Exposure
Choosing a Shooting Mode
Use the mode selector to choose the shooting mode.
| Mode | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| AUTO (b) | Auto (0 Taking Photographs (b Mode), Recording Videos (b Mode)) | A simple “point-and-shoot” mode that leaves the camera in charge of settings. |
| P | Programmed auto (0 P (Programmed Auto)) | Use for snapshots and in other situations in which there is little time to adjust camera settings. The camera chooses both shutter speed and aperture automatically. |
| S | Shutter-priority auto (0 S (Shutter-Priority Auto)) | Use to freeze or blur motion. You choose the shutter speed; the camera adjusts aperture automatically. |
| A | Aperture-priority auto (0 A (Aperture-Priority Auto)) | Use to blur backgrounds or bring both foreground and background into focus. You choose the aperture; the camera adjusts shutter speed automatically. |
| M | Manual (0 M (Manual)) | You control both shutter speed and aperture. Choose a shutter speed of “Bulb” or “Time” for long time-exposures. |
P (Programmed Auto )
In this mode, the camera automatically adjusts shutter speed and aperture according to a built-in program to ensure optimal exposure in most situations.
Different combinations of shutter speed and aperture that produce the same exposure can be selected by rotating the main command dial (“
flexible program ”).- While flexible program is in effect, a flexible program indicator (U) is displayed.
- To restore default shutter speed and aperture settings, rotate the main command dial until the indicator is no longer displayed. Flexible program can also be ended by choosing another mode or turning the camera off.
S (Shutter-Priority Auto )
In shutter-priority auto, you choose the
Rotate the
shutter speed dial to choose a shutter speed.
To select X or T, or to choose another setting after selecting 1/3 STEP, X, T, or B, hold the
shutter speed dial lock release while rotating the dial.
- ¹⁄₈₀₀₀ – ¹⁄₂ s
- 1 – 4 s (red)
- X (flash sync; 0 e1: Flash Sync Speed)
- 1/3 STEP (¹⁄₃ EV steps)
- When [Electronic front-curtain shutter] is selected for Custom Setting d5 [Shutter type], rotating the shutter speed dial to ¹⁄₈₀₀₀ or ¹⁄₄₀₀₀ sets shutter speed to ¹⁄₂₀₀₀ s.
- Long bulb or time exposures are not available in mode S even when the shutter speed dial is rotated to B (“Bulb”) or T (“Time”). Select mode M for long exposures.
To choose the shutter speed using touch controls or the main command dial, rotate the shutter speed dial to 1/3 STEP. Shutter speed can be set to [X] or to values between ¹⁄₈₀₀₀ s and 30 s in increments of ¹⁄₃ EV.
A (Aperture-Priority Auto )
In aperture-priority auto, you choose the
- Aperture can be adjusted by rotating the sub-command dial.
- The minimum and maximum values for aperture vary with the lens.
M (Manual )
You control both
- Shutter speed and aperture can be adjusted with reference to the exposure indicators.
- Rotate the
shutter speed dial to choose a shutter speed.
To select X or T, or to choose another setting after selecting 1/3 STEP, X, T, or B, hold the
shutter speed dial lock release while rotating the dial.
- ¹⁄₈₀₀₀ – ¹⁄₂ s
- 1 – 4 s (red)
- B (“Bulb”; 0 Long Time-Exposures (Mode M Only))
- T (“Time”; 0 Long Time-Exposures (Mode M Only))
- X (flash sync; 0 e1: Flash Sync Speed)
- 1/3 STEP (¹⁄₃ EV steps)
- When [Electronic front-curtain shutter] is selected for Custom Setting d5 [Shutter type], rotating the shutter speed dial to ¹⁄₈₀₀₀ or ¹⁄₄₀₀₀ sets shutter speed to ¹⁄₂₀₀₀ s.
To choose the shutter speed using touch controls or the main command dial, rotate the shutter speed dial to 1/3 STEP. Shutter speed can be set to X, Bulb, or Time, or to values between ¹⁄₈₀₀₀ s and 30 s in increments of ¹⁄₃ EV.
- Aperture can be adjusted by rotating the sub-command dial.
- The minimum and maximum values for aperture vary with the lens.
The exposure indicators in the monitor and viewfinder show whether the photograph would be under- or over-exposed at current settings. The exposure indicators can be read as follows:
| Display | Optimal exposure | Underexposed by 1/3 EV | Overexposed by over 3 1/3 EV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monitor |  |
 |
 |
| Viewfinder |  |
 |
 |
The orientation of the exposure indicators can be reversed using Custom Setting f8 [Reverse indicators].
The displays will flash if the selected settings exceed the limits of the exposure metering system.
For shutter speeds as slow as 900 s (15 minutes), select [ON] for Custom Setting d6 [Extended shutter speeds (M)] and choose the desired shutter speed after rotating the shutter speed dial to 1/3 STEP.
At speeds slower than 1 s, the shutter speed displayed by the camera may differ from the actual exposure time. The actual exposure times at shutter speeds of 15 and 30 seconds, for example, are respectively 16 and 32 seconds. The exposure time will again match the selected shutter speed at speeds of 60 seconds and slower.
