What is exposure compensation?

Exposure compensation basically helps you override automatic exposure adjustments your camera makes in situations with uneven light distribution, filters, non-standard processing, or underexposure or overexposure. It lets you take control of your image’s brightness by manually increasing or decreasing exposure.

Exposure compensation works differently depending on your camera mode.

Aperture priority mode. Here you manually set your aperture, while the camera automatically sets a shutter speed. Exposure compensation in this mode works by changing the shutter speed to get the right exposure.

Shutter priority mode. Essentially the opposite of aperture priority mode, you manually set the shutter speed while the camera automaticlally sets the aperture. Exposure compensation the works by changing the aperture to the right exposure.

Program mode: This allows you to manually set both your aperture and shutter speed. Here, exposure compensation works by changing your shutter speed.