Can't change exposure compensation?

Just got a Nikon P520, but I'm unable to change the exposure compensation while in Manual mode. All of the pics are turning out very dark since I changed the setting earlier yet now I can't change it. Any suggestions?

Exposure compensation doesn't work in manual mode unless you are using a flash or using ISO-Auto. You adjust your exposure by adjusting the shutter speed and/or the aperture (f-stop).

Exposure compensation is useful when you are using one of the automatic modes (Auto, program, shutter priority, or aperture priority).

MANUAL means exactly that. YOU are controlling all the settings. Exposure compensation can only work in the auto and semi auto modes such as Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority. For instance, if you were shooting in Aperture Priority with a set aperture of f8 and the normal exposure derived by the camera was with a shutter speed of 1/125, and you put in a one stop negative exposure compensation, the camera would set the shutter speed to decrease the exposure by one stop by changing the shutter speed from 1/125 to 1/250.

How can you expect exposure compensation to work in full Manual mode when YOU are controlling all settings?

There's no exposure compensation in Manual mode. None. YOU are the one choosing the settings. The camera will not compensate. The number line simply shows the lightmeter in this mode.

There's no exposure compensation in Manual mode in any fully adjustable cameras. To get the proper exposure in manual mode, you need to use the light meter in your camera. Dark photos mean that you are underexposing the images.

You need to read your camera user manual - it should tell you which modes exposure compensation works with, and how to check the exposure in manual mode.

EC only works in auto or semi-auto modes, where the camera *compensates* for the automatically determined exposure. Since in manual mode the camera isn't automatically determining the exposure, it can't make any compensation to an auto exposure -- so EC doesn't function. It's assumed that in manual mode, you're setting the exposure you want, and the camera's not going to change it.

If your manual mode exposures are too dark, then bump up the ISO, use a slower shutter speed, or open up the aperture -- or a combination of those.