Exposure indicator in manual (M) Mode of Canon EOS 400D

[jeet]

I’m novice to DSLR….after havng EOS 400D I’m learning through Manual…..Problem I’m facing right now is , In Manual(M) mode in spite of changing aperture or Shutter speed ,Expose indicator remains on –same place (-2) Exposure indicator in manual (M) Mode
..I can not under stand whether it is cam prob or I cud nt operate properly….

plss help me…..

[mjs1973]

Interesting. You should see the exposure indicator change as you adjust the settings. The only time I can think of when it would stay there, is if your camera is set to underexpose the image by more than 2 stops. If that is the case, you may just need to adjust your setting a little farther.

If that's not it, I would have someone look at it.

[mn shutterbug]

I assume we're talking about the exposure compensation indicator here? If so, I wouldn't think that would change unless you manually change it. I've never shot my Canon in manual, but I'd think, just like in Av mode, the E.C. wouldn't change unless you forced it to.

[EOSThree]

There is no exposure compensation in M mode. If it's staying at -2, your meter is saying there isn't enough light in the scene. I'm with Mike, you probably haven't adjusted far enough, either a slower shutter speed(smaller number), or a wider aperture(smaller number), or a combination of both.

[Frog]

I've never used a Canon but my Nikon has an exposure compensation button and I'd guess that Canon does too. This would change what shutter speed would be indicated as 'correct' in your viewfinder and if set at -2 would indecate so.
Might be a way off base Nikon guy but its what I thought of when I read your post.
On my Nikon the exposure comp button is on the top right.

[mn shutterbug]

There is no exposure compensation in M mode.

I didn't know that. I learn something new every day.

[EOSThree]

I've never used a Canon but my Nikon has an exposure compensation button and I'd guess that Canon does too. This would change what shutter speed would be indicated as 'correct' in your viewfinder and if set at -2 would indecate so.
Might be a way off base Nikon guy but its what I thought of when I read your post.
On my Nikon the exposure comp button is on the top right.

There is no EC button on a Canon. When in P, AV, or TV, you half press the shutter to activate the meter then use the large wheel in the back to dial in EC.

Like I said above, there is no EC per-se in M mode on a Canon. You are in full control of the camera in M mode, therefore completely over-riding the meter, so the =/- exposure indicator just shows how far you are doing that.
It's a semantic difference because you are basically dialing in EC, but in M mode you just change the SS or Aperture to increase or decrease the amount of light. Either dial will dial in compensation, and unlike the other modes, it's a dynamic compensation, it doesn't stay dialed in, it changes with every metering of the scene.

In AV or TV the camera always changes the opposite parameter of the one you are controlling for that particular mode. In P mode Canon has chosen the aperture to be the control, and you are changing the time to dial in EC.