How to Set Up Auto Exposure Bracketing (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji) (2026)
Quick Answer: Every major camera brand hides exposure bracketing (AEB) in its exposure or drive menu — look for “Bracketing” or “BKT.” Set 3 frames at ±2 EV as a starting point, switch to continuous shooting, and fire one burst. This guide covers Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Fujifilm menu paths, plus the universal settings that matter more than brand.
The 30-Second Version (Any Brand)
- Find Bracketing / AEB / BKT in your camera’s shooting or exposure menu.
- Set 3 frames at ±2 EV — the safest starting point for most scenes.
- Switch to continuous drive mode so one shutter press fires all frames.
- Shoot RAW, lock white balance, and keep the camera still.
Exact menu names vary slightly between models — if a path below doesn’t match your camera, search the same keywords in your model’s manual. The principles are identical everywhere.
Canon: Bracketing (AEB)
On most Canon bodies (EOS R and DSLR lines), look for AEB in the shooting menu — it is usually grouped with exposure compensation.
- Set the number of shots and the EV spread (e.g., 3 shots, ±2 EV).
- Enable continuous shooting so one press captures the full sequence.
- Tip: on mirrorless R bodies, the electronic shutter can fire the burst silently — handy for interiors.
Nikon: BKT Button
Nikon gives bracketing its own BKT button on most DSLRs and Z-series bodies — hold it and turn a command dial to set the number of frames and EV steps.
- Confirm the bracketing order and frame count in the bracketing/film menu section.
- Pair with continuous release mode for a one-press burst.
- Tip: Nikon’s bracketing indicator in the viewfinder shows remaining frames — don’t lift your finger early.
Sony: Bracket Setting
On Sony Alpha bodies, bracketing lives under the drive/bracket menu — look for “Bracket: Cont.” (continuous bracket) or single bracket options.
- Set frames (3 is the default; some bodies offer 5 or 9) and the EV step.
- “Bracket: Cont.” fires the whole set with one held press — the fastest option for changing light.
- Tip: assign bracketing to a custom button if you shoot HDR often; digging through menus costs you the light.
Fujifilm: BKT Setting
Fujifilm puts bracketing under the drive button/mode dial — select BKT, then choose the bracketing type (AE bracketing) and configure frames and steps.
- AE BKT is the one you want for HDR (Fuji also offers film simulation and focus bracketing — don’t confuse them).
- Drive mode set to continuous keeps the burst together.
- Tip: Fuji’s EV steps max out smaller than some rivals on certain bodies — shoot 5 frames at ±1 EV if ±2 EV isn’t offered.
Brand Paths Compared
| Brand | Menu keyword to look for | Typical starting point | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canon | AEB (shooting menu) | 3 frames, ±2 EV | Grouped with exposure compensation |
| Nikon | BKT (dedicated button) | 3 frames, ±2 EV | Hold BKT + turn dial; viewfinder frame counter |
| Sony | Bracket (drive menu) | 3 frames, ±2 EV | “Bracket: Cont.” = one-press burst |
| Fujifilm | BKT (drive mode) | 3 frames, ±2 EV | Pick AE BKT, not film-simu or focus BKT |
Menu names differ slightly between models — when in doubt, search “bracket” in your camera’s on-screen menu help.
Universal Bracketing Technique (Matters More Than Brand)
- Shoot manual (M) with auto ISO off. The camera should vary only shutter speed between frames — if aperture changes, depth of field shifts and merging suffers.
- Use a tripod whenever possible; alignment software fixes small shifts but can’t fix large ones. See our bracketing guide for the full technique.
- Shoot RAW. JPEG brackets merge, but RAW brackets merge better — more headroom, cleaner shadows.
- Lock white balance (a fixed Kelvin value, not Auto) so frames don’t drift in color.
- Cover the viewfinder on long exposures to prevent light leaks shifting exposure between frames.
How Many Frames and What EV Step?
- 3 frames at ±2 EV — the default for most daylight scenes. Fast, enough range.
- 5–7 frames at ±2 EV — interiors, sunsets, any scene with extreme contrast.
- 3 frames at ±1 EV — subtle scenes, or when your camera limits the step size.
More frames are not always better — each extra frame adds merge time and ghosting risk. Match the range to the scene.
What to Do With Your Brackets
Once shot, merge them in Luminance HDR (free): import the set, align, de-ghost, tone map, and export. The step-by-step is in our usage guide, and batch mode handles whole shoots at once.
FAQs
Where is bracketing on my camera?
Search for “Bracketing,” “AEB,” or “BKT” in your shooting/exposure or drive menu. Canon lists it as AEB, Nikon has a dedicated BKT button, Sony puts it in the drive/bracket menu, and Fujifilm under the drive-mode BKT setting. Exact names vary by model.
How many bracketed shots do I need for HDR?
Three shots at ±2 EV covers most scenes. Use 5–7 frames for extreme contrast like interiors with bright windows or sunsets. More frames add merge time and ghosting risk, so match the count to the scene.
Should I use aperture or shutter speed for bracketing?
Shutter speed. Keep aperture, ISO, focus, and white balance locked, and let only the shutter speed vary — that way every frame shares the same depth of field and merges cleanly.
Can I bracket handheld?
Yes for 3-frame bursts in good light — merge software aligns small shifts. But a tripod is strongly recommended for 5+ frames, long exposures, or windy conditions.
RAW or JPEG for bracketing?
RAW. Both merge, but RAW files carry far more highlight and shadow data, which is exactly what HDR merging exploits. JPEG brackets work in a pinch.
My camera only offers ±1 EV steps. Is that enough?
Yes — shoot 5 frames at ±1 EV to cover a similar range to 3 frames at ±2 EV. Some Fujifilm and older bodies limit the step size; more frames compensate.
Luminance HDR is free and open source (GPLv2).