The Digital Photography Companion

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MANUAL EXPOSURE MODE

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Manual Exposure Mode

Many compact digital cameras allow only programmed autoexposure, but more ad-

vanced models also provide complete control over the aperture and speed settings.

If your camera has this option, it’s probably denoted as manual or manual exposure

mode.

In traditional film photography, switching to manual mode was a true rite of passage.

e photographer would fiddle with the aperture and shutter speed settings, and then

hope that the pictures were properly exposed when returned from the photo finisher.

is process was by no means for the fainthearted. But digital photography has changed

all of that, and because you can preview the final result on the LCD monitor before

you press the shutter button, manual mode has become much friendlier. Now manual

mode represents both control and convenience.

For outdoor photography, start by setting your shutter speed to 1/125 of a second and

the aperture to f/8 (at ISO 100). Preview the scene in your LCD monitor. If the image

looks too dark, open up the aperture to f/5.6 or slow down the shutter speed to 1/60 of

a second. You’ll see the results of your adjustments in real time on the LCD monitor. If

the scene is too bright, stop down the aperture to f/11 or speed up the shutter to 1/250

of a second.

is is the beauty of manual mode photography; you have the option of adjusting the ...