Where to set shutter speed to get photo overexposed?

laylaj12 · Mar 13, 2015

Hello! Beginner here!

I am using a Minolta X-700 and currently have the aperture set to f/1.7 and ISO at 400

My goal is to get my pictures looking something like this. I read in order to do this, I should overexpose and that I can do this by adjusting my shutter speed. About where should I set my shutter speed to achieve this? (Do I go by the light meter on the viewfinder? I'm a little confused.) Thank you in advance!

Rick A · Mar 13, 2015

What shutter speed? If you want over exposure, set the ISO at a lower number, maybe 200 or whatever. Bracket your exposures, start at 400 and go one or two stops in each direction, then see which setting gives you what you are looking for.

David Allen · Mar 13, 2015

I am not familiar with your camera but to overexpose you need to allow more light to fall on the film than the 'correct' exposure.

The options are:

If you set the aperture and the camera decides the shutter speed you need to either 'tell' the camera that you are using iso 200 or iso100 film when in fact you are using an iso400 film.

If your camera automatically sets the iso of your film (by a system known as DX coding where the film canister 'instructs' the camera that you are using an iso400 film) then you will need to use the exposure compensating lever or button. In this case, using +1 will double the exposure that the film receives and +2 will quadruple the exposure that the film receives.

If you can set the camera to manual, you ascertain what you believe to be the correct exposure using the camera's meter but then manually adjust the shutter speed and/or the aperture to allow more light to fall on the film. As an example, if you meter indicates 1/250 @ f11 you can use either 1/125 @ f11 or 1/250 @f8 to double the exposure that the film receives and if you use 1/125 @ f8 or 1/60 @ f11 it will quadruple the exposure that the film receives.

Bests,

David.
www.dsallen.de

Chris Lange · Mar 13, 2015

The answer is highly dependent on the circumstances in which you are working. I suggest you read up on the fundamentals of how exposure works and varies in differing lighting conditions.

http://www.guidetofilmphotography.com/photography-film-exposure.html

laylaj12 · Mar 13, 2015

David Allen said:
I am not familiar with your camera but to overexpose you need to allow more light to fall on the film than the 'correct' exposure.

The options are:

If you set the aperture and the camera decides the shutter speed you need to either 'tell' the camera that you are using iso 200 or iso100 film when in fact you are using an iso400 film.

If your camera automatically sets the iso of your film (by a system known as DX coding where the film canister 'instructs' the camera that you are using an iso400 film) then you will need to use the exposure compensating lever or button. In this case, using +1 will double the exposure that the film receives and +2 will quadruple the exposure that the film receives.

If you can set the camera to manual, you ascertain what you believe to be the correct exposure using the camera's meter but then manually adjust the shutter speed and/or the aperture to allow more light to fall on the film. As an example, if you meter indicates 1/250 @ f11 you can use either 1/125 @ f11 or 1/250 @f8 to double the exposure that the film receives and if you use 1/125 @ f8 or 1/60 @ f11 it will quadruple the exposure that the film receives.

Bests,

David.
www.dsallen.de

This really cleared it up. Thank you!

Chan Tran · Mar 13, 2015

If you use color negative film you would need to overexpose a lot to get the effect. If you only moderately overexpose the lab would make your pictures look perfectly fine and not washout.

Joe VanCleave · Mar 14, 2015

Around the rewind knob (on top left of camera) there's an exposure compensation knob. Set it to "+2," which is its maximum setting. If you need even more over-exposure, then lower the ISO setting (using the controls around the outside of the shutter speed knob, on top right of camera).

~Joe

Silver key · Mar 14, 2015

Hi !
I don't even think the photo has been over exposed, simply metered on the dark side of the car ...

DWThomas · Mar 14, 2015

Chan Tran said:
If you use color negative film you would need to overexpose a lot to get the effect. If you only moderately overexpose the lab would make your pictures look perfectly fine and not washout.

This is an important point! I once bumped up exposure compensation by two stops for whatever reason, then later took a normal shot under nice sunshine outdoors and suddenly realized -- whoops -- I over exposed that. I put the exposure back to normal and re-shot. This was on C41 film and I really had to study the prints that came back from the lab to see any difference.

I also had a print of a late evening sunset picture for which I carefully adjusted exposure to emphasize a brilliant bit of structure against a darkening sky. The straight off the machine prints were just as blah as if I hadn't bothered (yet I could see the negative was where I wanted it to be).

(It's that "latitude" being argued about in another thread! :munch: )

Where to set shutter speed to get photo overexposed?

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency