D7000 exposure compensation direction

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Englischdude

Senior Member
Hi All,

am slowly deciphering all the bells and whistles on my lovely new D7000, and have come up against what I can only describe as being a bug in either Nikon's train of thought or my own! The rear wheel used to adjust the exposure compensation in my opinion is reversed, turning the wheel to the left INCREASES the exposure compensation.

Before yoou jump on me with the "Read the manual" comments, I am well aware of the ability to change this in custom options f6 and f9, however doing so then reverses the aperture adjustment, replacing one pain with another.

Does anyone else find this strange?

Regards
Martin
 
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nickt

Senior Member
Englischdude said:
The rear wheel used to adjust the exposure compensation in my opinion is reversed, turning the wheel to the left INCREASES the exposure compensation.
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Turning the same wheel to the left increases exposure time. So same direction gives more exposure in both functions.
 
hark

hark

Administrator
Staff member
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Contributor
My D90 works the same as your D7000, but my D600 works the way I'd expect. It's annoying but just keep an eye on it when you change it.
 
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Englischdude

Senior Member
hark said:
My D90 works the same as your D7000, but my D600 works the way I'd expect. It's annoying but just keep an eye on it when you change it.
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Hi Hark,

many thanks for your constructive feedback. Nice to know someone else finds it just as annoying as I do. Why NIKON decided to make this difference between bodies I cant imagine!
 
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pedroj

Senior Member
Englischdude said:
If you are used to something else it is annoying. As Hark has cleverly highlighted, this is a difference which he finds a pain between two bodies of the same manufacturer.
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I find if I put the little things behind it is easier to handle much larger problems in my life.....
 
hark

hark

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pedroj said:
I find if I put the little things behind it is easier to handle much larger problems in my life.....
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Alan, having it not work consistently between 2 bodies can sometimes mean missing a shot. I make use of the +/- button when shooting a high school's theater productions (aperture priority to make quick aperture changes in low light conditions for DOF when the lighting allows). People should feel comfortable enough with their camera bodies so they can make setting changes without having to constantly look at what's been dialed in. My D90 is my backup body to my D600, and I've used my D90 a few times when necessary sometimes needing to use 2 different lenses in quick succession when changing lenses won't cut it.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, and while it may not be a biggie for you, it is for me. ;)
 
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JJM

Senior Member
In A Mode turning the real command dial to the left Increases exposure whilst in M Mode turning the rear command dial to the left Decreases exposure. Does this sound right? Can the two commands be reconciled? I am a novice so any advice would be appreciated.
 
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eurotrash

Senior Member
@ op: Yes that sounds correct.. As nickt says, "Turning the same wheel to the left increases exposure time."


I prefer my other dials reversed though. Why? Because right means "make the setting increase" and left means "make the setting decrease". As Spock would say, "It's only logical." I also reverse metering so that it matches up. I've never understood which direction the exposure compensation works. At least, on the fly. I always seem to take a few pictures to reassure myself what I'm doing. I think it's ridiculous I can't change the direction to match my reversed dials so that it's just an instantaneous, built in decision in my brain..
 
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JJM

Senior Member
If I turn the rear command dial to the left in M mode this increases exposure by adding more light, thus the graph pointer moves towards the + sign.
However, when I press the exposure button on the top this shows a different reading to the graph. Can anyone throw any light on this for me please?
 
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Englischdude

Senior Member
JJM said:
If I turn the rear command dial to the left in M mode this increases exposure by adding more light, thus the graph pointer moves towards the + sign.
However, when I press the exposure button on the top this shows a different reading to the graph. Can anyone throw any light on this for me please?
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you are confusing two separate functions. In M mode turning the rear wheel will adjust the SHUTTER SPEED which of course will effect the exposure. The exposure compensation button on the top of the camera is a separate adjustment for compensating exposure. Holding the exposure compensation button and turning the rear wheel will adjust the exposure also.
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
JJM said:
If I turn the rear command dial to the left in M mode this increases exposure by adding more light, thus the graph pointer moves towards the + sign.
However, when I press the exposure button on the top this shows a different reading to the graph. Can anyone throw any light on this for me please?
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On my D7100, when in Manual, the command-wheel adjusts shutter speed while the Exposure Compensation button/command-wheel combo adjusts ISO.

