Just upgraded to 30D: underexposing?!
Discussion
Hi all
Just upgraded from my 20D to a 30D. First opportunity to use the camera at the weekend and on using it I found it grossly under exposed.
It's near as dammit the same as my 20D so took to using it straight away, but I found the the exposure was correct at +1 on the exposure meter (in the camera) rather than in the centre.
I'm sure it's me, but what am I doing wrong? I have the exposure set at circle with line outside (Canon users will know what I mean) which is the average exposure for the shot (am I correct?).
The 20 I took to instantly, and never had this problem and I'm certain used it the whole year with the same metering setting.
Is it just that it's a different screen? I imagine not.
Any thoughts appreiated!
Thanks!
(PS: I have 3 or 4 absolutely cracking shots which I can't wait to process and get up here; tracking a Mc SLR through trees, a Gallardo on a tree lined hairpin panning, and a few detail shots (well, it's me, there's gotta be some really
).
Just upgraded from my 20D to a 30D. First opportunity to use the camera at the weekend and on using it I found it grossly under exposed.
It's near as dammit the same as my 20D so took to using it straight away, but I found the the exposure was correct at +1 on the exposure meter (in the camera) rather than in the centre.
I'm sure it's me, but what am I doing wrong? I have the exposure set at circle with line outside (Canon users will know what I mean) which is the average exposure for the shot (am I correct?).
The 20 I took to instantly, and never had this problem and I'm certain used it the whole year with the same metering setting.
Is it just that it's a different screen? I imagine not.
Any thoughts appreiated!
Thanks!
(PS: I have 3 or 4 absolutely cracking shots which I can't wait to process and get up here; tracking a Mc SLR through trees, a Gallardo on a tree lined hairpin panning, and a few detail shots (well, it's me, there's gotta be some really
).Hmmm. Do you still have your 20D? Is there any way you can do a side by side comparison? If its brand new, think about taking it back and exchanging. It may well not be you...why should it, you know what you're doing.
It is exposing wrong in the on camera histogram? Have you tried a variety of subjects to photograph, both indoors and outdoors...to be sure that its not just the situation that is causing the metering to get confused.
LB
It is exposing wrong in the on camera histogram? Have you tried a variety of subjects to photograph, both indoors and outdoors...to be sure that its not just the situation that is causing the metering to get confused.
LB
Hi Luca!
Thanks for the reply.
I bought it 2nd hand (but <1000 shots) from Gareth on here (GF350) who I, comically, bought my original 20D from. So he has used it correctly for those shots and never had a problem with it. Therefore we can be sure it's me.
I do still have my 20D (was going to ebay it) but after the weekend have decided to wait a couple of weeks to have a play with the 30D first.
I have not checked on the histogram...very good point. Are you thinking that what I'm seeing on the LCD screen is not what is being captured?
I'll be honest, I've not even looked at the pictures yet (will do this afternoon...got back very late last night) so a bit worried what they came out like.
I simply wondered if it was a common thing people had realised, or was me not realising a different setting on the 30 vs 20 ?!
Edit; Oh, and this was purely with big groups of cars...I received the camera on Friday so it was a baptism of fire for sure, so I've not had a chance to do lots of different subjects yet. The more I type this the more I think it's me
(a couple of useful things I think I have found...High speed multi-shots, jolly like that, and also ISO increments are many many more)
Thanks for the reply.
I bought it 2nd hand (but <1000 shots) from Gareth on here (GF350) who I, comically, bought my original 20D from. So he has used it correctly for those shots and never had a problem with it. Therefore we can be sure it's me.
I do still have my 20D (was going to ebay it) but after the weekend have decided to wait a couple of weeks to have a play with the 30D first.
I have not checked on the histogram...very good point. Are you thinking that what I'm seeing on the LCD screen is not what is being captured?
I'll be honest, I've not even looked at the pictures yet (will do this afternoon...got back very late last night) so a bit worried what they came out like.
I simply wondered if it was a common thing people had realised, or was me not realising a different setting on the 30 vs 20 ?!
Edit; Oh, and this was purely with big groups of cars...I received the camera on Friday so it was a baptism of fire for sure, so I've not had a chance to do lots of different subjects yet. The more I type this the more I think it's me
(a couple of useful things I think I have found...High speed multi-shots, jolly like that, and also ISO increments are many many more)
Edited by TonyHetherington on Thursday 17th May 10:47
Purely the LCD at the moment - I've got the CF card with me so will look at the pictures in a little bit (at work at mo) on a computer screen. When I turned the camera on for the first time I did run through all the settings - things like exposure adjustment, LCD brightness all those sorts of things and I'm sure nothing was out of the ordinary, but I will double check nevertheless!
This is an example shot I took with it. I had to scrub something from the door to post it so don't worry about that mark bit.
