I have discussed about exposure compensation and bracketing previously where I talked about what is an exposure compensation, when to use it and what does bracketing means? Now lets talk about Automatic Exposure Bracketing (AEB) feature and how to set controls for Nikon D90 to implement exposure bracketing.
Sometimes manually bracketing and taking multiple shots will be tedious job, that is the main reason we use Automatic Exposure Bracketing (AEB) where the camera will take three shots automatically (provided you are in continuous shooting mode or burst shooting mode) when we press shutter release button once: one at the camera measured exposure, a second at a negative exposure compensation (usually -1/3 EV, Nikon D90 allows you to specify this value), and a third at a positive exposure compensation (usually +1/3 EV).
How to set Nikon D90 for AEB?
1. Press the Menu button on the left hand of your camera.
2. Navigate to your Custom Settings Menu (Pencil icon).
3. Go to e bracketing/flash menu, option e4 is for setting up Auto Bracketing with different options.
4. Set option according to your need. Automatic Exposure (AE) is what we are discussing here.
You can also set the order of how you want your camera to take photographs whether it is correct exposure, under exposure and over exposure or under exposure, correct exposure and over exposure. For that you have to go to e6 Bracketing order menu under e bracketing/flash menu and set the order you want. This doesn’t make any difference on exposure anyway. It is just the order of files.
Now the next step is to set the exposure value and number of frames you want. Nikon D90 allows you to shoot 2 frame over exposed and one correctly exposed (+2F), 2 frame under exposed and one correctly exposed (-2F) or traditional 3F (under exposed, correctly exposed and over exposed). So the maximum number of frames is 3 for Nikon D90. To do that press the BKT button on the left side of your camera just below the flash (where D90 logo is written). When you press BKT button, you will see option to set exposure value and number of frames. Now rotate the main command dial to change the number of frames whether it is +2F, -2F or 3F and use sub command dial to change how much you want to shift exposure value for under and over exposed photographs.
Related posts
- What is an Exposure Compensation: Understanding Bracketing
- Trying Multiple Exposure is fun shooting
- Choosing an Exposure Mode : Program Mode and Manual Exposure Mode
- Auto Exposure Lock (AE-L) with Nikon D90
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About UM3$H
Can you please create a video demo. My friend Jimmy Lo has a d90 and he is trying to take HDR photos but is unable to get this working properly as we have to manually take this photo each time. Jimmy cannot get the automatic photos working.
I have never done taking HDR from camera itself. The main idea is taking three photographs of same subject: one overexposed, one underexposed and one normal photographs. Then you have to use photo editing software like Adobe photoshop or photomatix to convert it into HDR combing all three differently exposed photographs.
I use AEB all the time and specially when I want to do HDR photography. It’s great feature. Thanks for sharing.
One of the mostly used technique I guess. I do it when I shoot outdoor. You never know what will happen with different lighting condition.
thanks for the great article..
I came across it while searching to see if it is possible to purposely set the camera to over-expose in P or Automode (D90)
Any idea?
Thanks in advance!
Program mode is almost like Auto mode. If you want different apertures or shutter speeds by rotating rear command dial, it gives you alternate combination of f/stops and shutter speeds which give the same exposure. Nikon calls this “Program Shift” mode. If you want to read more, please see Choosing Exposure Mode. . If you want to over-exposed photograph anyway, you can play with exposure compensation. Here is the link to get more info about Exposure Compensation.
So I’ve been reading about this all morning and can’t understand if I have to fire the shutter 3 times in a row. I expected to just press the shutter-release button once and have the camera automatically take three shots for me. I can do it on my own, of course, but want to make sure I’m not missing anything.
Thanks.
Amber,
If you are shooting in Single shot mode, you have to press your shutter release button 3 times in a row to get 3 shots. Alternatively you can set your camera for continuous shooting mode and get three shots with single press of shutter release button.
Update: You have to keep holding shutter release button to get continuous shots in continuous shooting mode.
“maximum number of frames is 3 for Nikon D90″
I need more ,, waht I can do for that ?
If you need more than 3 frames with Nikon D90, you have to do it Manually. Set your camera into manual mode and over or underexpose your shot by increasing/decreasing Shutter speed or Aperture. Changing either Shutter speed or Aperture value by rotating dial three times (assuming your camera increments 1/3 stop exposure at a time) is one stop exposure.
“Amber,
If you are shooting in Single shot mode, you have to press your shutter release button 3 times in a row to get 3 shots. Alternatively you can set your camera for continuous shooting mode and get three shots with single press of shutter release button.”
i’m shooting on continuous H and i can’t get 3 shots from one click… when i hold the shutter for 3 shots, then i’ll get the 3 under, correct, and overexposed photos but with slight movement depending on the shutter speed…help
An,
That is correct. You have to keep holding shutter release button to get three shots continuously in a row. I am not sure if you are using Tripod or not. You can’t achieve continuous 4.5 fps always even in continuous H mode because it also depends on your light condition. If you have enough lights to get those faster frame per second and using Tripod ( I also prefer to use cable or wireless shutter release option to avoid movement of camera during shots which might be causing problem in your case), you should be fine. I am assuming you are using Nikon D90; other camera may have different frame per second rate.