I assume the '7000 controls do the same.

...
 
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JJM

Senior Member
Many thanks to both. If I turn the rear command wheel to the left to 1/125 shutter speed and shows ZERO on the graph bar for instance and then press the exposure button on top and it shows - 0.3 what will happen? Will there be perfect exposure as shown by the zero on the graph or minus one stop as shown by the exposure button? I realise the exposure button setting stays constant until I alter EV by holding it down
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
JJM said:
Many thanks to both. If I turn the rear command wheel to the left to 1/125 shutter speed and shows ZERO on the graph bar for instance and then press the exposure button on top and it shows - 0.3 what will happen? Will there be perfect exposure as shown by the zero on the graph or minus one stop as shown by the exposure button? I realise the exposure button setting stays constant until I alter EV by holding it down
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Under those circumstances you've adjusted your shutter speed to give you the correct exposure based on the current ISO and aperture; that being 1/125 at, say for instance, ISO 200. Now you press the EC button and adjust it "one click" (-0.3 EV) which then adjusts the ISO to give you the -0.3EV underexposure you've just requested. This means you will take the shot at, as an example, ISO 180 instead of your dialed-in ISO of 200.

You adjust exposure in one of three ways: by changing the ISO, by changing the shutter speed or by changing the aperture. The Exposure Compensation button adjusts exposure by changing ISO, either up or down, to give you the requested EV.

...
 
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JJM

Senior Member
Many thanks HF, I shall have to study that one up as not crystal clear yet. I thought if I adjusted shutter speed to reach ZERO on the graph that was the "requested EV" If ISO is set to automatic would that disable the EV button?
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
JJM said:
Many thanks HF, I shall have to study that one up as not crystal clear yet. I thought if I adjusted shutter speed to reach ZERO on the graph that was the "requested EV" If ISO is set to automatic would that disable the EV button?
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In reading over your posts again I'm not *entirely* certain I'm understanding your question but I think I do...

I'm assuming you're still talking about having your camera in Manual Mode, because that makes a difference. In Manual, with Auto ISO enabled, you adjust shutter speed and aperture with the two command wheels. Auto-ISO will select the lowest possible ISO (within the range you have specified) that will also give proper exposure with the shutter speed and aperture you have selected. The meter at the bottom indicates how close you are to what the camera thinks is proper exposure based on all three settings (shutter speed, aperture and ISO).

If you use the Exposure Compensation button the Auto-ISO function will be over-ridden by this manual adjustment of yours to give you an exposure adjustment of up to three stops based on your input. The Auto-ISO function is always ready to work but if you choose to use the EC button, doing so will over ride the menu function. It makes sense if you think about it (or at least it does to me): You're telling the camera, "Hey, I'll handle the shutter speed and aperture so I have full creative control over things like motion blur (via shutter speed control) and depth of field (via aperture control); I just need you to make sure I get decent exposure no matter what those settings are." The camera does... UNTIL you say, in effect and by pressing the Exposure Compensation button, "I know I told you to handle the ISO portion of this but I need to compensate for some back lighting... Under expose these shots by one full stop (-1EV) until I say otherwise." And the camera will do so... By adjusting the ISO from what was needed for "correct" exposure to an ISO setting that will under expose by one full stop/1EV.

I hope that helps clarify...

...
 
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JJM

Senior Member
Many thanks for your patience HF. Yes I am trying to use the camera in Manual as I wish to get to know it and use it properly.
I see then that the graph is a guide and can be overridden by the EV button. Many of my images appear over exposed when I use the rear command dial to centre the graph so maybe I can keep the EV button showing - 0.3 to compensate?
 
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