Manual Exposure Mode Tutorial, EASY way! DSLR Photography using Nikon D7000 Beginner Lesson

[eliott767]

Thanks alot. I love all your videos. :)

[jobythadathil]

Thx.

[edpannewyork]

thanks for this video... am learning basic adjustments with my new camera the quickest way...

[tedibur2007]

wow thank you! that helped me alot ^_^

[ozpass77]

Thank you for the videos. I'm as a beginner as you can get and I tell you I regret buying my D7000 coz I have no idea how to use it, only the auto " idiot" mode I should say. Anyhow, your videos are really helpful although I know skill-wise, I'm way too far...

[attiqbhayo]

PhotographersOnUTube Channel is one of the best DSLR beginners guide on whole Youtube.. HATSOFF.. KeEp it up Jibran :)

[GTPerformer84]

Excellent really helpful !

[iizdownwitthizz]

Shitter speed lol

[lapequesalsera]

Very useful information, I have come across many channels about digital photography and so far I have been following you and this makes perfect sense to me, I love how you explain things in plain language for us beginners, I am about to purchase the d7000 and even thou I had a great dslr camera I was afraid of letting go of the "auto" mode for taking pictures...NOT anymore, I want to get to the point where I can look at a scene and know what the correct aperture will be.

Thank again!

[PhotographersOnUTube]

@lapequesalsera Thank you so much! Don't know why some photographers forget where they came from. This much info can be intimidating at first so I try to explain it in a way so people with a point and shoot camera can also understand. Photography is not difficult and you'll get there much sooner than you think if you watch my videos. For extra help, I'm on facebook.

[lapequesalsera]

I'm a fan on fb as well, loved how others that know a thing or two can also tell us what their thoughts are.

Rox

[MaPee1982]

Perfect shot but quite a few glare and reflections on the pedals @ 6:57 I just thought if you had used a polarizer, it probably would've given you a much better result. But of course polarizers are a whole different subject. Great vid. The community needs more people like you.

[esorlaksa]

I'M A BEGINNER AND I CAN TELL YOU THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING^^ THANK YOU^^

[PhotographersOnUTube]

@esorlaksa Haha. I can see the excitement in your comment lol. I'm also on FB by the way.

[esorlaksa]

@PhotographersOnUTube I'm about to buy my first DSLR and I'm thinking bout buying D5100 Nikon. I have always been thinking before I watched this video "There has to be a way to balance all the Aperture, ISO, and Shutter speed" And voila, there you go^^

[amosjsoma]

Subscriber question: I noticed that the, as Nikon calls it, Exposure Indicator was visible in the viewfinder. Is it also possible to display it on the rear "Info" panel (not live view)? I will be using manual lenses at times and it will be easier to see and adjust the exposure if I can see it on the info display.

Thanks and keep up the good work. The D7000 looks like an amazing camera.

[PhotographersOnUTube]

@amosjsoma Thanks! I honestly don't think you can. I've never seen an option in the menus that allows you to change it unless I'm missing something.

[PhotographersOnUTube]

@SamWazamTV It's called diopter. Move it until the screen is not blurry anymore. It's not a problem.

[rajatash]

Hi Jibran, you know what, i have have D7000 since April 2011, but didnt understand light meter till i saw this video. Thanks man you teach us like our big brother. Lots of love and thanks. Keep posting

[CliffordJeche]

@rajatash i had watched many different video tutorials but non of them where showing mie how to read the light meter until now. Thanks man great stuff

[jhammer256]

Just to confirm - in manual mode, the metering mode doesn't matter. But, you still try to play with the A, S and ISO to get the light meter to to the centre (to get what is supposed to be the correct exposure)? Or are you saying that when in manual mode, the metering mode AND the light meter don't matter because you're looking for the exposure that you want?

BTW, I have subscribed. Tell your wife that there is another wife that thanks her for pushing you to you tube your tutorials.

[PhotographersOnUTube]

@jhammer256 No, the metering mode does matter because a. it gives you pretty accurate recommendation to to balance the exposure most of the time and b. it makes the process much faster. If you the meter didn't tell you anything, then you'd take a picture, view it, then take it again until you get the correct exposure. However, IF the meter is being tricked then you don't have to change the metering mode because you can adjust the shutter speed/aperture ISO yourself until you get correct exposure

[jhammer256]

This vid was great. Very practical for a new DLSR user. One question though - I saw that you were changing the aperture and shutter to get the light meter to indicate the correct exposure, but what metering mode were you in? Would play a factor in how that light meter works in the first place?

