What is AEL in about 2 minutes (Auto Exposure Lock)

Today I show you what the AEL button does. Most modern cameras have this button but it is seldom used or known about. Just by pressing it you can lock your exposure and recompose your photograph!

My Equipment list:

Filming camera gear:

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Most cameras have this written on them or have an option in the menus called AEL…..so what is it?

First of all I describe how the exposure system works in your camera

When you half press your shutter button, it triggers the auto exposure to kick in, if you’re in the semi automatic or the fully automatic modes, it will set the parameters that you have told it to and will continually adjust those as the frame changes in numbers of bright to dark pixels.

So as an example, I have the camera in aperture priority and as I move it up and away from the window, there are less bright pixels in the frame….so the camera will adjust the exposure by changing the shutter speed automatically…if it was in shutter priority, it would automatically adjust the aperture….or if I was in auto ISO, it would adjust that if needed.

AEL stands for auto exposure lock, I have it set to the AEL button, which is a fully customisable button, but when I press this, it locks the exposure at the point just as I press it, so with it pressed, when I move the camera up, the exposure stays locked until I release it.

So you can use this to lock on to an exposure that you like. Say if you take a shot and it's under exposed, you can quickly point the camera at a darker area, the auto exposure system will bringten up the shot, you then press the AEL button and then bring it back to your original framing with the new locked exposure.

And vice versa, if its too over exposed, point it at a brighter area so the auto system brings down the exposure, then press the AEL button and keep it pressed, bring it back to the framing you want and then you should have a darker exposure.

Its basically a different way of quickly manipulating the exposure to where you want it.

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Thanks

Mike

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[geozarish]

Finally I understand today after 4 years having the camera. Big thanks.

[Ninolift]

The best explain of AEL function of Youtube! 👍

[dimitristsakiris]

Simple and well explained, just like every video should be!

[ianloe]

I mostly shoot in manual but this is amazing. Learning every single thing I can helps me grow as a photographer/videographer. Thanks again Mike! We appreciate you!!!

[earavichandran]

Very first video I saw when I had a doubt about AEL.... You are wonderful... Almost two years gone.

[ελενηπανταχου]

finally someone who explains in simple words and examples something we need to know!! thanks a lot sir!

[mikeyraah]

I remember back in 1999 I was in Egypt on holiday and visited the Cairo museum. I had a Pentax P50 35mm film camera as DSLR were not around so no camera display to view, inside the museum it was dimly lit and you were not allowed to use flash. Standing in front of Tutankhamun"s gold funeral mask I first pointed my camera at a skylight high up in the ceiling which the sun was shining through and pressed the AEL button, then refocussed on the mask and got some excellent photos..

[skolforce]

Thanks very well explained, directly to the point without too much blah blah blah and annoying intros

[davidschulder]

Thanks (once again) for this great QUICK video. Since finally learning what this AEL buttons is for, it has occurred to me: in some video shooting scenarios, you do NOT want the camera to continually "correct "exposure. Example: You are filming a person in an interior setting. The camera or the subject moves to another nearby position. Sometimes you want camera to adjust, but other times, you don't. Person / camera view has moved to a more shaded area, for example. Sometimes, you want to show that "Hey, it darker over here. This person is now in shadow." It'll depend on your intention / what you want, but having option to NOT have camera change exposure settings is awesome!!

[PabloHernandez-ypuf]

At last, someone that knows what is saying.
THANKS A LOT.
Many people talk and talk and talk but don't say anything useful, then, you realize that they have no idea what they're saying.

[mr.j]

Great channel, full of information on camera settings, exposure settings, rule of thirds, everything, and most of them are simple, under 2 mins.

[quah]

Wow, the best explanation I have ever heard, thank you so much!

[victortravels]

Mike, you are awesome! I work with events and I'm learning a lot with you. My big thank you from Brazil.

[clivedowning]

Mike great video, even after 5 years, still totally relevant. I use spot metering now with this function. Makes life a lot easier.

[Ureyeuh]

Holy shitt. This guy actually explained a camera function in the time he said he would. Damn. Subb'd.

[monadehghani]

Thank you Mike! I am glad to find your YouTube page.

[sovandhal]

Explanation was simple and really easy to understand. Thanks a lot! Subscribed.

[AmruthKailas]

Superb and simple explanation that anyone can understand, thanks Mike👍🏼

[Arstvlog]

I was searching for this for a long time. Thanks 👍👍

[BMXTraining]

Thanks man, had no idea for years what that button was for, lol!