Autobracketing is a feature of some more advanced cameras, particularly single-lens reflex cameras (SLR), where the camera will take several successive shots (usually three) with slightly different settings. Later, the best-looking pictures can be picked from the batch. When the photographer achieves the same result by changing the camera settings between each shot, this is simply called bracketing. For more information, check out an online photography degree to find classes that can teach you the step by step procedure on how you can properly perform autobracketing.

Auto Bracketing

The most common type of autobracketing is exposure autobracketing, where the camera is set to capture the same image several times with different exposure settings, both over-exposed and under-exposed (lighter and darker) compared to the current setting on the camera. Depending on the camera, the difference between each of the autobracketed shots could be anywhere up to two stops in each direction, in half-stop or one-third stop increments. These shots can also be used to create HDR (High Dynamic Range) photos. We will talk about these in more details later.

Cameras can perform autobracketing by adjusting either the shutter speed or the aperture setting, but not both at the same time.

Another common form of autobracketing is white balance autobracketing; this applies only to digital cameras, not to film cameras. This setting causes the camera to capture the same image several times with slightly different white balance settings, with both higher and lower color temperatures (bluer and redder) compared to the current setting on the camera.