How does the camera determine the shutter speed, aperture, and sensitivity? Many aspiring photographers find the issue of exposure too hard to understand. But one has only to figure out the terms, and everything becomes clear and simple. By understanding the essence of determining the correct exposure pairs, you can explain the reasons for the blurry, dark, or too light images that are so frustrating for beginners. You will also understand what your camera is capable of in different situations.
ISO Sensitivity Change Step
With what steps of exposure will the sensitivity of the camera change? Is ISO 125 or ISO 200 right after ISO 100? The wider the step is, the less you have to turn the tuning wheel when shooting, choosing the desired value, but the fewer options there will be to choose from.
As a reminder, the range of available ISO values varies from camera to camera, so the minimum and maximum ISO values available will depend on the camera model. The default is a step of ⅓ EV. This means that the range of ISO values available for selection will be something like this: ISO 100-125-160-200-250-320-400 and so on. That is, it’s possible to adjust the required light sensitivity as accurately as possible.
EV Steps for Exposure Control
This setting is similar to the previous one, but it’s responsible for the step with which the shutter speed and aperture values will change. Moreover, both in manual and P mode. Here, too, the smallest step is used by default, which is convenient for fine-tuning the parameters — ⅓ EV.
Removing all intermediate values, you will have access to the basic level of parameter setting but will be able to produce it faster. What’s the difference between F5.6 and F6.3, in terms of depth? You won’t notice this difference by eye. In the same way, you won’t notice the difference in the transfer of motion at a shutter speed of 1/100 or 1/125. Therefore, all intermediate, redundant values can be removed so as not to flip through them every time you adjust the parameters.
The Step of Changing the Exposure and Flash Correction
The setting is similar to the previous ones, but it’s responsible for the step available for exposure and flash compensation. Please note that if in all the previous paragraphs you set a wide step of + 1EV, then exposure compensation less than this step (for example, in ⅓ EV) won’t affect either the exposure parameters or the brightness of the photo in any way.
Easy Exposure Correction
The possibilities of this item will be interesting for those who like to shoot in P, A, or S modes. In these modes, we use one wheel to adjust the selected parameter — shutter speed or aperture. In the case of the P mode, one of the wheels sets the program shift, allows you to select a specific exposure pair from the options offered by the automation. And what about the other wheel? It remains idle, spinning idly. Also, in M mode, exposure compensation will have an effect only when Auto-ISO is turned on (otherwise, by what parameter will the automatic adjust the brightness of the images?).
Sensor Metering
This item allows you to customize the operation of sensor exposure metering. The fact is that in most cameras, thanks to an advanced RGB metering sensor, the camera can recognize faces in a photo even when shooting through an optical viewfinder. And therefore, it can adjust the exposure of the picture according to the face. It’s a handy solution when photographing people. However, the option can be turned off if you shoot people with very dark skin, albinos, or just want the sensor metering mode to work more linearly.
Center-weighted Metering Area
With center-weighted metering, measurement is made over the entire area of the frame, but priority is given to the central zone, the size of which allows you to select this setting. In fact, choose the size of the circle in the center of the frame, along which the exposure will be measured. In the menu, you can choose the diameter of the circle available for metering in millimeters. A wider circle means more detail will fall into the metering area.
Adjusting the Optimal Exposure
This item allows you to adjust the camera’s exposure metering system, just like you can calibrate autofocus operation. Having opened this menu item, you can adjust the correction for each type of metering in steps of ⅙ EV.
You can often hear complaints from users that when using sensor metering, the camera saves light areas too much, which is why the pictures are darkish. If you also think so, then this point is for you: enter a positive correction for sensor metering and the camera’s automation with this metering will make the frames lighter.