[PhotographersOnUTube]

@jhammer256 Thank you! Yes, meter mode does make the difference but in manual mode when the exposure doesn't look how you want, you ignore the meter and adjust the settings to achieve the exposure you want. There is a video on 3 different metering modes and how it can get fooled due to different colors/light etc. Also, subscribe for future videos. It's all FREE!

[xoacatl]

ok i used A mode on my d70s using different f stops on a foot powder bottle like 4.5, 3.8 even 20 to focus on the bottle and blur the background but the back wall didnt blur..thats what i was trying to do

[PhotographersOnUTube]

@xoacatl Maybe you didn't zoom in, maybe the distance between the subject and background wasn't enough. Maybe you weren't close to the subject. There are many many factors. Watch my video on Outdoor portraits (blur background) video and follow those steps. f/20 is the opposite. That makes things sharper in the background.

[xoacatl]

i tried the different f stops on my nikon d70s and couldnt blur the background in A mode....what happend?

[PhotographersOnUTube]

@xoacatl With this limited information you provided I cannot even guess. It could be 20 different things but only thing I know is that you tried and it didn't happen. Camera has nothing to do with the blurred background is the only thing I can you and I'm saying this because you mentioned you used D70s. Try my facebook page and see if anyone can take a guess but be very very specific.

[riderxriderx]

@PhotographersOnUTube im sorry, what i did type was not to you but to others who are viewing. my mistake there :). there alot of new users to dslr who doesn't really care about metering or good WB, they just use automatic all the way and rarely understands each technical feature of a DSLR have. its a good thing that u are providing good lesson with these videos and plus using a nikon :D

[riderxriderx]

its always good recording vid with a 1 or 2 stops over exposure, in movie editing software we can redo/retouch the color/brightness correction. plus get ur white balance correct 1st..dont always depend on the automatic WB, try using more kelvin WB.

[icevirg]

You are great Man! I'm newbie in photography..and I really love your tuts. keep it up.

[rsahdev1]

I like the way you explained everything, keep it up Dear, thats wat called a real tutorial.

[PhotographersOnUTube]

@rsahdev1 I appreciate that. Thanks for taking out the time to write this note. Try my facebook page if you need extra help.

[jh3835]

i love you man, ......NO HOMO

[PhotographersOnUTube]

@jh3835 lol. Same here. Don't forget to subscribe for future videos.

[jh3835]

@PhotographersOnUTube sure thing, i bought a d3100 a few months back and had no idea what that scale was in the camera but when i watched this video and i tested this technique for myself my photos come out a lot better now.

[wildbeard]

Oh i am using D7000 as well

[wildbeard]

Hi nice video. Just got SB900 and i dunno how to evaluate the correct exposure on my light metering with the flash gun. Any tutorials for this? Thanks a lot you are a very good tutor!

[PhotographersOnUTube]

@wildbeard No not yet. I'll soon do a tutorial on manual exposure using manual flash. When you use your SB900, you ignore the light meter. It will say your picture will be under exposed but flash will fix that. So ignore the light meter. Try these settings.. f/4, 1/125 sec ISO 400 flash power 1/8 or 1/4 depending on how high your ceiling is. Watch my basic flash tutorial so you learn about angles.

[seoulologyy]

Wow, this is the first time I heard of light meter. Man, your videos are AWESOME! I appreciate it a lot!!

[PhotographersOnUTube]

@seoulologyy And now the rest is up to your imagination. This allows you to have full control over your exposure. You can deliberately over/under expose to achieve the look you want.

[r1dg3xrac3r]

Thank you for taking the time to put up this tutorial. I never knew how to shoot with manual mode until i watched this video. Once again thank you. Can't wait for your next video.

[itsPaulette]

Thank you so much for this tutorial.

I just started watching your videos yesterday, and I really learned a lot especially on this one!

I'm really having a hard time in shooting manual mode.(don't want to rely on automatic mode) But now that I learned about the "light meter", I think shooting manual mode will be easier.

[PhotographersOnUTube]

@itsPaulette Thanks, Paulette. Yes, shooting in Manual is a breeze once you mess with it a few times. You can always shoot in aperture mode if the lighting is not tricky. The camera will pick the same shutter speed, lightmeter is telling you in manual mode. The difference is that if you don't like the look of the picture, you can make small adjustments in manual mode and get exactly what you're looking for.

