Shooting with multiple cameras

[BluewookieJim]

I'm trying to figure out if this is a camera body thing, a lens thing, or some combination thereof.

I shot at an event this weekend with both of my bodies, but what I saw consistently was different results from what was basically the same total exposure.

On one hand I had my 20D + 50mm F/1.4. I was shooting at ISO 800, F/2.8, 1/100. Sample (http://photos.kodanja.net/p401412283/e2b844317#h2b844317)

On the other hand, I had my new 5dMk2 + 24-70L. I was shooting at ISO 800, F/2.8, 1/100, sample (http://photos.kodanja.net/p401412283/e2b844317#h279f7f7f) , and then later that day at ISO 1600, F/4, 1/100.

The consistent result was that the photos I took on my 20D all need somewhere between 10-15 points of recovery slider, while all the photos I took with the 5dm2 needed between 1/3 and 2/3 of a stop of exposure slider increase to match the exposure of the shots from the 20D.

Any thoughts ?

[SOK]

Pretty sure it's just a camera thing.

Check out the reviews and samples on www.the-digital-picture.com (http://www.the-digital-picture.com)

There's a couple of examples where different cameras record a slightly different exposure for the same settings. Can't remember which one's though...

[DStanic]

Pretty sure it's just a camera thing.

Check out the reviews and samples on www.the-digital-picture.com (http://www.the-digital-picture.com)

There's a couple of examples where different cameras record a slightly different exposure for the same settings. Can't remember which one's though...

I think it was the 7D that they did the tests with +1/3 EC (or something like that) or it might have been a different site. Cameras are different, especially 20d and 5dmkII.

[BluewookieJim]

If they are different that is fine, just something I wasn't prepared for. So I guess even if I used different lenses on the bodies I'd probably see similar results. Always gaining experience, so in the future I'll be sure to dial in an +/- 1/3 of stop depending on what body I'm using.

I've shot in that location with the 20D so many times that I have a very good feel for what exposure "recipes" work best in the various areas of the location. This was really the first time I shot anything of significance with the 5dM2 as I've only had it for a few weeks.

[PhotosGuy]

Have you run tests on "M" in a controlled situation?

Your site won't allow me to see the exif, but the different crop factors & possibly different metering modes will make a difference on what settings the cameras 'brain' picks if you aren't shooting on "M". Why?
Post #47 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=5191658&postcount=47)

[krb]

I read on here somewhere that Canon made a change in which 'version" of ISO they are using and that current cameras are about 1/3 stop different than older models. Sounds like that is what the OP is seeing.

[BluewookieJim]

Thanks,
I shoot almost exclusively in M, and did so on these. The partial exif info is available under the the "Photo Info" tabs to the right of the pics. I used spot metering on the 5DM2 and partial metering on the 20D.

[yanr]

If you are shooting M, then the camera's meter is there just as a reference, and a potentially bad one at that. Metering mode shouldn't have an effect on the exposure when you are in M mode.

These results you got are definitely interesting though.

[BluewookieJim]

I wasn't relying on the centering the needle in the meter shooting in M mode. I was relying extensive experience shooting in that location with my 20D over the last several years.

In the part of the studio where the samples are shown above, I know that f/2.8, 1/100 @ 800 ISO is the ideal exposure for that location, while further forward toward the front of the studio f/2.8, 1/160 @ 800 ISO yields the best results.

As I said earlier, this was really the first time I really shot extensively with the 5dM2, so I incorrectly assumed that my previous exposure "recipes" would be the unchanged.

It was a good experience though. My XRite ColorChecker Passport already paid for itself. The custom profiles made my post processing minimal at best. And it gave me good insight into shooting with 2 bodies, next time I'll make better lens choices, most likely something longer on the 20D next time.

[ssim]

I've always shot with two bodies with one being a crop body and the other a full frame. There has always been a difference in the exposures. Even though I have shot with the same background, lighting, etc. I check the exposure every time that I start the shooting. I don't believe it is something to get worried about just used to.

[TheHoff]

Two things are "rough estimates" in your equation:

- ISO of the individual sensors. These are manufacturers estimates and are often fudged so the camera looks faster than it is.

and

- Maximum apertures of zooms are often also fudged. That 2.8 of your zoom might be a T-stop of 2.9 or even 3.0. This is obvious on my new 70-200/2.8; if you shoot one exposure at f/2.8 and 1/500 and then the next exposure at f/4 and 1/250, you can see the difference in the histogram, never mind having to actually load the file.

With two factors of your three factor equation being rough values, you can't count on transferring manual settings without chimping the histograms.

[BluewookieJim]

That's really interesting about the maximum aperture. Here is another sample from the 5dm2, with the same resulting total exposure, this one is ISO 1600, F/4 @ 1/100 (Link (http://photos.kodanja.net/p401412283/e131c83a9#h131c83a9))

It's a little hard to tell if the maximum aperture overrated at 2.8 or not.

[TheHoff]

Zoom maximum apertures are *always* overrated :)