Semantics/clarity can also be confusing here. I find paragraph 2 in your comment confusing…though I know you know what EC is.

In terms of your last paragraph…that’s incorrect…and again semantics plays here.
Of course, you can change the exposure in manual mode from the camera’s recommended exposure. That makes it “act” like exposure compensation. But it’s NOT called exposure compensation. At least Canon doesn’t call it that in the manual. Adjusting exposure in manual mode has NO special name as far as I know. Just for curiosity you should check the definition of exposure compensation in your manual.

I think we are beating a dead horse here but if anyone is still confused or wants to comment, it’s always my pleasure to help.

Exposure compensation forces the camera to add or subtract the specified number of f-stops, so if you add exposure compensation the camera will adjust shutter speed, aperture or ISO more or less than what the camera would otherwise think is the perfect exposure.

This means you should be able to use this in a manual mode to. Even in a manual mode you may be using a light reading as the starting point for your exposure. You could adjust the aperture, for example, so that the light reading is say, one stop too high/too low (I assume your camera gives you some kind of metering). Alternatively you could adjust the exposure compensation and then balance the exposure such that it meets what the camera is now saying is the proper exposure.

Usually your podcasts are great, but this one, sad to say, was not one of the best. Exposure can be really confusing at the best of times…

I incorrectly suggested that you COULD change ISO in a program mode and get the same effect as exposure compensation. This is false and my error for answering a question asked in theory before analyzing the question. (Hey that’s what I normally do — answer questions ).

In program mode, the second you change ISO either the shutter speed or the aperture changes so there is NO compensation. That’s why you need to use EC in these modes.

Exposure compensation is for program modes only.

I just listened to the Exposure Compensation podcast, and I have to say you (uncharacteristically) left me a bit confused. I shoot with Canon 50D (but have had 20D and 40D — they work the same, as far as I recall).

Suppose I am shooting in Aperture Priority Mode using Evaluative metering, and my exposure at ISO 200 is f/4 at 1/30 seconds. Now if I change the ISO to 400, thinking to lighten the image, it will not do so; instead, I will get f/4 at 1/60 seconds. If I look at the histograms for the two shots, they look the same. The meter has just given the same EV. So that is no way to achieve Exp Comp. If, however, I use the Quick Control Dial, and dial +1, I will get f/4 at 1/15 seconds. So my thinking is that the Exp Comp function overrides the meter.

On the Canons, I don’t think you can change the shutter speed without using the Quick Control Dial, ie, other than using Exp Comp. You can change the Aperture, but if you let the meter determine the exposure, no compensation will be achieved.

In Manual Mode, Exp Comp is achieved by moving Exposure indicator needle (I don’t know what else to call it) either to the plus or minus side of the meter’s recommended exposure.

Ok, that’s the way I have understood Exp Comp. Is that what you were saying, or am I totally confused (it wouldn’t be the first time)?