This shot is completely uncropped and untouched, i've simply resized it.
Shutter priority mode @ 1/20
F/14
17-85 IS USM lens @ 17mm
ISO200
0step exposure correction
Metering mode = "pattern"
This is the histogram for it (must admit I don't understand what to look for on this - would it be an even coverage, or the peaks in the centre?)
This shot is completely uncropped and untouched, i've simply resized it.
Shutter priority mode @ 1/20
F/14
17-85 IS USM lens @ 17mm
ISO200
0step exposure correction
Metering mode = "pattern"
This is the histogram for it (must admit I don't understand what to look for on this - would it be an even coverage, or the peaks in the centre?)
There's nothing wrong with that...the camera exposed it perfectly. It' needs adjusting to get a good final image, but the camera did well to retain so much information. The main problem is that you used too slow a shutter speed, and camera shake has degraded the image a bit. 1/60th would have still given background/speed blur, but would also have captured a sharper image of the car. HTH Tony.
Martin.
PS - did you shoot in RAW or jpeg?
Martin.
PS - did you shoot in RAW or jpeg?
Edited by V6GTO on Thursday 17th May 13:43
Thanks Martin!
I used 1/20 because the cars were only just accelerating away from standstill and so were doing max of 15/20mph when they passed me. I used the IS on the lens hoping that would counteract any shake, but as you say it seems I still shake a bit too much on panning shots!
I shot in JPEG, as I still don't have the confidence to shoot in RAW and then go from there.
Thanks for the, always welcome, comments!
I used 1/20 because the cars were only just accelerating away from standstill and so were doing max of 15/20mph when they passed me. I used the IS on the lens hoping that would counteract any shake, but as you say it seems I still shake a bit too much on panning shots!
I shot in JPEG, as I still don't have the confidence to shoot in RAW and then go from there.
Thanks for the, always welcome, comments!
It could have benefited from perhaps +0.3/0.7EV (you want the majority of the data around the centre of the histogram, with this you've probably lost a little shadow detail), but fundamentally its captured most of the data the sensor is capable of. I often have to dial in +EV when relying on the in camera light meter to get best fit exposure....
I'd have to say though (apologies Martin
) I disagree with the comment on shutter speed - I like the effect of slow shutter speed although the hit rate inevitably goes down. This was shot 1/13 @ 52mm:
Different shutters speeds during panning (bearing in mind relationship to focal length) just give different amounts of blur - there isn't really a 'right' or 'wrong' IMO....
I'd have to say though (apologies Martin
) I disagree with the comment on shutter speed - I like the effect of slow shutter speed although the hit rate inevitably goes down. This was shot 1/13 @ 52mm: Different shutters speeds during panning (bearing in mind relationship to focal length) just give different amounts of blur - there isn't really a 'right' or 'wrong' IMO....
Hmmmm that's interesting.
Perhaps it was just a mixture of it being a dark(ish) day, or being under trees (see my McMerc thread).
I think I'll keep my 20D for a couple of weeks (I did like that camera
) and see how I get on with the 30 in many different situations!
Thanks for the thoughts, chaps
Perhaps it was just a mixture of it being a dark(ish) day, or being under trees (see my McMerc thread).
I think I'll keep my 20D for a couple of weeks (I did like that camera
) and see how I get on with the 30 in many different situations! Thanks for the thoughts, chaps
trackdemon said:
'd have to say though (apologies Martin ) I disagree with the comment on shutter speed...IMO....
) I disagree with the comment on shutter speed...IMO....No probs Steve. You are right in what you say, I just tried to suggested, that in this instance, had the shutter speed been slightly faster there would have been a better end result.
Tony...read this
http://ronbigelow.com/articles/dynami
and
http://ronbigelow.com/articles/workfl
when you get time, and give it a go...it's a lot easier that you might think...and very satisfying when you see your results take a big leap forward.
HTH...Martin.
looks like a normal canon exposure shot TBH. add 1/3- 1/2 EC and it would be brighter and properly exposed. I have mine set to partial metering with +1/3 most of the time TBH
TonyHetherington said:
This is an example shot I took with it. I had to scrub something from the door to post it so don't worry about that mark bit.
This shot is completely uncropped and untouched, i've simply resized it.
Shutter priority mode @ 1/20
F/14
17-85 IS USM lens @ 17mm
ISO200
0step exposure correction
Metering mode = "pattern"
This is the histogram for it (must admit I don't understand what to look for on this - would it be an even coverage, or the peaks in the centre?)
This shot is completely uncropped and untouched, i've simply resized it.
Shutter priority mode @ 1/20
F/14
17-85 IS USM lens @ 17mm
ISO200
0step exposure correction
Metering mode = "pattern"
This is the histogram for it (must admit I don't understand what to look for on this - would it be an even coverage, or the peaks in the centre?)
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