What does Exposure Compensation ACTUALLY do?

[Magnus]

Yeah, this would go in the nerd section

Being the kind of amateur photographer whos' camera you could basically weld the dial to "M" I'm curious what "Exposure Compensation " actually does?

Raise the ISO as soon as there's a speed bump?
Adjust aperture, shutter speed or ISO based on the situation?
And so on...

Yes, I could do a test of my own, but I thought it would be a good subject for a new video.

I wish you a great weekend

// Magnus

[Rob Trek]

Thanks, Magnus.

This is an interesting idea and would make for great video. It's a feature we take for granted and the metrics involved can be confusing resulting in undesirable effects.

[DeMorcan]

When I shot Aperture preferred (most of the time or what I do), I set the ISO manually so the compensation adjusts the shutter. If I shoot ETTR I always set the ISO. ETTR really only works when you let the compensation control the shutter to get more light. I have found no benefit (and sometimes degradation) when compensation changes ISO for ETTR. Some shots where I want a faster shutter and am in aperture mode, I will just dial in negative compensation for one shot to increase shutter speed. Other times I use it to protect highlights or open shadows always having to control the shutter. The compensation dial is my most used and I change it almost every shot. High dynamic range shots I want to center the histogram for pulling in shadows and highlights. Other shots I use ETTR for the most latitude in post processing. In manual mode with an EM1 II and auto ISO, I could adjust compensation which would change the ISO. This is my second most used mode after Aperture. Rather than figuring the ISO, I may use negative compensation to lower ISO, without having to worry about what the ISO is. I do not know what Olympus cameras allow compensation in manual mode. I cannot do it with my EM10 II (or I just do not know how). I use if for the same reason to center the histogram for most latitude in post processing normally. With some shots I use to compensate for the scene (snow, etc) and let it change the shutter. If someone only set one thing (for example shutter), I have no idea what the algorithms prioritize. I am one of those fools who happen to think I know more about the photo I want to take than some programmer as a desk does. When I have my camera set up, I have one saved mode as program shift which I use with compensation to grab a fast shot and then go back to my serious setup. I actually have no idea how the compensation works with program shift. I Just want to capture the moment and get back to my serious shooting. But now you mentioned it, I will learn what it does. Since that is for my cell phone type shots, I never considered it. To me it is just an improved auto to just get the shot. I have found out that Olympus algorithms are based on the 1 over focal length shutter speed (based on full frame equivalent) and totally ignore IBIS. This is program and auto mode which I feel they could have done better. I would tend to guess this design philosophy would apply to compensation if left on its own.