D90 - Exposure Compensation needed between Camera and Dowloaded Image

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chelt_strobist

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Matthew
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Hiya All D90 users,

I was wondering about the exposure variance you find between your LCD screen and the downloaded image onto a computer.

I am finding that if I expose for what I see as correct exposure on the camera my image is about 1-2 3rds of stop over exposure when I get onto the computer, therefore I tend to dial back by a 3rd of a stop and check out my histogram.

Does anyone else find that the camera exposure isn't quite on button?

Matt.
 
A camera LCD is never the thing to use to judge your exposure based on brightness, use either the histogram or the 'blinkies' to show clipped highlights.
 
Matt,

You don't say whether you are shooting in jpg or RAW or what software you're using to view the image on your computer, which might give us some valuable clues to help you.

For example, if you're shooting in RAW (.NEF) and using something like Lightroom or Photoshop to view/edit then it's quite possible that the software is making an exposure adjustment to all images as they are imported - there's a setting in ACR that does this.

HTH :)
 
I've noticed this on my D90 as well, nothing a bit of PP won't sort out though.
 
i have -0.67 exposure compensation dialled in on my d90 at all times...seems to be about right. Obviously shooting in RAW helps for any additional tweaking :)
 
I leave my D5000 on 0.0, but I do spotmeter all the time...
 
specialman said:
Good to know Nikon is still building this quirk into its later cameras.... :)
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That's why I've moved to sunny 16 and to hell with what the meter is telling me. I've got 3 Nikons, and they all expose differently when in matrix. In my experience the consumer bodies run a bit hot, and the pro bodies run a little under.

Back on topic, I've noticed that the D90 produces preview JPEGs that are around +2/3 over compared to the RAW image I see on the computer. However, this is highly likely to be differences between how the camera is processing the RAW and how Aperture is processing it.
 
Hey Everyone,

Thanks for your comments.

I am finding that I need to dial about 2/3rds under to get the histogram into what I think is the correct exposure, but there is a slight difference between some of my lenses too. My 50mm f1.8 is only 1/3rd, but my 55-200 is a full stop.

It seems though that this is quite common and it is about learning your equipment.

Cheers for all your comments, they've been great to confirm I am not a complete idiot LOL.

Matt
 
chelt_strobist said:
Hey Everyone,

Thanks for your comments.

I am finding that I need to dial about 2/3rds under to get the histogram into what I think is the correct exposure, but there is a slight difference between some of my lenses too. My 50mm f1.8 is only 1/3rd, but my 55-200 is a full stop.

It seems though that this is quite common and it is about learning your equipment.

Cheers for all your comments, they've been great to confirm I am not a complete idiot LOL.

Matt
Click to expand...



Not sure what's going there I have a D300s which shares a lot of similarities to the D90. I've used a friends D90 and I regularly use a D3 and now a D700 and none of them seem to meter wrong. Of course I have to use EC or adjust to taste when shooting manual but zeroing the meter will rarely produce the exposure you want on any camera?
 
my 5d2 also has between +1/3 and +1 full stop of exposure compensation dialled in depending on lens.

at first i thought it was a 'quirk' of the metering system and particular lens combinations, but as i've done more tests and used my lenses in different situations i've found that lenses which take in more of the scene (ie shorter lenses) tend to need the least exposure compensation simply because any bright or dark bits in the scene are likely to be small and will ultimately balance out, whilst longer lenses which tend to blow up smaller things need more exposure compensation - even spectacular highlights in the distance are enough to cause a 1 stop under exposure in matrix/evaluative metering mode.

i tend to take a spot meter reading off something mid-toned and set the exposure manually.
 
cuthbert said:
my 5d2 also has between +1/3 and +1 full stop of exposure compensation dialled in depending on lens.

at first i thought it was a 'quirk' of the metering system and particular lens combinations, but as i've done more tests and used my lenses in different situations i've found that lenses which take in more of the scene (ie shorter lenses) tend to need the least exposure compensation simply because any bright or dark bits in the scene are likely to be small and will ultimately balance out, whilst longer lenses which tend to blow up smaller things need more exposure compensation - even spectacular highlights in the distance are enough to cause a 1 stop under exposure in matrix/evaluative metering mode.

i tend to take a spot meter reading off something mid-toned and set the exposure manually.
Click to expand...

Thank you for this post, I thought it was me being thick.

I have been testing my 55-200mm lens and have been setting it at 55mm an taking a exposure reading of f5.6 and 1/160. I have set this against a stationary object and then zoomed in to 70mm, 85mm, 105mm, 135mm, 200mm. At 55-85mm my exposure has read the same, but when I zoom in to 105mm and 135mm I am 1/3 under exposed, and at 200mm I am 2/3's to a stop under exposed.
 
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