[cassey05]

hi again!, i have a question, aperture is responsible for depth of field right? but why when you under exposed the last pic, your aperture is f4.5, yet the background remains that pretty bokeh effect.. in this im a little confuse? is it because your shooting a very small and close distance subject..?

[PhotographersOnUTube]

@cassey05 The depth of field doesn't have to change dramatically at 4.5, in fact even at f/6.3 you can get pretty blurry background. A lot depends on the distance between the lens and the subject like you guessed, OR the distance between the subject and the background. Also, it depends on the lens. Prime lens give you nice bokeh. This was 50 1.8 prime lens.

[cassey05]

thank you very much for this, im trying to use my cam for manual mode...this is a very big help...i didnt have an idea what that bar means before watching this..

[081619802378]

Hi Jibran,

I have a little question, when we use the manual mode with a bounce flash, then do the light meter give us the correct reading ? (because before clicking there is no flash) Thank you, I learned a lot form your videos

[PhotographersOnUTube]

@081619802378 I didn't see your post before. No, when you add to your exposure, you ignore the light meter. The light meter will only meter for the ambient light. That's the light present in the room. So if you like dark background, you can leave the light meter under exposed. If you like normal exposed background then you increase the ISO, slow the shutter a bit and the background will be normally exposed. The flash will expose for the subject only.

[Smalskin]

What does that red bar mean?

[utorres8312]

Great video keep up the good work

[mpompeu]

I have a question for you ...How we can read that grafich with external flash unit attached? I never know act in low light condition, please post something like that best regards...

[PhotographersOnUTube]

@mpompeu You can't. Because the camera doesn't know if you have a softbox attach to the flash or where the flash is facing or how high the ceiling is. When you're adding flash to this, you're adding a new element to your exposure. I'll do a video on this which is going to be the 3 part of your manual exposure using flash. Remember, flash's output is controlled by aperture or ISO, not shutter speed.

[mpompeu]

@PhotographersOnUTube

thank you very much, I´m waiting for part 3. regards

[thirdblade]

I'm a newbie in the world of DSLRs. Honestly, I'm struggling taming mY DSLR, I'm wishing if only there's someone teaching me hands on.lolZ! But, watching your videos helped me a lot to understand what I read better and clearer. Hoping to watch more! Thank you so much!

[mpompeu]

Very good video, easy tips explained the easy way, thanks for guide me....

[Kara899]

oh and i just recently bought the nikon d5100 so far im liking the camera

[Kara899]

Hi thanks for this. I tried doing it manually but when everything is at 0 it keeps moving either up or down why is that? why cant it just stay at the correct exposure

[PhotographersOnUTube]

@Kara899 Sometimes even a slight difference in lighting can change your exposure. It's common as you saw this happen to me while I was recording the video. If you're off by just a little bit, that's okay. You can be over/under if it's very little. And you can always adjust the exposure however you like it. 

[rickydude2001]

You are the best tutor!!! thanks for your tutorials..

[TheBappul]

this is very helpful just like your other videos. thank you and keep'em coming plz :D

[iMacMan77]

Another great video. Keep doing what your doing man.

[Jack19592008]

Well done Jibran. I use manual on my D5000 95% of the time and once you get used to using manual for your shots, it is very fast. Like you said just watch the light meter. I believe that using manual settings your pictures turn out much sharper and you get several shots using a little under, right on and a little over exposed. When you view them on the computer or have them enlarged sometimes its nice to have several pictures to choose from for the effect you like.

[PhotographersOnUTube]

@Jack19592008 You're right. If I am doing non portrait shoot, I always mess with different shutter speeds. Aperture is something very easy to pick but different shutter speeds can give you a bit more different perspective.

[vishwa1985]

let me know about nikon d5100.is that same manual exposure mode?

[PhotographersOnUTube]

@vishwa1985 Yes, the manual mode on all brands is the same. M. Always take pictures in good lighting when you're a beginner. It's a huge confidence booster when the picture comes out right. Pick low ISO, use a tripod if you have to to make sure you nail the frame and play with it. Pay attention to the light meter. Over/under expose to get more familiarized.

[vishwa1985]

@PhotographersOnUTube thank you....

