Auto Backlight Control

Auto Backlighting Control (ABC) refers to a feature on a camera that automatically adjusts a camera’s settings to accommodate the backlighting of a given frame. When turned on, the ABC setting can set the camera’s flash, aperture and shutter timer to compensate for the lighting conditions in the scene.

Photographers should only turn on the auto backlighting control if they want to accentuate the quality of backlighting in their pictures. Backlighting gives photos a mysterious, intriguing quality.

If the backlight within the camera’s lens is dull (and the film is of normal speed), then the auto backlighting control will widen the aperture, make the flash brighter and extend the shutter timer. The point of each of these settings is to ensure that the film receives enough light possible. With less light available in the scene, the ABC setting will open up every possible avenue of light on the camera to try to capture the image.

Conversely, if the backlighting of a scene is brighter, the auto backlighting control (ABC) will adjust the camera’s settings so that less light enters the camera’s lens. As a result, the aperture will be constricted, the flash will dampen and shutter time will be shorter.