Underexposed images from D100

[snowspeeder]

Tried on my friend's D100. Had an enjoyable shoot. But I realised the images tend to be severly underexposed (I used aperture priority with and without SB800). Should I have increased the EV by a full stop or more? I only pushed it for +0.3. Pls advise.

[snowspeeder]

Would it be better if I adjust the EV to +1.0 - 1.3?

[meepokman]

How did you come to the conclusion that it is severly underexpose? From LCD / photo / monitor or histogram?

[seankyh]

Originally Posted by snowspeeder Would it be better if I adjust the EV to +1.0 - 1.3?

Try applying custom curves. I'm using fontogenic point and shoot. Natural skin tones, no underexposure. EV change optional.

[snowspeeder]

It was after I downloaded to my computer. When compared to my other images from another camera, the underexposure shot at EV 0.0 was evident. I had to increase the contrast and brightness quite a lot to bring it back.

[KNIGHT ONG]

Try EV +0.7 , that is what I normally shoot when I using my D100.

[catchlights]

Originally Posted by snowspeeder Would it be better if I adjust the EV to +1.0 - 1.3?

If you shoot a full frame with 18% gray card with the correct meter reading after you custom set WB with the same gray card, load in computer, check the GRB value is not 128,128,128, than you can said that you camera meter reading is underexpose.

Dial up the EV can help, but t best way to solve this problem is to load a custom curve into your camera.

You need Nikon Capture to load the custom curve into D100, and there many different kinds of custom curve available, you also can write one yourself with Nikon Capture.

Hope this help.

[snowspeeder]

Originally Posted by KNIGHT ONG Try EV +0.7 , that is what I normally shoot when I using my D100.

Thanks. But if I set to +1.0 or higher, will this affect the images?

[espn]

How about showing some images?

[snowspeeder]

Originally Posted by catchlights If you shoot a full frame with 18% gray card with the correct meter reading after you custom set WB with the same gray card, load in computer, check the GRB value is not 128,128,128, than you can said that you camera meter reading is underexpose. Dial up the EV can help, but t best way to solve this problem is to load a custom curve into your camera. You need Nikon Capture to load the custom curve into D100, and there many different kinds of custom curve available, you also can write one yourself with Nikon Capture. Hope this help.

Very insightful, cheers.
Apologies I can't upload the images as they are my client's.

[KNIGHT ONG]

Originally Posted by snowspeeder Thanks. But if I set to +1.0 or higher, will this affect the images?

Yes .. but not recommended to set it to +1 and above, you still can play around with the shutter speed and aperture rite ??

[meepokman]

Hi snowspeeder,

it could be that the pics from the other camera is over-exposed

Over-expose & under-expose is affected by all the settings. If you didnt calibrate your monitor, then what u see on the monitor is not what you will get. The brightness & contrast setting of the monitor will affect the how the picture will appear to you.

To know if your picture is really under-expose:

(1) Calibrate monitor
(2) Look at Histogram
(3) Get the lab to print a uncorrected picture.


As I use both D70 & D100, my experience is that they tend to be slightly under-expose. My personal preference is to slightly under-expose my digital pics, so details won't be lost. (I would over-expose for film).


I wouldn't recommend over-exposing too much. Bcuz if you over-expose, details will be lost -> expecially for digital.

So, if you find your pic slightly under-exposed (-0.3EV), dun be shocked.

[catchlights]

Originally Posted by snowspeeder Thanks. But if I set to +1.0 or higher, will this affect the images?

The purpose of using custom curve is to bring up the mid tone without blow up the highlights.