Why is exposure - on the right side?

jpljpl Registered Users Posts: 96 Big grins
edited July 26, 2008 in The Big Picture
Why are exposure meters in cameras "backwards" of a normal number line? why is negative to the right rather than the left?
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  • RichardRichard Administrators, Vanilla Admin Posts: 20,011 moderator
    edited July 24, 2008
    jpl wrote:
    Why are exposure meters in cameras "backwards" of a normal number line? why is negative to the right rather than the left?

    Perhaps you have the camera upside down. naughty.gif

    Seriously, on my Canon 20D, the meter goes to left to right meaning dark to light, just as I would expect. What camera are you using?
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  • jpljpl Registered Users Posts: 96 Big grins
    edited July 24, 2008
    Huh!? I'm confused. Are you still messing with me? Do Canon and Nikon do it differently? I have a Nikon D40 and the viewfinder looks like this +....|....- . a lighter image will show up like this <****|....- and a darker image will show up like +....|****>. When I roll the wheel (in EV compensation mode) to the left I get a positive reading indicating brighter exposure and when I roll to the right I get a negative reading indicating darker exposure. So from my understanding that means the meter reads light to dark going left to right. So now I'm thoroughly confused.
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  • RichardRichard Administrators, Vanilla Admin Posts: 20,011 moderator
    edited July 24, 2008
    jpl wrote:
    Huh!? I'm confused. Are you still messing with me? Do Canon and Nikon do it differently? I have a Nikon D40 and the viewfinder looks like this +....|....- . a lighter image will show up like this <****|....- and a darker image will show up like +....|****>. When I roll the wheel (in EV compensation mode) to the left I get a positive reading indicating brighter exposure and when I roll to the right I get a negative reading indicating darker exposure. So from my understanding that means the meter reads light to dark going left to right. So now I'm thoroughly confused.

    Interesting...no wonder Nikonians and Canonites don't understand one another. :D
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  • PackingMyBagsPackingMyBags Registered Users Posts: 64 Big grins
    edited July 24, 2008
    Hmmm...glad i didnt buy a Nikon. Im already screwed up as it isrolleyes1.gif
  • CuongCuong Registered Users Posts: 1,510 Major grins
    edited July 24, 2008
    I think Nikon cameras have the plus side on the left and the minus side on the right even from the 35mm film models. I just don't know why.

    Cuong
    "She Was a Little Taste of Heaven – And a One-Way Ticket to Hell!" - Max Phillips
  • jpljpl Registered Users Posts: 96 Big grins
    edited July 24, 2008
    This explains why I never could understand the exposure to the right articles I read!

    I have an old Nikon N8008 film camera and I'm pretty sure it's meter is like the D40s.

    I wonder why Nikon flips it around? I've never used anything other than Nikon, but every time I turn that wheel I turn it the wrong way because that is what fees intuitive to me. Now I know I just need to switch to Canon!
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  • DJ-S1DJ-S1 Registered Users Posts: 2,303 Major grins
    edited July 24, 2008
    jpl wrote:
    Now I know I just need to switch to Canon!
    Come to the dark - I mean, the light side Luke! ylsuper.gif
  • AngeloAngelo Super Moderators Posts: 8,937 moderator
    edited July 26, 2008
    jpl wrote:
    Now I know I just need to switch to Canon![/quote


    heresy!
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    Moderator of: Location, Location, Location , Mind Your Own Business & Other Cool Shots
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