FM3a exposition compensation dial in manual mode

[zmrzlina]

I have a question, for what I could not find an answer in the product

manual of the FM3a.

I take photos on slide film, so correct exposure is a must. I would

like to use exposition compensation (the dial) on the body in manual

mode. Is it possible? I know that in 'A' mode it is OK to use this

feature, but how about manual mode, when I chose both aperture and

time manually?

(Eg.: I have an incident light meter, which tells me to use aperture

setting f/5.6 plus 2/3rd (near f/8) for a certain time setting. I set

aperture of f/5.6 on the lens. If I use the exposition compensation

dial, and set on minus 2/3rd, would it work to get the correct

exposition the light meter advised?)

Thanks,

Krisz

[mskovacs]

The exposure compensation will work fine in manual mode. However, on the FM3A, it is far better just to take advantage of the excellent match needle metering readback. Just set exposure to place the meter needle above or below the shutter speed however many stops you wish. Its that easy.

 

On to your example: I think you are confused. Doing what you suggest by adding -2/3 exposure compensation will indeed center the needle over the shutter speed at f/5.6, but you will be using the wrong exposure!

 

What you want to do is to set +2/3, pick the closest shutter speed and use the aperture to center the meter needle over the shutter speed needle. What you don't realize is that the aperture works in continuous stops: you can pick any inbetween settings you want on the aperture. Try this for yourself: you will see the meter needle move when you are inbetween click stops.

 

Honestly, exposure compensation is best left for the times when you are shooting in A mode. I quite often set to +1 in A mode on my F3HP and meter off the palm of my hand (+1 over neutral tonality).

[richard_cochran]

In answer to your last question, no, the exposure compensation

won't change the aperture or shutter speed when in manual mode.

The only thing it will change is the position of the meter needle.

If you're using an external meter, the FM3A's

exposure compensation dial is useless. It only affects the

FM3A's internal meter. To get f5.6 plus 2/3s, just

move the aperture ring to a setting 2/3s of the way between

f5.6 and f8.

<p>

If you want to use the exposure compensation in manual mode,

after setting the exposure compensation dial, you can then manually

turn the shutter speed dial and/or aperture ring to match

the meter needle directly over the shutter speed needle. You

will have the exposure indicated by your meter with the compensation

accounted for. As has been said, when in manual mode on the

FM3A, it's probably easier to just visually line up the

meter needle above or below the shutter speed needle,

instead of using exposure compensation.

[ed_alban]

If you're using a handheld meter, you don't need exposure compensation dialled in. The dial on your camera does not communicate with the handheld meter. The fastest and most efficient method without incurring significant exposure errors is to set your shutter speed and aperture as indicated on the handheld meter and if there is any increment, twist the aperture ring in the right direction to approximate the increment just enough. In other words, visually approximate 2/3 between f/5.6 and f/8. You even said "near f/8". That would be good enough even for slide film.

 

And as implied above, the exposure compensation does not automatically change your shutter speed in MANUAL mode, as it does on AUTO. Centering the needle in manual mode with the exp. comp. dialled in only makes sense if you're relying on the camera's built-in meter. If you want to follow the handheld, centering does not make sense, unless the in-camera meter agrees with the handheld reading.

[zmrzlina]

Thank you for your help. This cleared up some things for me.

Cheers, Krisz

[gordon_checknita]

I have not used the FM3A, but on the Nikon FG, FE2 and FA the exposure compensation dial will affect TTL flash exposure but not the ambient light exposure in manual mode. Handy for outdoor flash fill. Perhaps the FM3A shares this feature?