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Archive 2023 · Sony A7IV - Exposure Compensation dial question

Tarekith
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Sony A7IV - Exposure Compensation dial question

Dumb question from a newb who's trying to wrap his head around this.

How does the exposure compensation setting differ from ISO? Obviously you can use it to go darker than you could by lowering the ISO to 100 (or whatever the base ISO is), but if you're boosting exposure is that being done electronically and thus adding noise like boosting ISO would?

Is there a reason you would choose to boost the highlights via Exp Comp versus just raising your ISO?

Maybe not a Sony specific question, but I honestly don't know if different manufacturers deal with this in different ways. Thanks or any insight.

Edited on Mar 19, 2023 at 10:38 AM · View previous versions

Mar 18, 2023 at 08:27 PM

1bwana1
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Sony A7IV - Exposure Compensation dial question

Within its range, you can accomplish the exact same exposure by using the exposure dial or manually setting the ISO. One way you are in charge, the other way an algorythm is in charge. Depending on your shooting mode the camera will determine which variable to adjust with EC.

Sony's way of doing it is pretty much the same as most other manufacturers.

Mar 18, 2023 at 08:40 PM

RoamingScott
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Sony A7IV - Exposure Compensation dial question

All you’re doing by fiddling with the exposure comp dial is pushing and pulling points on the exposure triangle based on what mode you’re in but letting the CPU which to move and how much. It will change your ISO if you’re in auto ISO. You’re thinking of it clearly. It’s simply a shortcut to allow you to quickly adjust the EV value.

Edited on Mar 18, 2023 at 08:42 PM · View previous versions

Mar 18, 2023 at 08:41 PM

Tarekith
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Sony A7IV - Exposure Compensation dial question

I always shoot in Manual mode FWIW, just didn't know which would be a preferred way of adjusting exposure with the least amount of noise.

Mar 18, 2023 at 08:42 PM

RoamingScott
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Sony A7IV - Exposure Compensation dial question

Shutter speed and aperture of course, but not always an option depending on composition and available light.

Tarekith wrote:
I always shoot in Manual mode FWIW, just didn't know which would be a preferred way of adjusting exposure with the least amount of noise.

Mar 18, 2023 at 08:43 PM

Tarekith
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Sony A7IV - Exposure Compensation dial question

Thanks, sounds like I can largely just ignore the Exp Comp dial then for the way I like to shoot. Hmmm, what to assign to that dial now....

Mar 18, 2023 at 08:44 PM

1bwana1
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Sony A7IV - Exposure Compensation dial question

When i want to shoot fully manual it looks like this.

Focus on the lens.

If there is Apeture ring on the lens I use if not, front dial.

Shutter speed rear dial

ISO Exposure Comp Dial.

Simple effective setup.

Mar 18, 2023 at 11:05 PM

LeeRatters
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Sony A7IV - Exposure Compensation dial question

Tarekith wrote:
I always shoot in Manual mode FWIW, just didn't know which would be a preferred way of adjusting exposure with the least amount of noise.

If you shoot in manual mode the exposure compensation is irrelevant.

Raising the ISO will usually increase noise so the preferred way is to use shutter speed or maybe aperture. Or maybe a combination of all three..... Depends really on what you are shooting.

Mar 19, 2023 at 07:05 AM

AZHeaven
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Sony A7IV - Exposure Compensation dial question

Tarekith wrote:
Thanks, sounds like I can largely just ignore the Exp Comp dial then for the way I like to shoot. Hmmm, what to assign to that dial now....

I have my dial set to EC. But never use it. I do what Mark Galer suggests. Expose for the highlights then bring up the shadows. And the A7IV has a dual ISO of 400 and 1600. Less noise in those 2 ISO's when you have to bring up shadows.

Mar 19, 2023 at 09:06 AM

KarmaKramer
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Sony A7IV - Exposure Compensation dial question

I always have masking tape over that dial on my cameras because I often flicked it by mistake, when turning the spin wheel (shutter speed) next to it. I’d shoot for an hour then glance down and its on +3…..doh

Mar 19, 2023 at 09:29 AM

tsdevine
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Sony A7IV - Exposure Compensation dial question

You can lock that dial on the a7R V, maybe some of the other newer generation cameras have that feature too.

KarmaKramer wrote:
I always have masking tape over that dial on my cameras because I often flicked it by mistake, when turning the spin wheel (shutter speed) next to it. I’d shoot for an hour then glance down and its on +3…..doh

Edited on Mar 19, 2023 at 09:40 AM · View previous versions

Mar 19, 2023 at 09:36 AM

KarmaKramer
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Sony A7IV - Exposure Compensation dial question

Thats sensible. My models don’t have that

tsdevine wrote:
You can lock that dial in the a7R V, maybe some of the other newer generation cameras have that feature too.

Mar 19, 2023 at 09:39 AM

Tarekith
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Sony A7IV - Exposure Compensation dial question

You can lock the dial on the A7IV as well.

Mar 19, 2023 at 09:53 AM

KarmaKramer
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Sony A7IV - Exposure Compensation dial question

Don’t have that model either but good to know 👍

Tarekith wrote:
You can lock the dial on the A7IV as well.

Mar 19, 2023 at 10:37 AM

chiron
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Sony A7IV - Exposure Compensation dial question

AZHeaven wrote:
I have my dial set to EC. But never use it. I do what Mark Galer suggests. Expose for the highlights then bring up the shadows. And the A7IV has a dual ISO of 400 and 1600. Less noise in those 2 ISO's when you have to bring up shadows.

Where does Mark Galer discuss his approach to exposure? I haven't been able to find it.

Mar 19, 2023 at 11:22 AM

RoamingScott
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Sony A7IV - Exposure Compensation dial question

This is a pretty standard method for MILC RAWs, ETTR hasn’t been a thing since the Canon 5D days.

Caveat to that is I regularly ETTR for Fuji JPEGs for various reasons.

chiron wrote:
Where does Mark Galer discuss his approach to exposure? I haven't been able to find it.

Mar 19, 2023 at 12:11 PM

Tarekith
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Sony A7IV - Exposure Compensation dial question

MILC = Make It Look Correct?

Mar 19, 2023 at 01:05 PM

AZHeaven
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Sony A7IV - Exposure Compensation dial question

chiron wrote:
Where does Mark Galer discuss his approach to exposure? I haven't been able to find it.

This is from 2 years ago. But I beleive he gets more in depth regarding the A7IV on his Patron site.

Mar 20, 2023 at 09:20 AM

chiron
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Sony A7IV - Exposure Compensation dial question

AZHeaven wrote:
This is from 2 years ago. But I beleive he gets more in depth regarding the A7IV on his Patron site.

Thank you--the basic ideas shouldn't get stale or be model dependent. I'll take a look.

Mar 20, 2023 at 09:55 AM

Tarekith
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Sony A7IV - Exposure Compensation dial question

Thanks from me as well, I should have assumed Mark would have a video on this first.

Mar 20, 2023 at 10:39 AM

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