Do it yourself
Use the meter for accurate exposure in Manual mode
Although you can use the AE lock button to lock the exposure settings, switching to Manual exposure mode means that you don’t have to worry about keeping the AE lock button pressed down. It’s also the best option if you want to shoot long exposures or panoramic photos, where you need consistency between frames.
You’re not alone with Manual exposures, as the camera’s meter remains active. As you adjust the aperture, shutter speed and ISO settings, you’ll see the indicator move up and down the exposure scale. As before, when it’s dead centre, it means the subject or scene being metered will be exposed as if it were a midtone. If your subject or scene is brighter than midtone, use a larger aperture, slower shutter speed or higher ISO to move the indicator to the right (bright) side of the scale. If they are darker than midtone, use a smaller aperture, faster shutter speed or lower ISO to move the indicator the left.
Once you’ve set the exposure in Manual mode, it stays locked in until you change it. This is an advantage for shooting a subject that’s passing in front of a changing backdrop (such as tracking players at a football match or photographing birds in flight), or when the subject is small in the frame. Of course, this only works if the lighting remains constant. If conditions get brighter or darker, then you’ll need to change the exposure settings accordingly.