Meh. Every camera needs some exposure compensation. With the D750 I usually run it at +1. I can't remember what I shot my D700 at. At least with Nikon it's mostly set-once-and-forget; when I rented a 5D3 I had to adjust it nearly every shot I took.
Lee Saxon wrote:
Meh. Every camera needs some exposure compensation. With the D750 I usually run it at +1. I can't remember what I shot my D700 at. At least with Nikon it's mostly set-once-and-forget; when I rented a 5D3 I had to adjust it nearly every shot I took.
You just leave your camera at +1.0 EV most of the time? That would definitely not work as a base/default setting for any camera I have ever owned! Whatever works though.
codeninja, yes most of your histograms are to the left, but if you look closely there is a tail that pretty much goes all the way to the right. In fact, with the speakers, you actually have highlight clipping going on. However, there is no loss of color information since the clipped metal rim is pretty much white anyway.
So the matrix metering is protecting those highlights. If you continue looking at your histogram (as I see it in CS6), in none of the shots do you have any clipped shadows. You have recoverable detail in all of them.
No clipped shadows and no loss of color information = proper exposure
I was told back in the days if the D70 and D80 that digital is like slide film. You worry about the highlights and et the shadows fall where they may. Once a highlight is blown it cannot be recovered--shadows are far easier.
wellsjt wrote:
The exif on one of shots from the 2nd set shows:
1) Using portrait scene mode
2) Center weighted metering being used
3) "Brightness = -124" and "Hue Adjustment = -124"
On #1, I recommend learning to not use the scene modes at all, but for troubleshooting, you definitely don't want to be using it.
On #2, the thread says matrix metering. So you in center weight mode?
On #3, I don't know what this would normally be for the portrait picture control, but it looks suspicious.
I would recommend checking your settings and go through this systematically.
I highly doubt it is a problem with the camera.
#1 what do you mean not to use portrait picture scene mode? As long as I use JPEG I'll be using one of the picture control modes.. You mean use standard picture control instead?
Regarding #3 I have no clue but you're right that I need to look deeper.
At this point I'm convinced that it's my use of the camera and I'm trying to find the right way to use. I'll be using manual mode more often.
your letting the camera take control of what you need to learn to do. i have never used picture control modes. i use sjms picture control modes.
i strongly suggest you do, if you insist on shooting jpg, give yourself a second chance by also including raw on shots that are deemed important. that way you have a chance to possibly recover and or really control the shot in post.
codeninja wrote:
#1 what do you mean not to use portrait picture scene mode? As long as I use JPEG I'll be using one of the picture control modes.
Two different things.
The SCENE mode is an auto kind of mode in the consumer Nikon cameras. ie. Set it to portrait when taking a portrait. Set it to sports when taking fast moving action. Etc. That's the dial on the top of the camera that says SCENE, and it will make decisions and set things presumably appropriate for taking those kinds of pictures.
The PICTURE CONTROL is a feature in the camera that has presets (with adjustment capability) for image rendition, mainly of concern for JPG shooters.
The SCENE mode is an auto kind of mode in the consumer Nikon cameras. ie. Set it to portrait when taking a portrait. Set it to sports when taking fast moving action. Etc. That's the dial on the top of the camera that says SCENE, and it will make decisions and set things presumably appropriate for taking those kinds of pictures.
The PICTURE CONTROL is a feature in the camera that has presets (with adjustment capability) for image rendition, mainly of concern for JPG shooters.
In that case, I never touched one of those scene mode as some people claimed. All those example photos were taken mostly in Aperture priority mode. I don't get why people assumed I used the scene mode.
p.3 #10 · D750 with matrix metering underexposing?
Something we tend to forget is a very important distinction. A camera is for capturing an image, not presenting it. As I mentioned above, the camera has captured the complete dynamic range of the images with no loss of color information and minimal clipping in the highlights, a proper exposure.
It requires post processing to make the image into what we see in our mind's eye. A jpeg render is according to the esthetics of an engineer in Japan. By shooting raw, we have the latitude to create our own.
p.3 #12 · D750 with matrix metering underexposing?
codeninja wrote:
In that case, I never touched one of those scene mode as some people claimed. All those example photos were taken mostly in Aperture priority mode. I don't get why people assumed I used the scene mode.
p.3 #13 · D750 with matrix metering underexposing?
OTOH... you are, or should, always be using some of your brain for composition - all the automated stuff allows you to concentrate on that (to reminisce... I fondly recall my joy at getting an actual light meter built right inot the new cameras - just match that needle and yer there)
OP - you should always shoot raw or raw + jpg - the scene modes only affect jpg - maybe they do a better job at taking a raw file and making it into a good jpg than many of us do (or want to take time to do), but you will then have the option to decide if you want to make a "better" jpg in post
Nikon used a huge database of images, many experts, and a lot of computer processing to decide how to configure the different scene modes and other automated features on their cameras but there are often times to change things a bit
people _are_ trying to help you, and there is nothing wrong with not being an expert at everything
