What is Manual Exposure? 

Manual Exposure control camera, you adjust the shutter speed and aperture control until the camera meter indicates that you have chosen setting that will provide proper exposure. It mean is you must do every things to get the correct exposure. In the good old day, after loaded the film into the camera, insert the square tab of the film's box to the camera film memo holder, usual in the center back of the camera, this is very useful to remind you what type of film, speed of film - ASA/ISO - and the number of pictures -12/24/36 on the film. The 5 steps below is how Manual Exposure needed.

1. Set the ASA/ISO on the camera to match the film ASA/ISO
2. Set the camera's shutter speed
3. Set the lens aperture to match the lighting condition
4. Focus
5. Click, you got the picture you wanted

The pictures come out perfectly or not are depend on your steps 1 - 5 above.

Why do I need it? 

Most point and shoot cameras, you can not use Manual Exposure, but a good SLR camera with interchangeable lenses system, you may need to know how to use Manual Exposure for total control the out come of the pictures.

When to use it?

1. Back lighting, shooting indoor against a open window as a background
2. Sunsets, Fireworks, Astronomy
3. Portraits with lighting ratio (fill in light)
4. Bracketing - a series of pictures in from over exposures to under exposures

See Illustrated Photo Below: