When using the Manual (M) exposure mode, you select both the lens opening and the shutter speed.
Don't confuse manual exposure, the M on the exposure mode dial, with manual focus, the M on or near your lens.
There's a "number line" in the viewfinder and on the LCD screen.
| -2 | ♦ | ♦ | -1 | ♦ | ♦ | 0 | ♦ | ♦ | +1 | ♦ | ♦ | +2 |
| • |
As you change the lens opening or shutter speed, a tiny black or green dot moves back-and-forth below the number line.
When the dot is below the 0, that's the "correct" exposure.
Correct is in quotes because you may want to move the dot elsewhere on the number line.
You may want to intentionally over- or underexpose a photograph.
For example, let's say you're photographing the Grand Canyon.
If you want to make the colors more vivid, move the dot to the minus side of the number line.
You're underexposing.
| -2 | ♦ | ♦ | -1 | ♦ | ♦ | 0 | ♦ | ♦ | +1 | ♦ | ♦ | +2 |
| • |
Let's say you're photographing a tapestry in a chateau in France.
The room is dark, with a bright window.
The light meter in your camera "sees" the bright window light, and sets the exposure for the window.
The tapestry too dark.
The best solution is to use flash.
But, you can't use flash because it will fade the tapestry.
So you "overexpose" the scene.
| -2 | ♦ | ♦ | -1 | ♦ | ♦ | 0 | ♦ | ♦ | +1 | ♦ | ♦ | +2 |
| • |
Set either the lens opening or the shutter speed, first.
Make sure the exposure mode dial is set to Manual (M).
If you want to set the lens opening first, do the following.
1) Set the ISO for one of the three situations on the table below.
2) Set lens opening using the values, below, for that situation.
If your camera has one knob, press and hold the button with the aperture icon, and move the knob.
If your camera has two knobs, move the knob that controls the lens opening.
Check the instruction manual for how to change the lens opening.
| Bright Indoors | Cloudy/Shady | Sunny | |
| ISO | 800 or 1600 | 400 | 200 |
| Lens Opening | f/4* | f/8 | f/16** |
* Use f/1.4, f/1.8, f/2.0, f/2.8 if your lens has the setting.
** Use f/8 if you're using a point-and-shoot camera.
Once you set the lens opening, you can ignore it unless the brightness of the light changes.
You only have to change the shutter speed.
3) Press the shutter release halfway down to turn on the light meter.
4) Point your camera at the scene and turn the knob to move the black or green dot on the number line.
If your camera has one knob, it usually controls the shutter speed.
If your camera has two knobs, move the knob that controls the shutter speed.
Check the instruction manual for how to change the shutter speed.
5) Position the black or green dot under 0 on the number line.
6) Press the shutter release all the way down.
Once you're more familiar with setting the exposure manually, you can vary the settings from the above values.
You can also use the settings in the Light Values Chart.
If you want to set the shutter speed first, do the following.
1) Set the ISO for one of the three situations on the table below.
2) Set shutter speed using the values, below, for that situation.
If your camera has one knob, it usually controls the shutter speed.
If your camera has two knobs, move the knob that controls the shutter speed.
Check the instruction manual for how to change the shutter speed.
| Bright Indoors | Cloudy/Shady | Sunny | |
| ISO | 800 or 1600 | 400 | 200 |
| Shutter Speed | 1/60th | 1/60th | 250th |
Once you set the shutter speed, you can ignore it unless the brightness of the light changes.
You only have to change the lens opening.
3) Press the shutter release halfway down to turn on the light meter.
4) Point your camera at the scene and turn the knob to move the black or green dot on the number line.
If your camera has one knob, press and hold the button with the aperture icon, and move the knob.
If your camera has two knobs, move the knob that controls the lens opening.
Check the instruction manual for how to change the shutter speed.
5) Position the black or green dot under 0 on the number line.
6) Press the shutter release all the way down.
Once you're more familiar with setting the exposure manually, you can vary the settings from the above values.
You can also use the settings in the Light Values Chart.