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05/31/2006 11:13:01 AM · #1
If it is suggested to underexpose by 1/3, what exactly does this mean?

If I have my camera set in Manual mode - I have adjusted my shutter speed and f/stop to where the camera says the shot is right on - what do I do to then underexpose by 1/3?

Thanks for all your help,

RP
05/31/2006 11:17:06 AM · #2
You can set your EV exposure value to -0.3
05/31/2006 11:30:57 AM · #3
usually cameras are setup so the increments you change by are 1/3, yes sometimes it's 1/2 but way more often 1/3. So with that you can change one of your settings lower by one click of the knob lowering shutter speed, or making the AV number higher. Using the Exposure compensation will also work if you want the camera to do it for you.
05/31/2006 11:38:02 AM · #4
Originally posted by robpom:

If it is suggested to underexpose by 1/3, what exactly does this mean?

If I have my camera set in Manual mode - I have adjusted my shutter speed and f/stop to where the camera says the shot is right on - what do I do to then underexpose by 1/3?

Thanks for all your help,

RP

There's a small black/white +/- button near the shutter release button. Hold that button down and turn the command dial one notch. You'll see either +0.3 or -0.3 appear in the LCD display. The more you turn the dial in one direction, the more "exposure compensation" you apply to the current shutter settings. When taking your photo, this setting forces the camera to keep the shutter open for slightly longer (+) or shorter (-) time than the shutter speed you see in the LCD or viewfinder displays.

You should try "bracketing". If you "bracket" for 3 identically composed shots, you are telling the camera to use "exposure compensation" lower (-) for one shot, exactly at the indicated shutter speed for another shot, and higher (+) for the last shot. Basically you turn on bracketing and take the same shot 3 times in a row, and the camera sets the exposure compensation automatically to whatever level you choose. Then you can pick the "best" of three photos.
05/31/2006 11:38:28 AM · #5
Originally posted by cryan:

You can set your EV exposure value to -0.3


Not sure about Nikon, but normally you can't/don't adjust EV when shooting in Manual. Normally I would adjust either aperture or shutter speed until the meter indicates 1 mark below 0.
05/31/2006 12:32:52 PM · #6
Yep, nards hit it on the head. If you are shooting full manual, just adjust to one mark left of zero. That should be -1/3.
The real question is why underexpose? The only reason that's valid, IMO, is to preserve highlights that otherwise would be blown. Otherwise, expose to the right.
05/31/2006 12:55:46 PM · #7
Not sure if you do much with flash or not, but I find myself dealing with flash exposure compensation more than exposure compensation itself when running the flash in TTL mode.
05/31/2006 01:43:55 PM · #8
Originally posted by kirbic:

Yep, nards hit it on the head. If you are shooting full manual, just adjust to one mark left of zero. That should be -1/3.
The real question is why underexpose? The only reason that's valid, IMO, is to preserve highlights that otherwise would be blown. Otherwise, expose to the right.

Oops! I somehow missed that this was a "manual" exposure. :)
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