D50 dull pictures question

red_ryder · Sep 17, 2005

Hi, I just bought a D50 not long and I got a question about the dull colours of the camera. I took a picture of the sky outside my flat this morning, and on the camera LCD the colors look nice. brilliant blue sky. But when I view it on my PC monitor, it looks very dull.

My first thought was that maybe my monitor wasn't color calibrated so I used adobe gamma to calibrate. It still looked dull. Anyone can help? Why does it look ok on the camera monitor but not the PC monitor?

eikin · Sep 17, 2005

can share the exif data as well? easier to point out the problem.

catchlights · Sep 17, 2005

Do not rely on LCD preview, learn to judge the exposure by reading the histogram.

n0d3 · Sep 17, 2005

Extracted from the image:

f/14
1/2000 sec
Spot metering
Exposure Compensation: None

I think its the metering that caused your photo to be underexposed, spot metering is used in very special circumstances. It would be better if you switched it to evaluative/matrix or something like that.

red_ryder · Sep 17, 2005

File: - C:\Documents and Settings\Alfred\My Documents\My Pictures\t\DSC_3496.JPG

Make - NIKON CORPORATION
Model - NIKON D50
Orientation - Top left
XResolution - 300
YResolution - 300
ResolutionUnit - Inch
Software - Ver.1.00
DateTime - 2005:09:17 12:20:52
YCbCrPositioning - Co-Sited
ExifOffset - 216
ExposureTime - 1/2000 seconds
FNumber - 14.00
ExposureProgram - Normal program
ExifVersion - 0221
DateTimeOriginal - 2005:09:17 12:20:52
DateTimeDigitized - 2005:09:17 12:20:52
ComponentsConfiguration - YCbCr
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 4 (bits/pixel)
ExposureBiasValue - 0.00
MaxApertureValue - F 4.00
MeteringMode - Spot
LightSource - Auto
Flash - Not fired
FocalLength - 31.00 mm
UserComment -
SubsecTime - 0
SubsecTimeOriginal - 0
SubsecTimeDigitized - 0
FlashPixVersion - 0100
ColorSpace - sRGB
ExifImageWidth - 3008
ExifImageHeight - 2000
InteroperabilityOffset - 27778
SensingMethod - One-chip color area sensor
FileSource - Other
SceneType - Other
CustomRendered - Normal process
ExposureMode - Auto
WhiteBalance - Auto
DigitalZoomRatio - 1 x
FocalLengthIn35mmFilm - 46 mm
SceneCaptureType - Standard
GainControl - Low gain up
Contrast - Normal
Saturation - Normal
Sharpness - Normal
SubjectDistanceRange - Unknown

Maker Note (Vendor): -
Data version - 0210 (808595760)
ISO Setting - 800
Image Quality - FINE
White Balance - AUTO
Image Sharpening - AUTO
Focus Mode - AF-A
Flash Setting - NORMAL
Flash Mode -
White Balance Adjustment -
Exposure Adjustment -
Flash Compensation -
ISO 2 -
Tone Compensation - AUTO
Lens type - AF
Lens - ~
Flash Used - Not fired
AF Focus Position - Center
Bracketing -
Color Mode - MODE1a
Light Type - NATURAL
Hue Adjustment -
Noise Reduction - OFF
Total pictures - î
Optimization - CUSTOM

catchlights · Sep 17, 2005

n0d3 said:
Extracted from the image:

f/14
1/2000 sec
Spot metering
Exposure Compensation: None

I think its the metering that caused your photo to be underexposed, spot metering is used in very special circumstances. It would be better if you switched it to evaluative/matrix or something like that.

