AE Lock....?

[SUSOM]

I'm trying to master the functions and setting on my camera, and AE Lock is the latest one to confuse me as to why and when I would use it. I generally shoot in manual mode and understand EV limitations of the scenes I'm shooting....am I correct in think that AE Lock is a function that is primarily used in the auto/priority shooting modes? Or is there some other benefit to this feature, or special situations where it becomes meaningful?

[Max@Home]

Originally Posted by SUSOM

I'm trying to master the functions and setting on my camera, and AE Lock is the latest one to confuse me as to why and when I would use it. I generally shoot in manual mode and understand EV limitations of the scenes I'm shooting....am I correct in think that AE Lock is a function that is primarily used in the auto/priority shooting modes? Or is there some other benefit to this feature, or special situations where it becomes meaningful?

AE lock is a function you can use, I think it is as useful in auto/priority modes as in manual mode , *I* basically use it to trick the camera in using another EV value to calculate with than is actually there: for instance: shooting against the light: if I want a subject to be proper exposed, zoom in on the subject, (spot-)meter and lock AE, then zoom out, recompose, focus and take the picture: your surroundings/environment will be blown out, but the subject will be perfectly exposed , this works in Av, Tv, P or M mode.

...€0.02...

Kindest regards,

Max@Home

[camrajoky]

It also helps when you want to use selective focus on a particular subject....then recompose and hit the trigger to fire. We use this in our studio to do a dust test. there are many other things it could be used for.

[SUSOM]

So I basically get to the same place by spot metering, and chimping to make sure I got the "right" exposure?

If I understand the AE method, you metering the subject, hit the AE Lock button, recompose, and then take the shot? Presumably the camera will refocus the subject, but not adjust the other settings?

I don't have my camera with me, or I'd try this out.

[Max@Home]

Originally Posted by SUSOM

So I basically get to the same place by spot metering, and chimping to make sure I got the "right" exposure?

Spot metering in any but the 1-series bodies is always on the central point, only the 1-series bodies allow you to link spot metering point to AF point (crazy, as my PowerShots can do this and are set up to do so), so if you spot-meter, you probably always have to recompose, so the AE lock is pretty necessary in that circumstance.

If I understand the AE method, you metering the subject, hit the AE Lock button, recompose, and then take the shot? Presumably the camera will refocus the subject, but not adjust the other settings?

If you only hit the * button, your camera will not focus, so it will not re-focus but focus on the subject , but in essence you are right: AE lock only locks the AE value, afterwards you can (re-)focus and even adjust aperture and shutterspeed, recalculated with the locked AE value.

...€0.02...

Kindest regards,

Max@Home

[Max@Home]

Originally Posted by SUSOM

I don't have my camera with me, or I'd try this out.

seeing it is believing it, doing it is understanding it

...€0.02...

Kindest regards!

Max@Home

[aam1234]

AEL is one of my biggest beefs with Canon. If you lock exposure you only have 6 seconds then the exposure will be canceled. Yes, you can hold the button as much as you like but that's not convenient. What if you want to free your finger to adjust other settings.

Wish Canon set it up such that AEL is canceled when you press the * button again (Custom Function like Nikon).

Come on, Max, use your connections to make it happen Very easy to implement