This is done to get as close as possible to the middle gray so that the final picture is neither too dark nor too bright. Most of the time, this works out well, but in more difficult lighting situations, the camera meter might change the exposure too much, causing the photo to be too bright or too dark.
This is where Exposure Compensation comes in. The shooter can take direct control of the image’s brightness and override it by using the camera’s exposure compensation tool.
How Should Exposure Compensation Be Used?
To use exposure compensation, you must be in one of the camera modes that use the camera meter, such as aperture priority, shutter priority, program mode, or any other “scene” mode that automatically adjusts the exposure. In Manual mode, exposure correction does nothing unless Auto ISO is turned on. Once the right camera mode is chosen, the exposure adjustment tool of the camera can be used to change how bright the picture is.
So, where on a camera do you find the brightness adjustment feature? All of this depends on the type and brand of the camera. Most cameras will have a specific button on the top or back of the camera, but some cameras may only have a handle for this feature. It’s pretty easy to find the exposure adjustment button on a camera. Just look for a button with plus and minus signs, like the one below.
Exposure Compensation Button
And if you can’t find such a button, there may be a scale on the top or back of the camera that goes from a negative number to a positive number, like -3 to +3, with small changes in between. If you can’t find the button or setting for exposure correction, please read the instructions that came with your camera.
If you’re using a Nikon camera, it will probably be a button near the shoot button.
If you have a Canon camera, the back of the camera might have a “AV” button.
And on some other cameras, like the Fuji X-T20 below, which is a compact camera with a retro style, you might find an exposure correction dial on the top of the camera.
It’s easy to use radiation correction. If a picture looks dark, you dial a positive number (+EV), and if it looks bright, you dial a negative number (-EV). To change the exposure value on a camera with a button, you have to hold the button down and turn one of the thumb dials or press the button once and use the LCD screen. It is even easier if your camera has a setting; all you have to do is turn it in the right way, and your exposure should change.
