Canon 7D: AEB, The Auto Exposure Bracketing
With the AEB, Auto Exposure Bracketing, you can take automatically three or more photos with a different exposure for each photo. The Auto Exposure Bracketing is most often used for HDR.
AEB was not designed for HDR but to get the “right” exposure. The Canon 7D only allows 3 auto bracketed exposures up to ±3 EV, while Nikon allows more exposures but bracketed up to ±1 EV.
Setting the AEB, Auto Exposure Bracketing on the Canon 7D
Setting the AEB, Auto Exposure Bracketing on the Canon 7D
The question is what gets bracketed? That will depend on the exposure mode. The more surprising is what happens when the Quick Control Dial is involved to get more than the 3 auto bracketed exposures or to adjust the settings.
| Mode | Adjusted | Quick Control Dial |
|---|---|---|
| Manual (M) | Shutter Speed | Aperture |
| Aperture Priority (Av) | Shutter Speed | Shutter Speed |
| Shutter Priority (Tv) | Aperture | Aperture |
| Program (P) | Shutter Speed | Combination of Aperture/Shutter Speed |
- It “pisses me off” that in the Manual mode, the AEB adjusts the aperture when using the Quick Control Dial. I'd like to use it to get 6 bracketed exposures instead of the standard 3 bracketed exposures.
- Most often, the AEB is used either in Aperture Priority or in Manual mode. Using any other mode will change the focus, due to the change in the depth of field.
- Watch out for the focus, especially if you have the focus attached to the shutter.
- You should use the Hi-Speed Continuous shooting. The faster the auto-bracketing, the less ghosting.
- AEB is most often used with a tripod. If the exposure is fast enough, set with Hi-Speed, the right foot stance, a wide-angle lens then you can often get by without a tripod.