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 or use a commercially available exposure meter.

M stands for Manual.

  1. Set the Mode dial to M.

  2. Set the ISO speed ().

    • Press the / button to set it.
    • With ISO Auto, you can set exposure compensation ().
  3. Set the desired shutter speed.

    • Turn the Dial dial to set it.
  4. Set the desired aperture value.

    • Press the Up key key to select the aperture value, then turn the Dial dial to set a value.
  5. Focus on the subject.

    (1) Standard exposure index

    (2) Exposure level mark

    • Press the shutter button halfway.
    • Check the exposure level mark [] to see how far the current exposure level is from the standard exposure level.
  6. Set the exposure and take the picture.

    • Check the exposure level indicator and set the desired shutter speed and aperture value.
    • [Left key] or [Right key] appears at the ends of the exposure level indicator if the level exceeds ±3 stops from standard exposure.

Exposure Compensation with ISO Auto

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

  • [Shooting: Expo.comp./AEB]
  • Turn the control ring while pressing the shutter button halfway ()

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

  • To enable Auto Lighting Optimizer to be specified in M mode as well, clear the [Check] mark for [Disable during man expo] in [Shooting: Auto Lighting Optimizer] ().
  • 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.