topic Re: EOS R exposure compensation with auto ISO in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

EOS R exposure compensation with auto ISO

BryanShaw1 — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 13:40:59 GMT

Hi,

I like to shoot in manual mode but with auto ISO. Can anyone tell me if it is possible to customise a control to enable exposure compensation. I have seen a video on this for the RP but I cannot find how to do it on the R. Grateful for any help.

Re: EOS R exposure compensation

Waddizzle — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 19:24:25 GMT

In DSLRs you could program them [SET] button for exposure compensation. I would expect it to work the same way in the MILC bodies. Remember, it only works in M mode when ISO is set to Auto.

Re: EOS R exposure compensation

BryanShaw1 — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 19:35:07 GMT

Thanks, but my question relates specifically to the EOS R.

Re: EOS R exposure compensation

Waddizzle — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 21:53:43 GMT

@BryanShaw1 wrote:
Thanks, but my question relates specifically to the EOS R.

I suggest that you go into the Custom Controls menu of your EOS R and program your [SET] button for Exposure Compensation.

Re: EOS R exposure compensation

amfoto1 — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 23:56:05 GMT

I don't have an EOS R, but I do have a copy of the manual for it that I downloaded from the support area of the Canon website. They tell you how to set exposure compensation when shooting M + Auto ISO on page 139 of that manual.

Exposure Compensation with ISO Auto

If the ISO speed is set to [AUTO] for manual exposure shooting, you can set exposure compensation (p. 154) as follows:

Touch the exposure level indicator
[camera setting page 3] Expo.comp./AEB]
Quick Control screen

! If ISO Auto is set, the ISO speed setting will change to obtain the standard exposure with the set shutter speed and aperture. Therefore, you may not obtain the desired exposure effect. In such a case, set the exposure compensation.

With the camera set to the [M] mode + ISO Auto + Evaluative Metering and [camera setting page 2] Meter, mode, AE locked after focus] set to the default setting (p.548), holding down the shutter button halfway will lock the ISO speed after focus is ach8ieved with One-Shot AF.
When ISO Auto is set, you can press the AE Lock button, to lock the ISO speed.
To compare the current exposure to the exposure when you pressed the AE Lock button initially with a manually set ISO speed, press the AE Lock button, recompose the shot, and check the exposure level indicator.
With ISO Auto set and [camera setting page 1: Exposure level increments] set to [1/2-stop], any 1/2-stop exposure compensation will be implemented with the ISO speed (1/3 stop) and shutter speed. However, the shutter speed displayed will not change.

I hope all this makes sense to you. It doesn't make much sense to me! 😁

By the way, M + Auto ISO is actually another auto exposure mode. It's no longer "manual", even though the camera is set to "M". The camera is taking over the job of determining and setting what it thinks is a correct exposure. Exposure compensation is used to override it and take back a bit of your control.

***********

Alan Myers
San Jose, Calif., USA
"Walk softly and carry a big lens."
GEAR: 5DII, 7DII (x2), 7D(x2), EOS M5, some other cameras, various lenses & accessories
FLICKR

Re: EOS R exposure compensation

Waddizzle — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 15:19:30 GMT

“ By the way, M + Auto ISO is actually another auto exposure mode. It's no longer "manual", even though the camera is set to "M". The camera is taking over the job of determining and setting what it thinks is a correct exposure. Exposure compensation is used to override it and take back a bit of your control. “

I agree. I think of M Mode with ISO Auto as Ev mode, Exposure Priority. It is a mode of operation that has been missing from Canon DSLR bodies for years.

For maximum flexibility, the camera should be allowed to control any one, any two, or all three legs of the Exposure Triangle. Canon’s early DSLRs did not allow you to set the camera to control only ISO.

By the 2010s, DSLRs were being released that permitted you use ISO Auto in Manual mode. Initially, there was no Exposure Compensation control, but it was later added.

[EDIT] The end result is that you can use the Main Dial to control Tv, the rear dial to control Av, and by holding [SET] and turning the Main Dial you can control Ev by varying the ISO.

Re: EOS R exposure compensation

BryanShaw1 — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 15:52:00 GMT

I appreciate all your comments but is there an R owner out there who can fix my problem?

I can adjust the exposure with my finger on the LCD screen but I cannot see a way of doing it through the viewfinder.

Re: EOS R exposure compensation

HollowEarth — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 13:10:54 GMT

Hi Bryan, Like you, I would appreciate a simple answer to this. I've tried and failed to set this up myself.

Re: EOS R exposure compensation

Waddizzle — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 17:33:52 GMT

The question has been answered. Program the [Set] button to do it.

If you don’t know how to configure Custom Controls, then that’s a different problem.

—————————————

Here’s a jump start on how to customize the control buttons and dials. Press the Quick Control Button, [Q]. Select the camera icon. This opens the menu to customize buttons.

Re: EOS R exposure compensation with auto ISO

p4pictures — Sun, 02 Feb 2025 15:16:30 GMT

There are two methods to change exposure compensation on the EOS R camera.

Use a custom button - SET / AF-ON / AE-Lock can all be configured so that when pressed and held, the main dial is used to change the exposure compensation value
If using RF lenses with the control ring, or the EF to EOS R control ring mount adapter, you can configure the control ring to change exposure compensation. It can be set to do this either at any time, or only while the shutter is half-pressed to avoid accidental changes.

Check the camera manual section on customise buttons and customise dials to see the details.

Re: EOS R exposure compensation with auto ISO

HollowEarth — Sun, 02 Feb 2025 15:18:20 GMT

Thank you.

Re: EOS R exposure compensation

HollowEarth — Sun, 02 Feb 2025 15:18:31 GMT

Thank you.

Re: EOS R exposure compensation with auto ISO

HollowEarth — Sun, 02 Feb 2025 16:08:51 GMT

Thanks again for your help.

I don't know why but if I follow these instructions (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRr5toF51Rc) and set the Control Ring Dial on my Canon 35mm RF lens to Exposure then it doesn't do anything.

I've tried in Av (in which I shoot) and Manual mode. The only way to adjust it is to hit the exposure box on screen and then rotate the mode dial.

Re: EOS R exposure compensation with auto ISO

HollowEarth — Sun, 02 Feb 2025 16:26:50 GMT

OK, so I have figured out - the Manual exposure adjustment is only available AFTER one has half-pressed the shoot button (ie after engaging the autofocus once)