D800 Exposure Metering

AchimT

AchimT

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I keep getting the same strange results in that the camera in Shutter Speed mode suggests a value of like 1/1600 to get F8. I take the picture and immediately the values change, to something like 1/800 for F5.6. I go down to that, take another picture, and swoosh, I have to go down to 1/125 to get F5.6.

The images are all good, I just have to change the exposure slider in Lightroom and all the details and colors are there and fine. Although initially of course, the one's taken at 1/125 are overexposed, and the ones taken at 1/1600 may be underexposed.

It was like this under the previous firmware, and it is the same under the latest firmware. It also is the same with all three of my lenses.

Since this happens all the time, I wonder what is going on. The only difference is that I moved from a country with little light to one with excessively much light, but the above happens also under cloudy skies (which in this country means there is still a lot of light). It is almost as if the camera were doing some bracketing, but I'm not using that (knowingly).

Does anyone have an idea what is going on (and please let me know if you need additional details).

Thanks a lot in advance!
 
You've not got spot metering set and not noticed have you?

Can you post an example image?
 
Hi Pookeyhead, thanks for responding. I've tried all three exposure modes. I noticed it first in center weighted, but it also happens in matrix mode. I can upload example pictures with pleasure - would RAW or jpg make more sense?
 
RAW would make more sense, but so long as it is not processed, straight off camera, and includes metadata, JPEG will do.
 
@AchimT

Have you checked to see if auto bracket isn't on by mistake? That would also give the results you describe.
 
Are you on auto ISO? This could be affecting your exposures.
 
blakester said:
Are you on auto ISO? This could be affecting your exposures.
Click to expand...


I beg to differ. It may vary the ISO but regardless... exposures should be consistent and the same, otherwise it would be a completely useless feature.
 
Pookeyhead said:
I beg to differ. It may vary the ISO but regardless... exposures should be consistent and the same, otherwise it would be a completely useless feature.
Click to expand...

Perhaps exposures was the wrong word David but could it affect the shutter speed?
 
It would, but the OP states that his exposures were all over the place and needed correction in Lightroom.
 
No problem... I wasn't being arsy... just didn't want him barking up the wrong tree.
 
Your reply was spot on pookeyhead. Thanks a lot. I don't know how and when, but I had indeed bracketing enabled - doh.

I've turned it off and will test tomorrow (it is nighttime here now) and will report back.

I assume that I had enabled bracketing while trying to change the ISO without noticing that the ISO didn't actually change.

Stupid of me. Thanks everyone for your help!!
 
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Glad it's sorted.
 
AchimT said:
Your reply was spot on pookeyhead. Thanks a lot. I don't know how and when, but I had indeed bracketing enabled - doh.

I've turned it off and will test tomorrow (it is nighttime here now) and will report back.

I assume that I had enabled bracketing while trying to change the ISO without noticing that the ISO didn't actually change.

Stupid of me. Thanks everyone for your help!!
Click to expand...

As long as you promise not to tell anyone else, I'll let you now that I've done it with my D800 as well :oops: :$
 
Oh we've all done it :)
 
Yup, happened to me a few times, knocked on bracketing by mistake. the first time had me scratching my head, got a little panicky because I was on a job with people waiting on me. Stopped fiddling with every button on the camera for a bit to think why it was happening and bracketing was the only thing made sense :)
 
So that's probably why they moved the ISO button on the D810 then huh? :) I bet we'll get a slew of people getting the wrong metering pattern instead now :)
 
Gentlemen, thank you for the kind words which allow me to recover at least part of my self-respect ;) I'm glad I'm not the only one to whom it happened. I'm the only one though who couldn't figure it out himself, but I'll have to live with that :)

Thanks again for all the help!
 
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