[domreplv]

Thanks Jibran... Can't wait for using flash on manual mode... once again thanks a million.. Keep doing what you are doing. Forever grateful... Nate

[kleme1998]

Love your vids and I am a subscriber, but if I could be a little critical only to help make them better. First off, you need to upload at least to 720p, vid looks very grainy when you blow up to full screen which hurts the learning process when comparing pictures. Second, liven up a bit bro, you are giving great lessons but you get a little bit monotone at times. Keep up the good work, im sure your subscribers will keep growing. Write me if you want to talk.

[PhotographersOnUTube]

@kleme1998 Thank you! A part of the video was recorded in HD but I don't know if there is a box I need to check for HD when I upload on YouTube. In real life I am the biggest clown you'll ever meet but because most of my subscribers are twice my age according to youtube stats, I try to keep it simple and some what professional which does make it seem like I'm boring. I guess once I have a decent following I'll open up. Thanks for the tips. I have to agree with you. :)

[kleme1998]

@PhotographersOnUTube Your video has to be rendered in 1080p, do a search for some videos on how to upload in 1080p with whatever program your using for that. Your welcome, thanks for the tips on photography. I love the parts where you show what your talking about on the camera, like the AF points and the light meter bar :)

[sendhelpbaylon]

do you have a flickr? 

[PhotographersOnUTube]

@sendhelpbaylon I'm anti flickr bro. I teach everything for free and they want money for the pro account when they makes millions through advertising. I'm in a process of compiling my pictures so I could put them up on the website and facebook page

[krazejim1]

Did you get a deal with Pepsi? Damn, you're big time bro!

[PhotographersOnUTube]

@krazejim1 lol. I wish! I'm always drinking Pepsi and I was going to demonstrate how the light bounces off the subject (Pepsi can) and goes through the lens (TTL) and then the light meter does the calculation to create the + - bar graph to suggest the correct exposure but I totally forgot lol. Maybe I should use the can in every video. Who knows, they'll buy me a D4 :)

[suloch]

Thanks for the video. That was easy and understandable. I use D7000 but never paid attention to light meter. Thanks a lot.

By the way that's not a 50mm lens on your camera at the beginning and end of the video, right?

[PhotographersOnUTube]

@suloch Yep! If explained with picture examples, manual mode really is that easy. You're right, it's 50mm 1.8D

[Jepraw]

wowowowowowow!!! ty bro (the sling)

[fpjrockss]

That was a very thorough video. You made it extremely easy to understand. Thank you. :)

[royappa]

what lens is that? tamron? btw excellent video! keep em coming.

[PhotographersOnUTube]

@royappa Thanks! No, it's a Nikkor 50mm 1.8D Amazon link is posted on my site. Inexpensive yet great quality.

[royappa]

@PhotographersOnUTube thx dude. well i already have 35mm 1.8 and dont think i would want that lens. but no doubt that your 50mm 1.8 is a great lens. Can i request a video about using single point or multi-point focus? thx in advance

[PhotographersOnUTube]

@royappa 35 1.8 is a nice lens. You just can't do portraits with it. The single/multi point focus answer depends on if you're talking about having the option of many focal points like 11, 39, 51? OR is it better to use single center focus point to focus and recompose OR move the single point around on the screen to focus on your subject instead of recomposing OR use mutli points in AF-C (continuous) mode to focus fast moving subject.

[royappa]

@PhotographersOnUTube Maybe I wasnt clear on my question. I also have Nikon D7000 and when I use 39 point focusing, It doesnt focus object that i want everytime. So whats a practical way to use focus system? I recently got started with DSLR and read couple books and understand iso, shutter speed, and aperture works. I just have hard time with focusing.. single point seems rather easy to use but I dont want to waste 39 point focusing option.

[PhotographersOnUTube]

@royappa I am assuming you haven't watched my video on Aperture. In that video I explained why it's very important to set your focusing points to AFS and [ . ] You have 39 focusing points so you don't recompose and so you can move 1 single points to 39 different spots for very sharp/precise focus. Your camera is set on AF-A and on all 39 auto focus points. The camera picks the focusing point for you. On my facebook page, look for a post by Alou Laroco Kennedy. You'll find the solution.

[royappa]

@PhotographersOnUTube thx alot bro! you are correct, I havent watched your aperture video thinking that I knew aperture. arrogant fool! (<-- me). I will watch it now and also see the post from facebook as well. thx again for super fast reply. I was going to take photography class from local community college but I guess this would work out better.