In this case the white cloud be came 18% gray, so that how it is underexpose.

eikin · Sep 17, 2005

catchlights said:
Do not rely on LCD preview, learn to judge the exposure by reading the histogram.

that's right, and different situations will give different histograms, one that peaks in the middle isn't always the 'right' exposure

eikin · Sep 17, 2005

red_ryder said:
File: - C:\Documents and Settings\Alfred\My Documents\My Pictures\t\DSC_3496.JPG

Make - NIKON CORPORATION
Model - NIKON D50
Orientation - Top left
XResolution - 300
YResolution - 300
ResolutionUnit - Inch
Software - Ver.1.00
DateTime - 2005:09:17 12:20:52
YCbCrPositioning - Co-Sited
ExifOffset - 216
ExposureTime - 1/2000 seconds
FNumber - 14.00
ExposureProgram - Normal program
ExifVersion - 0221
DateTimeOriginal - 2005:09:17 12:20:52
DateTimeDigitized - 2005:09:17 12:20:52
ComponentsConfiguration - YCbCr
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 4 (bits/pixel)
ExposureBiasValue - 0.00
MaxApertureValue - F 4.00
MeteringMode - Spot
LightSource - Auto
Flash - Not fired
FocalLength - 31.00 mm
UserComment -
SubsecTime - 0
SubsecTimeOriginal - 0
SubsecTimeDigitized - 0
FlashPixVersion - 0100
ColorSpace - sRGB
ExifImageWidth - 3008
ExifImageHeight - 2000
InteroperabilityOffset - 27778
SensingMethod - One-chip color area sensor
FileSource - Other
SceneType - Other
CustomRendered - Normal process
ExposureMode - Auto
WhiteBalance - Auto
DigitalZoomRatio - 1 x
FocalLengthIn35mmFilm - 46 mm
SceneCaptureType - Standard
GainControl - Low gain up
Contrast - Normal
Saturation - Normal
Sharpness - Normal
SubjectDistanceRange - Unknown

Maker Note (Vendor): -
Data version - 0210 (808595760)
ISO Setting - 800
Image Quality - FINE
White Balance - AUTO
Image Sharpening - AUTO
Focus Mode - AF-A
Flash Setting - NORMAL
Flash Mode -
White Balance Adjustment -
Exposure Adjustment -
Flash Compensation -
ISO 2 -
Tone Compensation - AUTO
Lens type - AF
Lens - ~
Flash Used - Not fired
AF Focus Position - Center
Bracketing -
Color Mode - MODE1a
Light Type - NATURAL
Hue Adjustment -
Noise Reduction - OFF
Total pictures - î
Optimization - CUSTOM

wow ... can just post the key info next time :sweat:

n0d3 · Sep 17, 2005

catchlights said:
In this case the white cloud be came 18% gray, so that how it is underexpose.

Ahhh... :think:

red_ryder · Sep 17, 2005

eikin said:
wow ... can just post the key info next time :sweat:

oops sorry, didn't which was key info. ;p

So the problem is spot metering? Thanks guys!

catchlights · Sep 17, 2005

eikin said:
that's right, and different situations will give different histograms, one that peaks in the middle isn't always the 'right' exposure

yes, agreed, that't why ones need to "learn" how to "read".

n0d3 · Sep 17, 2005

Heres a site which I just found, quite useful for understanding some aspects of metering:

http://www.photozone.de/4Technique/metering.htm

red_ryder · Sep 17, 2005

catchlights said:
No, the problem is not spot metering, the problem is you don't know how to take mater reading.

In a simple term: you can find a place that you want to expose as 18% (mid tone gray) take the reading of that place and make an expose.

for this case, how about taking a spot metering off the red roof of the terrace house?

The problem is that I didn't know spot metering was on. Thoguht it was matrix or centre weighted. Didn't check before shooting. I know how to use spot metering, but thanks for the advice anyway.

ben77 · Sep 17, 2005

hm.. any site to teach how to read histogram ??

catseye · Sep 17, 2005

n0d3 said:
Heres a site which I just found, quite useful for understanding some aspects of metering:

http://www.photozone.de/4Technique/metering.htm

Thanks for the link.

ben77,

searched the same site ... found this

http://www.photozone.de/7Digital/histogram.htm

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D50 dull pictures question

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