Why are my pictures dark?

[tony873004]

I have a Digital Rebel. Every picture I take is underexposed. When I show prints to people, I get the same reaction from everyone: "Why are the pictures so dark?". I have to lighten each and every picture before I print them. I have not messed with the AV+/- button, but I don't feel that I should have to. This dark stuff happens on all modes of the camera.

[dsze]

I think we need to know more before we can offer any suggestions. You say that this happens on all modes of the camera, but you don't give any of the settings for the "creative modes" (manual modes). I have heard of 1 or 2 rebels that constantly underexpose, but I would be more inclined to think that it is user error.

Tell us more about the particulars and maybe post a photo or 2 with metadata and I'm sure that the knowledgable ones here will have much advice for you.

-daniel

[Pekka]

I have a Digital Rebel. Every picture I take is underexposed. When I show prints to people, I get the same reaction from everyone: "Why are the pictures so dark?". I have to lighten each and every picture before I print them. I have not messed with the AV+/- button, but I don't feel that I should have to. This dark stuff happens on all modes of the camera.

Do you see them ok on screen i.e. are they dark only when printed?

[dsze]

Ahh...good question. And if it is only when printed, are you printing them or sending them away? I seem to remember a short time when I first had my Drebel when I would often underexpose. The problem seemed to just go away now that I think about it, as I learned to use that particular camera a little better. By the way, that little A/V button you mention is probably the aperture value, which could have a major influence in your exposure. In the auto-modes, the camera should adjust that for you though.

-d

[robertwgross]

You are shooting RAW, aren't you?

---Bob Gross---

[cmM]

does your histgram indicate a correct exposure ?

[CyberDyneSystems]

er.. could be the little dot isn't in the center of the line of little dots.. ie: you may have inadvertantly set the camera to underexpose via compensation?

[Andy_T]

Best way to find out would be if you posted a picture with complete EXIF information!

Best regards,
Andy

[ijohnson]

When I first got the 10D I felt the same way. Over time the problem has corrected itself a little just by being more familiar with the camera. I was never worried about it, just waiting until I got more intimate with the camera.

In addition, I often shoot with exposure bumped up 1/3 of a stop. This has pushed the histogram farther to the right and has also allowed me to more comfortably shoot at higher ISO speeds. The exposure bump solved the problem immediately but as I am getting better, I am needing it less. May not make sense but it is my experience and you might want to give it a shot.

Or send in some pictures with EXIF data and come to a totally different conclusion that makes me look stupid.