hi, got a new camera with the capability of "bracketing". Good thing - but: the manual tells me I´m able to bracket the exposure in the range of minus 5 EV - plus 5 EV, in steps of 0,3 EV.

How do I compare/combine EV with F and exposure? Hard to explain I guess....but "how much" is for instance 0,3 EV?

Found this list today. GREAT stuff. Per Vangkilde, Denmark

-- Per Vangkilde (pervangkilde@hotmail.com), January 09, 2001

Answers

EV stands for Esposure Value......Your camera lets you over expose or under expose up to either 0.5 or 5.0....Now if the camera is set on auto bracketing(for example) it will shoot three frames: 1st one - 5,2nd one normal, 3rd one +5 (this is the sequence I use, there is the same sequence for 2 frame bracketing as well. 1st -5, 2nd 0)....... Otherwise, you have to set this sequence manually.

Bracketing is great for figuring out which exposure works the best for a certain situation. I would go out and shoot a few setting with the three or two frame bracketing and see the results.

As per ev 0,3..that would mean you are over and under exposing 0,3...i.e +0,3 0 -0,3

Hope this helps....

-- Nauman Saghir (nsaghir@hotmail.com), January 09, 2001.

Experts feel free to correct me if I'm wrong! You certainly won't hurt feelings on this end (I'm still learning)! :-)

As Nauman stated, your camera is capable of adjusting -5 EV to +5 EV in deviation from what your camera's meter is telling you. You can "override" your camera's meter setting through exposure compensation.

Because your camera's meter wants to meter for 18% grey, certain situations could come out wrongly exposed. For example, if you were to photograph snow, your camera's meter would meter the scene as excessively bright and it would choose to underexpose. What you get is grey snow. By using exposure compensation, you can tell the camera to expose more or less than what the meter is saying. In the case of snow, you would want it to expose longer so that the snow would turn white instead of grey. You would use + EV exposure compensation (more exposure).

Bracketing is a method of employing multiple exposure settings to a difficult metering scene. You would methodically set the camera (via exposure compensation) to fire off several shots, adjusting the EV of the scene. A lot of people like to use 3 shots for bracketing (one underexposed, one normal and one overexposed). When they get their shots back, they can pick the one that looks the best. If you take notes, it can be a great learning experience for the next time you run into the same type of scene. I just got done blowing through a roll of film bracketing 4 different scenes of Christmas lights on the exterior of homes. I have found that with ISO 100 speed film, 1s @ f/5.6 comes out very nicely.

You mention "in steps of 0,3 EV". This means when you use exposure compensation (for a single shot and/or bracketing), the smallest amount of change you can select is 1/3 EV steps. You can select (- /+) 1/3 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV and so on.

I have been told that a 1 EV change is the equivilent of opening/closing a stop. I am not 100% positive if this is the case or not. Can anyone offer comment on this?

Johnny

-- Johnny Motown (johnny.motown@att.net), January 09, 2001.

EV, exposure value, combines shutter speed and f/ into a single number like you'd read on a meter. Some meters read EV directly, some don't. As an example, EV13 would be 1/125 @ f/8. It could also be 1/250 @ f/5.6, or any other equivalent combination. The EV system increments in one stop intervals, so EV14 is 1/125 @ f/11 (or any other equivalent). As the number increases, the exposure is reduced- on a brighter day you set a higher number. Some cameras mechanically tied the shutter speed ring and the aperture ring together so you could set an EV number, then rotate both at the same time without changing the exposure. People seem to either love or hate this arrangement- not much middle ground for some reason. To the best of my knowledge, the EV system isn't used much these days, though I'm quite fond of it.

-- Conrad Hoffman (choffman@rpa.net), January 09, 2001.

Johnny, don't be so bashful or modest. You're absolutely bang on with your explanation.
To all intents and purposes, a change of one Exposure Value can be thougth of as a change of one stop, which in turn either doubles or halves the amount of light falling on the film.
EVs are not to be confused with LVs, which, as everyone knows, are Luncheon Vouchers. (Joke!)

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), January 10, 2001.

Hello again, thx a lot - all of you. Amazing. 4 answers within 24 hours. They all helped me a lot.

Now I got sufficient information to start using my new camera´s EV and bracketing capability.

Just wanna let you know that I appreaciate the time you took to write your responses to my question.

regards Per

-- Per Vangkilde (pervangkilde@hotmail.com), January 11, 2001.