Camera Labs

Greetings!
I've had a pleasure of taking quite a few photos with my new 400D and I must admit that feelings are... well, mixed. Firstly I've read that 400D tends to underexpose but in my experience it is actually doing the opposite. I've been shooting in Av mode, standard style, AWB, matrix metering and it appears that all pictures are overexposed by more than 1 stop. I've upgraded the firmware to version 1.1.1, would that be the culprit? Has anyone encountered similar problem?

Hmmm, maybe it's been coincidence with the subjects you've been shooting? Or maybe you've got the 400D which doesn't underexpose by default!

Like all cameras though it's a case of getting used to it and the way it handles the subjects you prefer to take... after a while you'll know you'll probably need to give a little compensation one way or the other for certain situations...

Now that you have mentioned it, it looks that landscapes tend to be overexposed. Looking at portraits (I took them using the same settings) they seem to be more or less okay. Next time I'll set everything to auto portrait or auto landscape mode and see how it handles exposure. I must admit I never tried any of the auto modes. I'll let you know how I went.

P (Program) mode is a good compromise. The camera does it's own aperture and exposure thing, the flash never pops up unexpectedly and you still retain control of all the other settings used in Av or Tv modes and can save your pictures as RAW files for best quality.

Bob.

_________________
OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

Hi Bob,

Looks like you may be right but I haven't tried P mode yet. I took a few test shots this weekend and it looks like a lot depends on mode. In Av and Tv results are pretty much the same. However, as Gordon pointed out, it also depends on the subject. I noticed that sky almost invariably comes out completely washed out even if the light is not too harsh. Landscape mode gives acceptable results so obviously there is something happening during picture processing that "corrects" flaws visible in raw format. Well, my conclusion is that I got myself overpriced point-and-shoot with the added benefit of exchangable lenses

Some under/over exposure discussion: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read. ... e=22678297

Cheers!

_________________
Canon 400D + 18-55mm | Hama Star 63 | Lowepro Off Trail 1
Nikon D80 + 18-135mm
My Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/17959284@N03/
My Sony H1 gallery:
http://picasaweb.google.com/DrazenGall

Yesterday, I've done some more test shots and it looks like Av AND Tv modes overexpose, however under P it seems to be acceptable. More, just as suggested earlier, subject does matter. It looks like under AV and Tv the camera cannot handle dynamic range that otherwise (under P) it handles without trouble. I was just wondering should I send the camera for checkup and possible adjustment? I guess I can always compensate in Av and Tv so perhaps it's not worth it? From past experience these repairs will fix one thing but can break another so I am a bit hesitant.

Csnaus, could you post some pictures that you deem over-/underexposed?

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Hi Thomas!

This is particularly bad one


and there is another one, but this is pretty hard subject so I am not too disappointed with the job my camera had done:

Hi csnaus,

I apologise straight away if you have already done this but check your camera's metering mode (page 73 of the manual - Evaluative is the default) and the Exposure Compensation setting (page 74 of the manual). If these settings have got changed then that might save an expensive camera service.

Bob.

_________________
OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

Yep csnaus, I'd agree that these pics are overexposed at around +1EV.
What do other forum users think?

_________________
Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Agree with you tombomba2. Maybe first one even +2EV, but I am not shore. Can U csnaus give us exif info for this photos?

Cheers!

_________________
Canon 400D + 18-55mm | Hama Star 63 | Lowepro Off Trail 1
Nikon D80 + 18-135mm
My Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/17959284@N03/
My Sony H1 gallery:
http://picasaweb.google.com/DrazenGall

It seems both are overexposed.

_________________
Nikon D90 + MB-D80 + SB-600 + AF-S VR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 + AF-S 35mm f/1.8 + AF 85mm f/1.8 | My photos on Flickr.

No problems:
for the first one:
1/60, f3.5, ISO 100
and the second one:
1/60, f5.0, ISO 100

Both on Av with the same lens Canon 28mm f1.8, pattern (is this the name? I keep forgetting) metering, manual AF selection on centre point.
I've put two more photos here

Hi Bob!
Thanks for this reminder. I have checked it all and it is set to evaluative (I have to remember this!) and there is no compensation set.