Sometimes, a digital photograph is "just a little" not perfect in exposure. While most digital photo editing software allows one to repair such images, it is much easier (and less time consuming) if one could simply get it right the first time.

Enter the "bracketing" mode. Bracketing is a technique that takes multiple frames when the shutter release button is pressed, however, each frame has a slightly different aperture exposure and/or shutter speed setting.



Bracketing thus provides multiple frames, each one just a little different, and chances are one of the bracketed images is "perfect".

Note that (or this, whichever) not all cameras have bracketing capabilities. Most higher end DSLR cameras that are capable of taking multiple frames (4 or 5 frames per second), may offer this feature. This is one factor that should influence your buying decision, having bracketing is an enormously useful feature.


Bracketing uses a technique that is also available to cameras that lack this mode, basically over or under exposing the digital photo. Virtually all cameras have an AE adjustment, that forces + or - values to the aperture setting and/or shutter speed. Over exposing (+) results in too much light being allowed onto the CCD sensor, while under exposing (-) reduces the light falling on the CCD photo sensor.

The AE override settings are usually done in fractions of a step, 0.1 or 0.3, the resultant image is not over or under exposed to the point of being useless, but just enough to make a difference in the image quality.

Bracketing uses this feature automatically, taking 3 or 5 or more frames in rapid succession, adjusting the AE from - to + across frames (under exposed to over exposed). This results in a bracketed set of images.


Bracketing is suitable for still subjects, portraits or landscapes for example. Moving subjects may not make for a suitable bracket, since each frame of the captured motion will be with a different AE setting. This may or may not yield that "perfect" shot.

The DSLR camera memory media is an important factor in taking bracketed shots. Since multiple images are being taken, each must be written out to the memory card before the next frame can be captured. A slow memory card will prevent the camera from taking high speed shots. The fastest memory media supported by the camera should be used. Memory cards are reusable, don't skimp on this important linchpin of DSLR technology, they are a worthy investment. As each DSLR camera is unique, review the specifications carefully and choose only the recommended brands and ratings for memory storage media.

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