EC in camera vs Exposure Slider in Raw converter?

[sootyvrs]

Can someone please tell me if the results are any different when you set EC in camera compared to doing it in a Raw Converter?

Do you lose anything when exposure is not right when the photo is taken as long as it's in the Exposure range +-2 stops in Raw?

e.g photo taken and is under exposed, say by 1 stop. Import it to Raw Converter and up the slider +1. Is anything lost in shadows for example as the photo was underexposed and shadow info is lost in the original shot or does shooting raw still have the information there at time the picture was taken?

Similarly with blown highlights, can you just -1 on slider and would it be exactly the same as if the photo was taken with correct exposure setting?

[tim]

If you set it in the camera it's done properly, by letter more or less light hit the sensor. That will ALWAYS give SIGNIFICANTLY better quality images than fixing it later in RAW. Up to one stop overexposed you can usually correct, 2 stops it's gone. Underexposed you can correct more easily, but you lose tonal range and color. More than two stops under and it'll look a bit funny, but i've made acceptable prints from shots 4 stops under (flash didn't cycle in time).

I really think you should read the book "understanding exposure", which is linked from the book thread in my sig. It's meant to be a great book.

[Roy C]

Can someone please tell me if the results are any different when you set EC in camera compared to doing it in a Raw Converter?

Do you lose anything when exposure is not right when the photo is taken as long as it's in the Exposure range +-2 stops in Raw?

e.g photo taken and is under exposed, say by 1 stop. Import it to Raw Converter and up the slider +1. Is anything lost in shadows for example as the photo was underexposed and shadow info is lost in the original shot or does shooting raw still have the information there at time the picture was taken?

Similarly with blown highlights, can you just -1 on slider and would it be exactly the same as if the photo was taken with correct exposure setting?
If you under expose and then push it in RAW you will create noise. For shots that are overexposed with blown highlights, nothing will recover the blown highlights.
So the answer to your question is Yes, you do lose out if your exposure is wrong. Having said that, RAW is useful for correcting minor exposure problems.

[tzalman]

According to the "Expose to the Right " school of thought
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/expose-right.shtml
the best RAW exposure is one which is overexposed as much as possible without blowing the highlights and (if neccessary - depending on the DR of the subject) brought down in the converter. My own frequent technique is to not meter for 18% grey but rather to spot meter a textured white (terrycloth towel) with +2 EC.

[sootyvrs]

Thanks for the info. Very informative.

The "Understanding Exposure" book is on my list to get but I will do some tests with "exposure to the right" and try to avaoid any blown highlights.

[PhotosGuy]

the best RAW exposure is one which is overexposed as much as possible without blowing the highlights My thoughts: "without blowing the important highlights..." not meter for 18% grey but rather to spot meter a textured white (terrycloth towel) with +2 EC. I never carry a towel, but do have paper for notes: Need an exposure crutch? (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=89123)
(OK, I know it's a towel in that shot!) :D