Exposure Indicator reading in "Viewfinder" and "Display" are not the same

Exposure Indicator reading in "Viewfinder" and "Display" are not the same

I recently purchased a new D5100 back in December and only recently noticed that the EV indicator reading is different in the viewfinder from that shown on the back display. I don't believe that it was like that in the past. I have tested it by covering the eyepiece to prevent light from entering as would be the case if my eye/face was covering from ambient light and the same occurs. It appears as though the reading on the display is double that of what is shown in the viewfinder.

I am wondering if others have experienced this and if they have found a solution? Is this likely a problem with the camera or is there a setting that I may have accidentally adjusted?

​ Thanks Cory

Re: Exposure Indicator reading in "Viewfinder" and "Display" are not the same

Nope. No difference on mine.

Re: Exposure Indicator reading in "Viewfinder" and "Display" are not the same

First off Welcome to the forum

If you fill out your profile we can better answer any questions that you might have.
You can do that at http://nikonites.com/profile.php?do=editprofile

Some useful links
Nikon Product Manuals available for download
Nikon | Imaging Products | Digitutor


Are you talking about when it is in Live view?
When you take the picture which is correct?
Give us example readings so we can have a better idea on what is happening.
What mode are you in? M, A, P, A, S ?

I just picked up my D5100 and looked at it. One obvious thing is that when you move to camera to see though the viewfinder and then back to look at the back display you move the camera unless you have it mounted to a tripod and the readings can change a good bit depending on the scene.

Re: Exposure Indicator reading in "Viewfinder" and "Display" are not the same

Thanks for the suggestions to update my profile; I have started with a few items so far but will complete it shortly.

When I refer to the "display" it is just the back display when shooting through the viewfinder. Not while in LiveView

My setting is in Manual (M)

I typically shoot in Manual mode at 2/3 EV underexposed. If I see a reading of 2/3 EV (2 bars) in the viewfinder the display will read 1 full stop plus 1/3 (4 bars).

Yes, I have been testing it while on my tripod to avoid variation in exposure readings.

Re: Exposure Indicator reading in "Viewfinder" and "Display" are not the same

bigsteely101 said:

Thanks for the suggestions to update my profile; I have started with a few items so far but will complete it shortly.

When I refer to the "display" it is just the back display when shooting through the viewfinder. Not while in LiveView

My setting is in Manual (M)

I typically shoot in Manual mode at 2/3 EV underexposed. If I see a reading of 2/3 EV (2 bars) in the viewfinder the display will read 1 full stop plus 1/3 (4 bars).

Yes, I have been testing it while on my tripod to avoid variation in exposure readings.

Click to expand...

I think what you are seeing is the scales are different in the two displays. Forget about the bars for a minute. The lines break up the 0 to 1 scale. That is broken into 4 parts. 1/4 each.
Follow me so far?
The viewfinder only takes 2 bars to equal 1/4 but the back display is much larger and it takes 4 bars there to make up 1/4
So forget about the bars and just look to see if it is 1/4, 1/2 3/4 or 1

Shoot a picture at 1/4 through the viewfinder(2 bars) and the same shot at 1/4 in the rear display (4 bars) I bet they will be the same exposure. YOu may have slight variation since you are moving the camera a little.

Just looked again. The viewfinder is broken into 3 sections and the rear display is broken into 4 sections. They are different scales altogether.

Re: Exposure Indicator reading in "Viewfinder" and "Display" are not the same

Okay, so this is what I see and I will assume it will be the same for others as well then.

If the camera is set to 1/2 EV increments then the viewfinder will show one bar to indicate a 1/2 EV increment. To read one full stop it will require two bars to reach the first hash bar. On the display, it actually requires three bars to make up a 1/2 EV increment...and six bars to make up the full one stop.

If the camera is set to 1/3 EV increments then the viewfinder will show one bar to indicate a 1/3 EV increment. To read one full stop it will require three bars to reach the first hash bar. On the display, it actually requires two bars to make up a 1/3 EV increment...and six bars to make up the full one stop.

So the camera is not broken, just some odd engineering on Nikons part!! I'm sure there is a rationale answer to why they do it though.

Thanks Tracsoft for helping figure it out.

Re: Exposure Indicator reading in "Viewfinder" and "Display" are not the same

bigsteely101 said:

Okay, so this is what I see and I will assume it will be the same for others as well then.

If the camera is set to 1/2 EV increments then the viewfinder will show one bar to indicate a 1/2 EV increment. To read one full stop it will require two bars to reach the first hash bar. On the display, it actually requires three bars to make up a 1/2 EV increment...and six bars to make up the full one stop.

If the camera is set to 1/3 EV increments then the viewfinder will show one bar to indicate a 1/3 EV increment. To read one full stop it will require three bars to reach the first hash bar. On the display, it actually requires two bars to make up a 1/3 EV increment...and six bars to make up the full one stop.

So the camera is not broken, just some odd engineering on Nikons part!! I'm sure there is a rationale answer to why they do it though.

Thanks Tracsoft for helping figure it out.

Click to expand...

I had to play with it for a while so I learned something too. Depending on which one you have set 1/2 or 1/3 each click of the thumb wheel moves it one unit. 1/2 or 1/3 EV