RAW exsposure compensation...

[ShutteringFocus]

I keep hearing about adjusting the exsposure comp on raw files. How do you do that?

I have a D30 with the Zoom Browser that came with it...that's it. But I am looking to get Breeze browser.

I always just convert the RAWs and then use Paint Shop Pro to adjust the lightness and contrast. Is there a different way to do exsposure comp.?

It sounds to me as if I could shoot a photo that is underexsposed because my lense is to slow...and just make the change latter...

That cant be right, its too easy. :wink:

[CyberDyneSystems]

I haven't looked at Zoombrowser for such a long time.. but I certianly think it has an "exposure" slider?

All the other RAW convertters do anyway.

[Scottes]

It sounds to me as if I could shoot a photo that is underexsposed because my lense is to slow...and just make the change latter...

Be warned that this doesn't always work satisfactorily. (Izzat a word?)

In the dark end of the histogram you're only getting a range of 128 levels, compared with 2048 shades in the high end. If you add 2 stops of exposure then you're stretching the darks from 128 levels to 512 levels. You'll start getting noise.

It's certainly a way to fix a stop underexposed, and can save an image 2 stops underexposed, but you might not like what you get.

Here's an image comparing 2 images that I stook 3 stops apart as I was bracketing the scene. The one on the left was adjusted in Capture1 by 2.5 stops, so they're as close to being the same as I can get.

http://www.itsanadventure.com/postimages/3stopcompare.jpg

Notice a difference?

[scottbergerphoto]

I agree. Underexposed shots, while salvageable when shot RAW, don't match the quality of properly exposed shots. You can't put back data that wasn't captured in the first place. It's better then underexposed JPEG, but not as good as getting it right at exposure.
For an excellent book on exposure, consider Bryan Peterson's, Understanding Exposure.
Regards,
Scott

[dtrayers]

This is a nice article on why one should try to expose for the highlights:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/expose-right.shtml

and here is Alain Briot's experience with underexposure with the 300D (exposure bit is towards the bottom of the article):

http://www.outbackphoto.com/reviews/equipment/canon_300D_alain/Canon_300D_diary_alain.html

[CyberDyneSystems]

Although RAW utility exposure compensation is a HUGE advantage.. it is not as good as getting it "right" in the first place.