Manual focus and auto exposure

I understand that with the Elan ll the auto focus locks in with the

auto exposure. My question is that when you switch to manuel focus

what happens with the auto exposure? Where is the reading taken from.

David: The camera is still metering the scene when in manual mode, and

it is metering with whatever metering pattern you're telling it to

use, such as evaluative or spot. Unlike the EOS 1n or EOS 3, the Elan

or A2 (in manual mode) does not offer an exposure scale, but only a

more "crude" indication of what the camera's meter thinks about the

shutter speed and aperture you've chosen (I'm not too familiar with

the Elan II, but it's probably similar to the above mentioned earlier

bodies). That is, its graphic display of the metering info (check

your owner's manual) will (probably) only tell you one of three

things: under exposure (indicated by an arrow pointing left);

"correct" exposure (indicated by both L and R arrows being lit

simultaneously); or overexposure (the R arrow is lit).

However, the camera's display will not tell you how much over

or under exposed it thinks you are! (To determine this, see my

crude explanation below...) Suppose you point the camera at a given

scene, set the camera to manual mode, choose an aperture and shutter

speed, and then press the shutter button half way, metering the scene

in evaluative (or whichever) metering mode. The camera's graphic

display will indicate one of the above mention scenarios (-; -/+; or

+). If it shows either under or over exposure (rather than what it

THINKS is the "correct" exposure), then you are now faced with the

question of just how many stops are you over or under exposed (the EOS

1n or EOS 3 displays this info more clearly using an exposure scale).

To determine this, first know if the camera's custom function here is

set to 1/2 stop or 1 stop increments for varying aperture and shutter

speeds. Let's assume it's set for 1/2 stop increments. Next, pick

either shutter speed OR aperture (not both at this point), and begin

changing that value by 1/2 stops (in whichever direction is required)

until the graphic display shows +/-. At this point, by clicking the

wheel (AND COUNTING THOSE CLICKS) in either the under or over exposed

direction, you now know (by counting) how many stops you are off from

what the camera believes the correct exposure is. Depending on the

circumstances, you may wish to arrive at the correct exposure by

changing the aperture (depth of field) or the shutter speed, while

holding the other constant. As you know, you could even monkey with

both shutter speed and aperture (manually "shifting the program")

while keeping the exposure "correct". So now let's suppose you've

obtained correct exposure (+/- is indicated in the viewfinder), but

you are shooting slide film and like to underexpose by -1/2 stop to

increase color saturation. Yep, you guessed it--you can click either

the aperture or shutter speed wheels or dials one click in the (-)

direction, and the graphic display should now (assuming constant

conditions) display an arrow pointing to the left. You now know that

this left pointing arrow is in fact indicating only 1/2 stop

underexposure, don't you?

David, Kurt gave you a beautiful response, but did not respond to

your question I don't believe. you are not selecting manual mode, but

manual focus via the lens. all metering modes remain available, user

selectable, and the central sensor is used in evaluative metering

mode. in manual focusing mode, focus, lock exposure as normal using

the AE lock button, recompose, and release the shutter. hopefully,

light finds its way to the film, energy is exchanged, and you are

pleased.