tend not to use it unless I know it's a cloudy day or something else that is going to cause my metering to consistently misinterpret the situation.
I shoot lacrosse in the overhead sun. I set my iso to auto, lens to 2.8-4 and SS above 1250. However, faces are in shadow. Exposure Compensation allows with more light on the face.
Meh, a "real" photographer would constantly fiddle with the ISO settings. Let me guess: you use auto focus as well? :)
Hey Captain James T- I just need to get the shot, it leaves me time to fiddle with other fun things. https://craigcohen.zenfolio.com/p916236883
Ever heard of something called sarcasm? Keep fiddling with your "fun thing"...
I've done a lot of sailing photography using Aperture Priority, and found exposure compensation very useful--I'd change it on-the-fly, based on the backgrounds or whether my subject is in direct light or shadow or whatever, or considering the weather--on heavy overcast days, I'll have compensation dialed all the way up to +1 1/3 to get the proper exposure for the boats I was shooting.
I agree. With modern digital cameras EC is pretty useless.
I find compensation indispensable when shooting with my X-T2, but the dial not so much - I set it to "c" and use the front dial, which is way faster. With the EVF real-time preview, it's just the fastest way to nail the exposure I want. A menu setting would achieve the same thing without the big dial.
With ISO fixed to the lowest I can get away with for the venue, the back dial then lets me trade off shutter for aperture. For run-and-gun scenarios, It's even better ergonomics than a 5d3,which is saying something!
I use EC but often wish my Fuji worked more like my Canon; the top-plate dial is just not as easy to adjust as a thumb wheel. Sometimes I wish EC worked more like it does on an iPhone... temporary and automatically reset between shots.
At least it should reset when you turn off the power of your camera.
You can use the front and rear dials to change SS and ISO.
How is adjusting the exposure based on the histogram in live view not exposure compensation?
I voted "occasionally useful but a dedicated knob is a waste of space". But what it really means to me is I still want a dial when using it. Just not a dedicated dial. i.e. a dial without specific labels. Like in Canon & Nikon.
I find it useful when shooting "fast" for events, candid shots or landscapes on the go where you have no time to think. In every other situation, especially staged studio work, I use manual mode.
This is just something else. I get that on Fuji cameras the exposure dances all over the place, but in other camera brands it is a very useful tool. You can set up your minimun SS in A mode and shoot away having full control with using only this one dial. Your problems seem to stem from the fact that Fuji cameras always operate in beta version (they call it Kaizen). Just try any of the other 3 and you'll see how useful the dial is. And I do own Fuji X-T2 so I know what the issue is.
Option 5: I use it every day but really don't need a dial.
I usually shoot in Aperture priority for shots without tripod or extreme conditions and use the exposure compensation to adjust to the cameras shortcomings as you described in the article. Usually it sits around -0,5 to -1
I don't really need more than one dial anyway, maybe cause my camera thought me so. I can change what that dial does with the push of a button (Nikon).
Maybe i could get used to a thumb and an index finger dial. In this case the index one could be Exposure Compensation.
The position where Fuji put's it seems indeed as a waste of a prime spot on the camera.
Thank you! It is absolutely useless and it really bugs me that camera manufacturers insist on adding a dedicated dial for it. (Instead of something useful like ISO, wtf?)
To my mind it’s far *more* complicated to use exposure comp than just shoot in manual and do it yourself.
Really heartened to see that the new Fuji xt-100 removed it!
Trivial tool for anyone shooting Av or Tv.
Maybe the author should try understanding why use this modes first.
Did you know that in the days of film we used to use exposure compensation all the time? If I was going to the mountains with lots of snow, I'd shoot my 100 ISO film with a setting of 50, so they came out a stop under. And the light meter in the canon ae-1 was quite good, actually.
But I digress.
On day to day basis I wouldn't want to shoot without exposure compensation, when I don't always have the luxury of chimping and resetting the scene in front of me. (I. E. any wedding photographer...). It is just the flick of ONE knob, without having to leave any automatic function at all. However, when I am shooting in the studio, I go full manual. But out and about, why bother?
I'm just curious.
If you use AE mode and you want to change exposure (it happens), how do you do that without the dial?
"If I don't guess an exposure, I get an idea in P and then spend the rest of the time in M."
Never mind, I found your answer.
So you just wanted to write a clickbait. I thought there would be an alternative, more convenient way to change exposure on AE mode.
It wasn't me alone, BTW, thinking this article is a kind of clickbait. I talked with a bunch of people.
More like a Petapixel than Fstoppers;.....
When I'm shooting with on-camera flash on my Fuji, TTL and exposure compensation work pretty well together. Other than that, I'm mostly in full manual.
I love dial knobs, as many as possible, positioned in a way that I don’t have to take the camera down for settings. And I hate menus that never passed a usability test. I often use exposure compensation for the same reason as Wasim Ahmad in your article, and I prefer giant dials as well (looks quite old fashioned, doesn’t it?).
