M: Manual Exposure

In this mode, you set both the shutter speed and aperture value as desired. To determine the exposure, refer to the exposure level indicator in the viewfinder or use a commercially available exposure meter.

Manual exposure stands for Manual.

  1. Set the shooting mode to Manual exposure.

    • Press the MODE button and turn the Main Dial or Quick Control Dial dial to select Manual exposure.

  2. Set the ISO speed ().

  3. Set the shutter speed and aperture value.

    • To set the shutter speed (1), turn the Main Dial dial, and to set the aperture value (2), turn the Quick Control Dial dial.
    • If these settings cannot be set, set the power switch to Power on, then turn the Main Dial or Quick Control Dial dial.

  4. Focus on the subject.

    (1) Standard exposure index

    (2) Exposure level mark

    (3) Brighter (+)

    (4) Darker (−)

    • Press the shutter button halfway.
    • The exposure value is displayed in the viewfinder and on the top LCD panel.
    • To see how far the current exposure level Exposure level is from standard exposure Standard exposure, check the exposure level indicator at right in the viewfinder.

  5. Set the exposure and take the picture.

    • Check the exposure level indicator and set the desired shutter speed and aperture value.
    • Top end of the exposure level indicator or Bottom end of the exposure level indicator is shown at the ends of the exposure level indicator if the exposure level exceeds ±3 stops from standard exposure.

Exposure Compensation with ISO Auto

If the ISO speed is set to “A” (AUTO) for manual exposure shooting, you can set exposure compensation () as follows:

  • With [Exposure compensation (hold button, turn main dial): Expo comp (hold btn, turn Main Dial)] in [Custom Functions6: Custom Controls] ()
  • Quick Control screen

Caution

  • Exposure may not be as expected when ISO Auto is set, because the ISO speed is adjusted to ensure standard exposure for your specified shutter speed and aperture value. In this case, set the exposure compensation.
  • Exposure compensation is not applied in flash photography with ISO Auto, even if you have set an exposure compensation amount.

Note

  • In Manual exposure mode with ISO Auto, Evaluative metering (Evaluative metering), and [Custom Functions2: AE lock meter. mode after focus] set to the default setting (), holding down the shutter button halfway will lock the ISO speed after focus is achieved with One-Shot AF.
  • When ISO Auto is set, you can press the AE Lock button to lock the ISO speed.
  • If you press the AE Lock button and recompose the shot, you can see the exposure level difference on the exposure level indicator compared to when the AE Lock button was pressed.
  • Any existing exposure compensation amount is maintained if you switch to Manual exposure mode with ISO Auto after using exposure compensation in Program AE, Shutter priority AE, or Aperture priority AE mode ().
  • To coordinate exposure compensation in ½-stop increments with ISO speed set in ⅓-stop increments when [Custom Functions1: Exposure level increments] is set to [½-stop, Exp comp ½-stop] and used with ISO Auto, exposure compensation is further adjusted by adjusting shutter speed. However, the shutter speed displayed will not change.