4 replies to this topic

[austinkiker]

Hello all,

 

I understand (or I think I do, ha) you can control EV based on your shutter speed and f-stop but I don't think I quite understand what EV truly is.  I read articles and see information where the author states: the autofocus system functions accurately down to -4EV....which I imagine is a good thing but my lack of knowledge causes me to not comprehend how it's affecting my photography.

 

I do a lot of low light wildlife photography in the early mornings and late evenings so I hope gaining knowledge on this topic will help me.  My current camera, D5300, has a setting where I can manually control the EV but after tinkering around with it in several different scenarios I'm still stumped, I can't tell a difference in my photographs.

 

So, what's EV and how do I properly control it to help my photography?

 

Thank you for your time,

 

Austin

[ScottinPollock]

Exposure value - Wikipedia

[Merco_61]

EV 0 is a 1 second exposure at f/1.0. The -4 EV is actually -4 EV₁₀₀ or -4 EV at ISO 100, the marketing people just have oversimplified a bit.

Exposure compensation is also expressed in EV, which can be confusing.

[nikdood17]

You say you can't tell the difference in your photos using EV. You're not supposed to see a difference in exposure -- that's the idea behind EV.

Let's say you are shooting at f11 at 1/250 sec. Well, f8 at 1/500 sec. is the same EV or same exposure level. The difference is the size of the aperture and exposure time.

I own a Rolleiflex EVS. If you change the f stop, the shutter speed changes as well. It changes the shutter speed to match the new f stop so you will get the same amount of light coming into the camera as on the previous setting. If you change the shutter speed the f stop changes.

It drives me nuts. Most manual film cameras (and my old Rolleiflex that I owned for years) let you change the f stop or shutter speed without changing the other. If you want to increase the light coming into the lens, the EV system won't let you. On the Rollie I have to fiddle with some tiny dials to, say, open up one f stop with no change in shutter speed.

I suggest you turn the EV off on your camera and pretend it is not there.

[Brian]

I would not worry about it unless you buy a Film camera that uses the EV system for uncoupled meters. I have a couple of those. the Shutter-speed and F-stop rings are interlocked to set a particular EV value and then allows you to change shutter-speed/F-Stop to your desired combination in 1 step. Sounds great- not really. I had a friend send me a Kodak Retina IIIc and ask that I modify it to break the interlock.