I have two cameras: My D500 and my Fuji X100f.
For most of my work, I use my D500. I'm in studio , in control of the lights and shoot in full manual. The EC is not needed in these situations.(also, I could be mistaken, but I thought EC didn't effect exposure in Manual) However, it does come in handy when shooting in natural light or outdoors. Since the cloud cover, areas of shade, dappled highlights from branches or leaves and position of the sun can change as the shoot moves on it's nice to know that instead of having to adapt the exposure triangle every time I'm inevitably presented with these changes, I can throw myself in Aperture mode, let the camera decide my shutter speed, and set my Auto ISO to a limit of my choosing and focus more on what makes the image: Mood, Composition, Context, Story, Concept, etc...
My X100f mirrors(no pun intended) the above. While I have used it in studio, I primarily have it as my walk about camera. I find that the X-Trans Sensor in the Fuji really likes to crush the shadows. In some instances this works out just fine, and the RAW images are extremely flexible for recovering them in post. Say what you will, but not every image I take has to be in RAW. The JPGS from the X100f are beautiful, and when I just want to take pictures of my family, food, street, pets or instant memories and share them quickly with friends, family or social media, it's nice to know that when the sensor is under or over exposing the image, I can quickly turn the EC dial to +1 or -1 to capture the image, or moment that I see. It's and essential function with my Fuji. Does it need a dial? I guess not. But it doesn't bother me at all.
Manual only, film only, digital only, EC users, Program, AUTO, Does it really matter? If you've captured the image you were looking for, you've succeeded.
On my XT-1 I set ISO and aperture for what DoF I need. shutter is auto.
the adjust with the EV dial with my thumb until the histogram looks good then reajust exposure in post.
Having it right at the tip of my thumb is too good. Never buying another body without it.
In some situations I shoot manual (studio/controled lighting/stage/theater/dance with spot lights etc)- others I shoot aperture (or occasion shutter) priority when I have rapidly carrying light levels but in a setting that camera meters work well in. I do use exposure comp when I can see that.a scene will be consistently under-exposed (snow/black or dark environment), or if I have taken a shot while in an auto mode and clearly see I need more shadow detail or less blown out areas... It's useful to me
I've never used it and really see no need for it. I am rarely if ever shooting auto though.
If you're using an auto mode and you're evaluating and adjusting the compensation all the time... to me that's manual. Why not just cut out the middle man and adjust whatever variable you're letting the camera guess at for you?
I wouldn't have a camera without it. I shoot Nikon, so I don't have a dedicated dial, but my finger is never far from the compensation button.
...
As with most digital cameras there is usually more than one way to achieve an effect such as lifting shadow details or avoiding blown highlights.
It all comes down to their type of photography / the conditions they are working in, and a photographers preferred (camera handling) work style.
The Exposure Compensation is so very useful for direct and very fast control of the ISO. I tend to shoot Shutter speed priority on Fuji, or Manual on Nikon with AF, & auto ISO, - that's it. It is a Very Useful and intuitively responsive way to quickly control the exposures... Of course you are using EC to compensate for the way the metering works and the ISO it would tend to pick. You take command of the overall tone of the exposure. Dark days = dark exposure, etc...
I rarely use the big dumb round dial. Is it useful to have exposure compensation on a camera? Sure! Do I need a big dial that is easily moved around? Heck no! I have always wondered who the heck uses these things so much that they need this big stupid thing, but I guess many people actually have a different shooting styles than I do. Go figure! My biggest gripe with the dial is that they turn too easily. Make them stiffer or add a lock so I don't accidently bump it and mess up my settings when I need to take a picture quickly!
Why not learn how to properly expose images using fstops and shutter speeds to set it right the first time. Obviously, there is the histogram that provides a good view of dynamic range. Matthew Brady didn't have any kind of a metering system when he and his team shot pictures during the Civil War. They learned how to read light and knew the shooting environment.
Been doing photography for 9 years and street photography exclusively for the last 5. Figuring out the process of shooting in aperture priority mode with auto ISO and using exposure compensation was a game changer and shaped the way I shoot still to this day. The process you explained as a better alternative simply makes no sense to me. What makes even less sense is your opinion that because it’s not useful to you, it shouldn’t exist on today’s cameras. I simply cannot wrap my head around that and would have a very hard time taking any opinion you have about photography seriously from here on out.
Well, for me is extreme handy. In photo mode when im on wedding and outdoor lightning can be pretty inconsistent (harsh sun, semi-cloudy, cloudy...) I put it at about +2/3.
But most handy is when i shoot VIDEO at wedding party as second camera fom monopod, where light show is verry inconsistent... @85mm, Shutter is 1/100, apeture f/2.0 and ISO on AUTO. Then, it comes verry handy and the dial is on +1 most of the time ...
Personally, I never use shutter priority, therefore it is useless and I think no camera should have this as an option.