Nikon CoolPix 775 Pictures Too Dark

[cci[RR]us]

I have this Coolpix 775 digital camera, and I must say that it's rather good for a cheap digital camera for average use.

But I'm having this problem of dark pictures. If I take shots indoors, the photos will look very very dark. The situation is slightly better if I take the photos outdoors. Photos taken at 12pm will look like photos taken at 6pm.

I'm using AUTO mode by the way.

To overcome this problem, I increased the EXPOSURE setting from 0 to +1.3 or sometimes +1.7. This is really troublesome as the setting do not stay after I off the camera. Sometimes I do forget to set the exposure and my pictures will appear to be horrible.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance!!!

PS: I heard that ISO also plays a part too. Sorry I'm a newbie so I dunno the difference between ISO and Exposure. How do I change ISO in 775?

 

[mpenza]

did you use flash indoors?

 

[megaweb]

post the underexposed pic

a pic tells a thousand word ...

 

[cci[RR]us]

Originally posted by mpenza
did you use flash indoors?

It's set to auto mode, and the flash is always on.

I'll try to post the pic later.

 

[cci[RR]us]

Below are the photos taken at 1900hrs at somewhere in Shenton Way... Don't you find them kinda dark?


Auto mode:

Night Shot mode:

Auto mode +1.7 Exposure:

 

[mpenza]

just as I expected. the pics appear "dark" because the sky is too bright. but overall the pic is about moderately gray which is what the camera tries to achieve.

 

[cci[RR]us]

Originally posted by mpenza
just as I expected. the pics appear "dark" because the sky is too bright. but overall the pic is about moderately gray which is what the camera tries to achieve.

So what should I do? Maybe you could give me some pointers, or direct me some newbies' guide to digital photography?

Thanks.

 

[mpenza]

http://www.shortcourses.com has some good articles. check it out.

 

[cci[RR]us]

Originally posted by mpenza
http://www.shortcourses.com has some good articles. check it out.

In view of my current problem, can you provide with any pointers?

 

[mpenza]

when your shot includes a lot of sky, use +EV to properly expose the foreground objects, or use centre-weighted metering and meter the foreground objects.

 

[cci[RR]us]

Originally posted by mpenza
when your shot includes a lot of sky, use +EV to properly expose the foreground objects, or use centre-weighted metering and meter the foreground objects.

I understand the first part, but what's centre-weighted metering?

I'm reading the chapter on Fine Tuning Exposure now... very informative.

 

[mpenza]

Originally posted by cci[RR]us


I understand the first part, but what's centre-weighted metering?

I'm reading the chapter on Fine Tuning Exposure now... very informative.

not too sure whether you camera has it. you got to check out the manual.