How does one check if the camera is properly exposing? Just take it to a Nikon dealer?

My Canon point and shoot seems to have more vivid colors than the D50. I have used a variety of lenses, too. And settings. Including my nice 85mm f1.8, which is usually very bright and vivid edge to edge.

When using iPhoto, and pressing the Enhance magic wand button, if it consistently lightens (increases exposure) is that indicative that iPhoto believes it was underexposed?

Here are some shots I took, and manipulated in iPhoto, too.

















This one is not same camera, but a photo with Mallory as seen on CBS's Kids Nation.

[www.cbs.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/14/2007 06:02PM by AAA.

The exposure looks spot-on m'friend. Any more and you'll have highlight issues.

They do look a bit light but there seems to be details in the highlights. You may just have a monitor that is not calibrated. The difference from one monitor to another can be dramatic. Our imaging department tells me images toned on a PC consistantly look washed out on Macs.

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you can set the exposure compensation to give it an extra stop or two for every shot. that said, these look perfect.

as for vividness, the camera probably has a number of "modes" that determine it. i prefer to set it low and then increase it in photoshop - get as much info as possible when shooting, then make things how you want them to look when you print. if you shoot too close to how you print you'll risk losing detail.

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AAA
My Canon point and shoot seems to have more vivid colors than the D50.

Yes, P&Ss do. They're designed that way with exaggerated saturation and contrast. An SLR is set up to be more neutral or lifelike. If super saturated colors float your boat, you can get them with post processing (Photoshop) or possibly with settings on the camera.

As for exposure, the histogram will give you an indication of where you're at. But it can be tricky to interpret because not all images have an even spread from shadows to highlights. For example, a properly exposed black cat in a coal mine or a white dress on a white counter won't have a typical histogram.

Your exposures look pretty good overall. But there is some clipping in the red channel in the next-to-last image (the older woman). And most of the other images have a slight pinkish cast.

maybe, maybe just 1/3 or 1/2 stop over-exposed. definitely not UNDER-exposed.

Check your monitor.

[www.dpreview.com]

Bottom of page.

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DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/14/2007 06:52PM by space-time.

They look fine to me. One thing I seem to notice in these shots is that it looks like a cloudy day. You can experiment more by doing what others above have said and/or try some more shots on a bright sunny day to compare results. My Canon has a cloudy white balance setting I use if I am in a hurry but I normally shoot a custom white balance shot when I first arrive anywhere. Pron can help when he sees this post.

I agree. The exposures look pretty dead on or a couple perhaps overexposed a bit (sky washed out a little in one). What type of metering are you using and what parts of the subject are you exposing for? As others have implied, color saturation is a different animal from exposure. How do you have it set on this cam?....on your P&S?

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There are differences in JPG rendering between Canon and Nikon. I do not know the differences between the P&S canons and Nikon's D50, but I can tell you that the D50's metering is pretty good. If you are shooing Matrix or spot metering, the camera works as advertised. The D80 tends to over-expose, so some folks would set a -EV to compensate.

Overall, i find your pics pleasing...but this is on a horrible screen at work. I suspect it is a little washed out in appearance on my mac (at home).

If you find the colors a little washed out, try clipping the bottom exposure in iPhoto, it will give the picture a little more punch.

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Here are some shots I took, and manipulated in iPhoto, too.

It becomes a little difficult to judge shots *after* they've been played with.

I agree that some of those shots look like it was an overcast day. If that was the case, the flat lighting is those shots is explained. Or it's the work of iPhoto.

The gamma difference between PCs and Macs could be part of it.

Is that last shot *from* CBS? Even pros can have a tough time balancing the subjects and sky.

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Exposure looks alright to me.
What I think is bothering you is a lack of contrast -- looks like lens flare in a couple of shots. Were you using the 85mm? Lens hood?

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RAMd®d


Is that last shot *from* CBS? Even pros can have a tough time balancing the subjects and sky.

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