GH13 Exposure Compensation meter in full Manual Mode--should it be moving?

S

sean90291

Veteran
For a couple weeks, I've been shooting in full manual movie mode with Nikon lenses. Today, I made some changes to the camera menus, and I've just noticed that the Exposure Compensation meter (the meter in the bottom-middle of the LCD that reads -3 to 3) is fluctuating according to light levels--so, for example, when I point the camera at something brighter, the Exposure compensation meter shifts to the right, just like the histogram does. Thing is, I don't remember this meter moving before in full manual mode--I would only notice that the histogram responds to light changes, not this Exposure Compensation meter.

But maybe I've only just noticed it for the first time. My concern is only that I've turned something "on" and can't figure out what. Because I certainly don't want "exposure compensation" in my shooting. It doesn't appear to be doing anything to the recorded image that I can see. I'm hoping that the Exposure Comp meter was always fluctuating and I never noticed it. Can anyone confirm whether their Exposure Comp meter is active while shooting movies in full manual Creative Movie mode? Thanks.
 
in manual movie mode you can switch between m,s,a and p mode in the menu. If you choose m it's like you described. if you use s for example you can set an exposure compensation.
 
You probably had the Exposure Mode set to P while in the Creative movie mode. The meter is steady on zero with P. Move it to M and the meter will register.
 
Yes, the meter should move in Creative Movie full manual. In full manual, it is no longer an exposure compensation meter, it is simply an exposure meter, telling you how over or underexposed the shot will probably be. If you turn on the histogram you'll see it move as well. I actually find that meter extremely helpful, especially when shooting off the LCD, as it can trick you into thinking something is exposed differently than it actually is.
 
Related Qeustion,

What is "exposure compensation?" Is it like gain? If so, how could you adjust it in Creative Movie Manual mode when it's functioning like and exposure meter?
 
radicalkat said:
Related Qeustion,

What is "exposure compensation?" Is it like gain? If so, how could you adjust it in Creative Movie Manual mode when it's functioning like and exposure meter?
Click to expand...

Exposure compensation is used only in Program, Shutter Priority, and Aperture Priority. It is the way the camera meters the automatic exposure. So if you turn the exposure compensation down by 1 stop, it will make the image 1 stop darker than it thinks the image should actually be exposed. It is not gain, ISO is gain. In full manual, whether Creative Movie or not, the exposure compensation adjustment does not apply, since the camera isn't doing anything automatically. Since full manual requires none, it turns into a meter to help you manually adjust exposure.
 
CColton said:
Yes, the meter should move in Creative Movie full manual. In full manual, it is no longer an exposure compensation meter, it is simply an exposure meter, telling you how over or underexposed the shot will probably be. If you turn on the histogram you'll see it move as well. I actually find that meter extremely helpful, especially when shooting off the LCD, as it can trick you into thinking something is exposed differently than it actually is.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the clarification. I thought this is what was going on. Guess I just never noticed the meter fluttering about before in Creative Movie mode, but it was probably doing it the whole time. Good to know it's not affecting my image!
 
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