Exposure, colour and light conditions

Good exposure for your photos requires the right amount of light. The camera automatically detects and adjusts to ambient light conditions.

Different exposures are required, for example, when taking photos of faces, moving objects or in low light.

Optimising light conditions

Look for light with direction and colour that gives a scene shape and depth. This type of light occurs just before sunrise and at sunset. Natural light from a window is also good.
For higher quality photos in low light, you need to keep the camera steady. You can place the camera on a solid surface and use the self-timer.
Even if light conditions are poor, try to take photos with and without the flash. Sometimes the quality is better without the flash.

To use the flash

When using the camera, tap the flash icon displayed on the screen, for example .
If required, change the flash setting.
Press the camera key or tap the shutter button to take a photo or record a video.

Available settings depend on the capturing mode selected.

When the background is brighter than the object, use Fill flash to remove unwanted dark shadows.

Colour, brightness and exposure value

Your camera automatically adjusts the colour, brightness and exposure value by detecting the light conditions and estimating the colour temperature of ambient light. Digital cameras can only estimate the colour temperature, so you may need to adjust the settings to get it correct.

If you experience yellow-coloured photos in indoor environments or bluish photos when using the flash, try adjusting the colour.

To achieve better exposures in low-light environments, change the brightness for photos and videos. If you are using Manual mode for photos, change the exposure value.

To adjust the colour and brightness

When using the camera, tap .
Drag the sliders to adjust the colour and brightness.
Press the camera key or tap the shutter button to take a photo or record a video.
Tap to reset and close the colour setting.

To adjust the exposure value

When using the camera, tap Mode > .
Tap EV and drag the slider to adjust the exposure value.
Close the settings menu. The setting is saved.
Press the camera key or tap the shutter button to take a photo.

This setting is only available in Manual mode.

Shutter speed

Shutter speed refers to how long the shutter is open and the camera sensor is exposed to light.

A fast shutter speed helps to freeze motion, while a slow shutter speed can create an effect called "motion blur", where moving objects appear blurred along their line of motion.

The shutter speed is automatically adjusted in photos and videos.

To adjust the shutter speed

When using the camera, tap Mode > .
Tap SS and drag the slider to adjust the shutter speed.
Close the settings menu. The setting is saved.
Press the camera key or tap the shutter button to take the photo.

This setting is only available in Manual mode for the main camera.

ISO

ISO determines how sensitive your camera is to light. A low ISO number means lower sensitivity, and a high ISO number means higher sensitivity. Higher sensitivity can add blur to your photos.

Choose a higher ISO value when taking photos of moving objects or when taking photos in low light without the flash.

If there is too much light, use the lowest ISO setting to achieve a higher image quality.

ISO is automatically adjusted when taking photos and videos.

To adjust the ISO value

When using the camera, tap Mode > .
Tap ISO and select an ISO value.
Close the settings menu. The setting is saved.
Press the camera key or tap the shutter button to take a photo.

This setting is only available in Manual mode for the main camera.

Strong backlight (HDR)

Strong backlight (HDR) is automatically adjusted when taking photos. You can also adjust for strong backlight manually in Manual mode.

To adjust towards a strong backlight

When using the camera, tap Mode > .
Tap and select On.
Close the settings menu. The setting is saved.
Press the camera key or tap the shutter button to take a photo.

This setting is only available in Manual mode.

White balance

White balance is automatically adjusted when taking photos and videos. In Manual mode, you can adjust the white balance manually.

To adjust the white balance

When using the camera, tap Mode > .
Tap WB and select one of the pre-defined light conditions, for example .
Close the settings menu. The setting is saved.
Press the camera key or tap the shutter button to take a photo.

This setting is only available in Manual mode.

White balance settings

	Auto Adjust the colour balance automatically
	Cloudy Adjust the colour balance for a cloudy sky
	Daylight Adjust the colour balance for sunny outdoor conditions
	Fluorescent Adjust the colour balance for fluorescent lighting
	Incandescent Adjust the colour balance for warm lighting conditions, such as under light bulbs

Optimising exposure

Exposure metering measures the amount of light that strikes an object, to optimise exposure.

Exposure metering is automatically adjusted when taking photos and videos. You can adjust the exposure manually in Manual mode, for example for a specific part of a photo.