Exposure refers to the amount of light entering the camera when capturing an image. The quantity of incoming light is determined by aperture size and shutter speed, while image brightness depends on these parameters together with ISO sensitivity.

Auto‑Exposure (AE) activates under auto shooting mode as well as P/A/S modes. The camera evaluates optimal exposure and configures aperture, shutter speed and ISO sensitivity accordingly. With the AE function, you can take images at the brightness level automatically deemed appropriate by the camera.

Nevertheless, under certain conditions, the brightness calculated by the camera may differ from your expected result. Take an image captured via AE as an example: exposure is referenced to the mid‑tone between bright clouds and shadowed buildings. If you intend to emphasize towering clouds, a darker image may deliver better effects. Conversely, a brighter output is preferable when you wish to render building details more clearly.

This is where exposure compensation comes into play.

Exposure compensation adjusts the camera‑computed baseline exposure to match your desired brightness. As illustrated above, ideal image brightness varies with scenes and personal preferences. Shift the setting toward the “+” side for brighter visuals, or toward the “‑” side for darker visuals.

With digital cameras, you can preview captured results on‑site. Adjust exposure compensation iteratively to achieve your target brightness.