My first newbie E520 pics

[kkktoh]

Hi all.

Just bought the E520 over the weekend at Sitex 08.

Below are my first few newbie pics using the E520.

Anyway C&C pls.

[kkktoh]

The last 3 pics taken inside a moving car.

All pics taken with the included 14-42mm len.

[kkktoh]

By the way, I discover that the pics when downloaded to a pc, the pics seem underexposed as compared to when I view in the E520 LCD display. I then have to up the eV in order to get the right exposure.

Also when I try to take pics with the sky, it is so difficult to get the correct exposure such that the object (ie. the building) is not underexposed or the sky not overexposed.

[dorts]

Originally Posted by kkktoh By the way, I discover that the pics when downloaded to a pc, the pics seem underexposed as compared to when I view in the E520 LCD display. I then have to up the eV in order to get the right exposure.

It might be your PC. For me, the display turns out crap, but on PC, it rocks. For the photos. looks fine for some, although some looks a little underexposed.

Quote: Also when I try to take pics with the sky, it is so difficult to get the correct exposure such that the object (ie. the building) is not underexposed or the sky not overexposed.

This is because the dynamic range of the scene is too great. Meaning the sky much brighter than the the object. The camera can only capture so much.

Try not to shoot directly against the sun.

Keep the photos coming!

[Benares]

Welcome aboard! Keep the pictures coming too
btw, I just felt that the last 3 pics' white balance is a little 'cold' (tend to be bluish).

I'm using a loaned 520 as well, as a matter of fact, I reduce the brightness/contrast of my LCD down by 2 steps. I also do that on my 510 and I feel that it gives about just right exposure when previewed on camera and on LCD. If this doesn't work for you, then toggle the 'info' button when previewing your pics, it will come by the 'Highlights' & 'Shadows' portion which the camera will visually flash the over and under exposed areas respectively.

Hope the comment above is useful for you too.

Cheers~

[microcosm]

Welcome to the band of Olympians...

From the sample pics that you have posted, the images are a little over exposed. Might have to calibrate your monitor to make sure your monitor is showing the right levels. You can afford to tweak the "brightness" of your image down a little.

[TMLH]

Just look at the histogram. It will tell you whether you have expose it correctly.

[xlikman]

I had problem when shooting objects with the sky. It get overexpose. I finally realise that it was because I was using spot metering. I changed to center-weighted and it solve the problem. Hope this is useful to you.

[shengliang1981]

To get proper exposure of the sky and the building, you can try HDR, which is a technique to combine several shots at different exposure into one. I don't really have any experience in HDR but I am sure there are many HDR experts in Clubsnap who are willing to share some tips.

[aryanto]

Sometimes simple fix using ND Grad filter also helps, but it is not that good if you have complicated shaped skylines. In that case HDR is best but dont overdo it such that the building has that ugly HDR glow around the edges.

Also you can try under expose (meter sky properly) and tweak gamma - or adjust brigtness in shadow area.
Just remember to take the photo with ISO 100 on sturdy tripod, and use the 2 sec shutter delay so you dont shake the tripod while pressing the button.

[mactigasuku]

Originally Posted by kkktoh ....... The last 3 pics taken inside a moving car. All pics taken with the included 14-42mm len.

Do try to take picture NOT in a moving car - car windows are tinted and this do affect the pics as seen in your pictures. Unless you are looking for some special effects .... Also there is the element of "motion artifact". BTW hope you were not driving .....

The E520 is a great camera but it doesn't show from your pics

[kkktoh]

Originally Posted by Benares Welcome aboard! Keep the pictures coming too btw, I just felt that the last 3 pics' white balance is a little 'cold' (tend to be bluish). I'm using a loaned 520 as well, as a matter of fact, I reduce the brightness/contrast of my LCD down by 2 steps. I also do that on my 510 and I feel that it gives about just right exposure when previewed on camera and on LCD. If this doesn't work for you, then toggle the 'info' button when previewing your pics, it will come by the 'Highlights' & 'Shadows' portion which the camera will visually flash the over and under exposed areas respectively. Hope the comment above is useful for you too. Cheers~

Ok. Might be my LCD then. My LCD is about 4 yrs old already. Maybe is time to replace it.
Anyway thanks for the tips.

[kkktoh]

Originally Posted by TMLH Just look at the histogram. It will tell you whether you have expose it correctly.

Ohh ya, the histogram. Will take note of the histogram next time to help me to get the right exposure. Thanks.

[kkktoh]

Originally Posted by xlikman I had problem when shooting objects with the sky. It get overexpose. I finally realise that it was because I was using spot metering. I changed to center-weighted and it solve the problem. Hope this is useful to you.

I think I was using center-weighted metering. Anyway will the Digital ESP metering be better if I wanna take a scene that includes the sky and the surrounding buildings since Digital ESP metering senses and calculates the exposure differences in 49 separate areas in the image and output the optimum exposure for the entire image?

[kkktoh]

Originally Posted by aryanto Sometimes simple fix using ND Grad filter also helps, but it is not that good if you have complicated shaped skylines. In that case HDR is best but dont overdo it such that the building has that ugly HDR glow around the edges. Also you can try under expose (meter sky properly) and tweak gamma - or adjust brigtness in shadow area. Just remember to take the photo with ISO 100 on sturdy tripod, and use the 2 sec shutter delay so you dont shake the tripod while pressing the button.

Hi. Dont really get what u mean with the sentence 'Also you can try under expose (meter sky properly) and tweak gamma - or adjust brigtness in shadow area.'

Do you mean I do this setting on the camera itself or on some software like Photoshop?

[kkktoh]

Originally Posted by mactigasuku Do try to take picture NOT in a moving car - car windows are tinted and this do affect the pics as seen in your pictures. Unless you are looking for some special effects .... Also there is the element of "motion artifact". BTW hope you were not driving ..... The E520 is a great camera but it doesn't show from your pics

Was trying out the E520 for the first time.. Too eager already.. heehee. :P
Anyway will try not to take in a moving car. Heehee.. :P
By the way, was not driving.. passenger only.. too dangerous already..

Is not the product fault, is the user fault.. :P
so must need to practise more shootings.

Therefore will need to seek more advices from the pros here.

[kkktoh]

Originally Posted by shengliang1981 To get proper exposure of the sky and the building, you can try HDR, which is a technique to combine several shots at different exposure into one. I don't really have any experience in HDR but I am sure there are many HDR experts in Clubsnap who are willing to share some tips.

hmm... what is HDR? what does it work?? combine several shots at different exposure into one?

I think is time to hit the google search function to find out more.

[spidey89]

Originally Posted by kkktoh hmm... what is HDR? what does it work?? combine several shots at different exposure into one? I think is time to hit the google search function to find out more.

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range,yea,better to hit google search function,basically,you take a certain scene with different exposures,example 3 photos right,1 at -2EV,one at optiumum exposure or supposedly "correct" exposure,and 1 at +2EV,then combine all in photoshop or some other HDR software to get a properly exposed image with a pretty big range of colours,i sometimes play cheat by using a properly exposed picture,and tweating the exposure value in photoshop

[aryanto]

Originally Posted by kkktoh Hi. Dont really get what u mean with the sentence 'Also you can try under expose (meter sky properly) and tweak gamma - or adjust brigtness in shadow area.' Do you mean I do this setting on the camera itself or on some software like Photoshop?

Photoshop or Oly Master also can. In camera might help a bit but not a lot.

[olymac]

If I may say so .... the pics are .... plain crappy