jack_li4 Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 <p>Hi everyone,</p> <p>I'm a new Leica user and was wondering about how exactly is the exposure compensation dial used? And also, in AUTO mode, it seems that exposure is compensated correctly, but in Manual mode, its the opposite way around where exposing +1 stops would translate to -1 on the dial (as if it meant -1 stops on shutter speed?) Also, if you could change shutter/aperture settings to change exposure, whats the exposure compensation dial used for? Lastly, on my dial, going from 0 to +2 stops only has three clicks and same going towards -2. Shouldn't it click at every single 1/3 stop?</p> <p>Thanks,<br> Jack</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wai_leong_lee Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 Just turn the dial according to the compensation you want. +1 to have one stop more than the film speed, etc. There's no difference in auto or manual mode. Only that in manual mode, you can choose to ignore the meter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex_Es Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 <p>Jack, Wai-Leong Lee is right on money as far as using the dial goes. I never use it because it is a pain in the neck. It is easier to use exposure lock by pressing the shutter release button half-way.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galileo42 Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 <p>Leica have really badly implemented the exp. compensation system. Having to remove the camera from your eye and fiddle with the little dial down there is not coherent with a camera meant for quick street-shooting style. And it's worse in the M8. But I guess it goes with keeping it all small and plain. I never use it, either. If you think you're gonna need lots of exp.comp. (contrasty scenes, vast areas of dark or light background, snow, beach, backlighting, interiors with artificial lighting...) either use A and lock you exposure on some «medium grey area» before re-composing, or use manual and dial in + or - stops.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_bud Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 <p>I only use the exposure lock feature metering as already Posted on a neutral gray area. Works great!-Dick</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilambrose Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 <p>Shoot manual. Then it's just a click of the shutter speed dial or aperture ring to compensate and you need never move the eye from the viewfinder. Much easier, much faster, achieves the exact same thing.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uhooru Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 <p>I use it sometimes with flash, as generally speaking, close in flash has to be dialed down a bit. I'll use ttl flash and dial down ev to where I think it needs to go. Works pretty good.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack_li4 Posted January 5, 2009 Author Share Posted January 5, 2009 <p>I almost never use the exposure compensation as it is pretty difficult to use and sometimes ill forget about it on the next couple shots and realize i have it compensated. However, I want to learn more about my new camera, it seems really hard to find information on Leicas vs Canon/Nikon(my previous system). Is the dial supposed to click into every single 1/3 stop cuz its clicking in three times from 0 to +/-2 and it doesnt completely hold correctly on the dials, making it kinda inaccurate. Also, Wai-Leong Lee, you said that auto or manual, it should be the same things. However, in AUTO it works as it would on any other camera, but in Manual mode, lets say my viewfinder is telling me the picture is going to be underexposed (>0) so I would add +1 stops to it but it would read that its even more underexposed. Whereas going towards -1, it would become correctly exposed. Has anyone noticed that or am I reading something wrong? </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wai_leong_lee Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 I don't see the leica m7 exp comp dial as much worse than other rangefinders. Eg on the mamiya 6/7, it's located on the shutter speed dial so you also have to take it away from your face to do the compensation. Of course the minimal nature of the m7 does not allow it to have a dial on the top deck for exp comp and show the exp comp in the veiwfinder. If you're looking for a feature like that you should buy a Canon or Nikon. As others have said compensation can be done by holding down the shutter button and turning the aperture ring as appropriate. That's the rangefinder way for on-the-fly compensation. The m7 exp compensation dial is more for permanent compensation, eg to overexpose an entire roll by one stop. This can be done for negs to give better shadow detail as most manufacturers are quite optimistic on their film speeds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wai_leong_lee Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 <p>By the way, the M7 exp compensation dial is not for flash compensation. That's what the flash compensation control on your flash is for.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack_li4 Posted January 6, 2009 Author Share Posted January 6, 2009 <p>thanks for all the help!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ray . Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 <p>I set exposure comp -2/3 stop for sunny scenes, and even for softer lighting, and generally leave it there. How you set it can depend on what kind of look you like or what's a bigger issue to you- keeping highlights in control or maintaining shadow detail. I never use anything but AE, manual compensation for pics that need it is done by pointing at the area I want to meter and then holding the shutter AE lock, then frame and shoot.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phc1 Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 <p>I would view the compensation dial as a means to push or pull a whole roll if you're relying on the DX detection. In other words put in a roll of Tri-X, the camera says it's 400asa. Turn the dial to "+2" and you're exposing it at 1600asa, or "pushing" it by 2 stops. Then compensate with the dev time.<br> If you want to control frame to frame, use manual metering mode.<br> Cheers, Paul.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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