Exposure Assist Menu

The Exposure Assist menu provides access to settings for the Auto Exposure (AE) feature. The AE feature maintains a constant image brightness, even if the actual scene brightness changes.

The AE feature is different than traditional AE, in that RED AE only controls the amount of light that hits the sensor, either by adjusting aperture or exposure. RED AE analyzes RAW data before the ISO curve, and ensures that the sensor matches the user-selected brightness.

Auto Exposure Modes

The Exposure Assist modes determine when the AE tools go into effect:

• Off: The AE tools are not enabled.
• Single Shot: Map one of the following actions to trigger the AE tools:
  • AE: Start
  • AE/AF: Start
• Continuous in Preview: The AE tools are enabled in preview only.
• Continuous in Preview/Record: The AE tools are enabled in both preview and record.

NOTE: In Stills mode, AE/AF: Start is mapped to Record Half Press by default. For more information, go to Default Key Functions.

Exposure Priority

• Manual: You have full control of aperture and shutter. (Default)
• Auto: The camera sets the aperture and shutter to meet the selected exposure.
• Av (Aperture Value): You set the aperture, and then the camera sets the shutter to meet the selected exposure.
• Tv (Time Value): You set the shutter, and then the camera sets the aperture to meet the selected exposure.

Exp Comp and EV Shift

Use the Exp Comp (Exposure Compensation) slider and the EV Shift setting to adjust the brightness of the image. The default setting of zero (0) attempts to match the average brightness on an 18% grey-target. When AE is enabled, the target and current measured brightness for the selected metering area display in the histogram as a grey and white line, respectively.

You can also map these actions to user keys:

• AE: Decrease EV Offset: Reduces the EV Offset in increments of 0.2.
• AE: Increase EV Offset: Increases the EV Offset in increments of 0.2.

Metering Mode

Metering determines the area of the sensor that is used for brightness evaluation:

• Spot: Weights the measurement to the center 5% of the sensor, approximately.
• Center: Weights the measurement to the center 25% of the sensor, approximately.
• Average: Averages the entire image area of the sensor.

Speed

The Speed setting determines how quickly the algorithm adapts to changing light.

• Slow: Settings adapt in small steps. Use this setting for fewer and gradual adjustments.
• Normal: Settings adapt in medium steps.
• Fast: Settings adapt in large steps.

Selection

The Selection setting determines which values the algorithm uses. This enables you to modify the list of values so that the algorithm selects only specific parameters. Use Free Value Selection to improve accuracy.

For example, you can modify the aperture list to include f/2.8 and f/5.6. If Free Value Selection is enabled, the algorithm only selects aperture parameters between f/2.8 and f/5.6. This setting limits the range of focal depth.

AE Indicators

When the AE feature is able to match the sensor brightness, the overlay turns yellow. If the brightness fluctuates more than half of a stop, the overlay turns red.

When AE is enabled, the “AE” indicator displays before the aperture and exposure parameters in the Upper Status Row. The user-selected brightness and current measured brightness display in the histogram as grey and white lines, respectively.

AE Limits

All limits, includes custom modifications made to available menu items, are taken into account when AE is active. For example, if you modify the available list of exposure values, only those values are considered.