Auto ISO Sensitivity Control (Mode M)
If auto ISO sensitivity control (0 Auto ISO Sensitivity Control) is enabled, ISO sensitivity will automatically be adjusted for optimal exposure at the selected shutter speed and aperture.
Long Time-Exposures (Mode M Only)
The camera offers two options for long time-exposures: “
A 35-second exposure shot at a shutter speed of “Bulb” and an aperture of f/25
| Shutter speed | Description |
|---|---|
| Bulb | The shutter remains open while the shutter-release button is held down. |
| Time | The exposure starts when the shutter-release button is pressed and ends when the button is pressed a second time. |
Keep the camera steady, for example by using a tripod.
Rotate the mode selector to M.
Rotate the shutter speed dial to choose a shutter speed of B (“Bulb”) or
T (“Time”).
Bulb
Time
- If the shutter speed dial is currently set to 1/3 STEP, you can instead select a shutter speed of Bulb or Time using the main command dial.
- Note that the exposure indicators are not displayed.
Focus and start the exposure.
- “Bulb”: Press the shutter-release button all the way down to start the exposure. Keep the shutter-release button pressed during the exposure.
- “Time”: Press the shutter-release button all the way down to start the exposure.
End the exposure.
- “Bulb”: Lift your finger from the shutter-release button.
- “Time”: Press the shutter-release button all the way down a second time.
- Note that “noise” (bright spots, randomly-spaced bright pixels or fog) may be present in long exposures.
- Bright spots and fog can be reduced by choosing [ON] for [Long exposure NR] in the photo shooting menu.
We recommend using one of the following power sources to prevent loss of power during long exposures:
- A fully-charged battery
- An optional EH‑7P charging AC adapter
- An optional EH-8P AC adapter connected using the supplied UC‑E25 USB cable (featuring Type C connectors at both ends)
- Use of a tripod is recommended to prevent blur caused by camera shake.
- Note that optional ML‑L7 remote controls function in “Time” mode even when “Bulb” is selected.
Autoexposure (AE) Lock
Use autoexposure lock to lock exposure, preventing the camera adjusting exposure automatically.
- Exposure is locked by pressing the A (g) button.
- Keeping the A (g) button pressed locks exposure, preventing it changing in response to changes in composition or subject brightness.
- An AE-L icon will appear in the shooting display.
- If autofocus is enabled, press the shutter-release button halfway to focus before pressing the A (g) button. This locks both focus and exposure.
- Keeping the A (g) button pressed, recompose the photograph and shoot.
Locking Exposure with the Shutter-Release Button
If [On (half press)] is selected for Custom Setting c1 [Shutter-release button AE-L], exposure will lock while the shutter-release button is pressed halfway.
- With [Spot metering], exposure will be locked at the value metered in a circle centered on the current focus point.
- With [Center-weighted metering], exposure will be locked at a value weighted toward a 12-mm circle in the center of the display.
Adjusting Shutter Speed and Aperture
The following settings can be adjusted while the A (g) button is pressed:
| Mode | Setting |
|---|---|
| P | Shutter speed and aperture (flexible program; 0 P (Programmed Auto)) |
| S | Shutter speed |
| A | Aperture |
- The new values can be confirmed in the shooting display and control panel.
Exposure Compensation
Exposure compensation is used to alter exposure from the value suggested by the camera. It can be used to make pictures brighter or darker.
−1 EV
No exposure compensation
+1 EV
Choosing a Value Using the Exposure Compensation Dial
Rotate the exposure compensation dial to the desired setting.
- Exposure can be adjusted in the range +3 to –3 EV in steps of ¹⁄₃ EV.
- Higher values make the subject brighter, lower values darker.
- Normal exposure can be restored by rotating the exposure compensation dial to 0.
A E icon (and, in photo mode, exposure indicators; 0 Exposure Indicators) will appear in the shooting display. The current value for exposure compensation can be viewed in the information display (photo mode only) and i menu. To view exposure compensation in the i menu, assign [Exposure compensation] to the i menu using Custom Setting f1 or g1 [Customize i menu] (0 Customizing the i Menu).
Monitor
Viewfinder
Other Methods
When the exposure compensation dial is rotated to C, exposure compensation can be adjusted in the range +5 to –5 EV (or in video mode, +3 to –3 EV) using:
- the command dials (enabled via Custom Setting b2 [Easy exposure compensation]),
- the i menu,
- touch controls (self-portrait mode only; 0 Self-Portrait Mode), or
- custom controls (0 f2: Custom Controls (Shooting), g2: Custom Controls）
- In mode M, exposure compensation affects only the exposure indicator; shutter speed, aperture, and ISO sensitivity do not change. Actual exposure does not change.
- When auto ISO sensitivity control (0 Auto ISO Sensitivity Control) is in effect, ISO sensitivity is automatically adjusted according to the value selected for exposure compensation, changing overall exposure.
When an optional flash is used, exposure compensation affects both flash level and exposure, altering the brightness of both the main subject and the background; if desired, the effect can be restricted to the background using Custom Setting e3 [Exposure comp. for flash].