new 5D mark ii underexposure ( live view and viewfinder metering difference )

[razorarjan]

I recently bought a 5D Mark ii...its simply amazing but im having one problem with the metering...with the exact same settings i get different metering in the Live View Mode and in the Viewfinder...In the Live View if I get EC 0 in the metering, I get +2/3 in the view finder...and if i take EC 0 in the ViewFinder I get a lil bit underexposed picture...I find the metering in the Live View to be accurate enough...but why the metering is behaving totally different in Live View and Viewfinder mode....any ideas and any tips to fix it?............i used different lens like 24-105, 50mm 1.4, 70-200...same results...and i tested it on tripod under the same lighting condition and tested with different metering as well...P.S. I have been using 60D for years...if I take a shot using my 60D with metering set to 0, i get the correct exposure...but when I take the exact same picture with the tripod using my new 5D mark ii setting the metering to 0 i get underexposed photo...the metering of 60D and 5D mark ii in my case is +1 stop different....any ideas?

[Panoz]

Take a photo of a calibrated grey card in shadowless lighting. Take with both live view and standard exposure, following the meter reading (or shoot on Program). The digital image should show 128/128/128 for a perfect reading using a photo editor eyedropper.

[jakovmarkovic]

There is no SPOT METERING when in live view.

[Sniper258]

Sorry. My post was intendeed to a different thread.

[razorarjan]

any ideas guys

[Trigg3r]

Originally Posted by razorarjan

any ideas guys

Could it be light creeping into the viewfinder when using live view, cover the view finder with the supplied cap and see if it makes a difference?
Cheers

[razorarjan]

but what about the underexposed photos when meter set to 0 compared to my old 60D...? what do u think the cause might be? Im being forced to take pictures at +1 (throught VF) nowadays to avoid underexposed photos...

[razorarjan]

Here are two pictures. One with the metering set to 0 and for the other one the metering is set to +1...here I would like to mention that the lighting condition was good at that time...what i could see with my bare eyes was exactly same as the +1 exposed picture...and im getting such dark pictures with metering set to 0...i never had this problem with my 60D metering...

[Trigg3r]

One reason I can think that may cause this is,
Custom function C.Fn II: Image. Look at setting no 3 is highlight tone priority enabled?
It maybe under exposing to stop the lights blowing out ?
If yes disable that and see if that helps.
Also a safety shift setting under C.Fn I no 6
Have a look and post back

[razorarjan]

Tried both of them just now. Did not help ...still same results...

[JoshuaDavidFOTO]

Any insight im this? Im having a similar issue with a 5D MKII I bought brand new last night, but mine is more with the exposure of the pictures themselves. It seems in the conditions ive played in that I should not be having to drag the shutter as much as im having to. For instance. It is semi-sunny today; as the sun went behind a cloud (still pretty bright outside as its ~12:00 noon here) and I had to shoot 1/160 f5 ISO 100 to get a properly exposed photo. Sure I could bump the ISO, lower aperture, ect but I dont feel I should have to in such conditions. Any clues

[razorarjan]

actually now im trying to forget what I used to do with my 60D and trying to get adapted with my 5D mark ii...cz i couldn't fix it...but i think the metering system of 5D mark ii is older and not that much responsive compared to the newer 7D and 60D models...thats why I am guessing...not sure though...if anyone can compare these 5D mark ii metering with the 7D/60D metering, it would be great...

[h4ppydaze]

I've noticed that the 5D2 tends to underexpose in lower light, could just be something you need to work with.

[JoshuaDavidFOTO]

something you need to work with? Its common that on a sunny day at 12 noon to have to shoot a 5d2 at 1/160th @ f/5 and ISO 100? If so im not quite certain I want this camera. Id imagine if light was low that I would be well out of handheld territory without bumping the ISO. Something isnt right.

[ejenner]

Metering on the 5DII is not good which is why (IMO) so many 5DII users proclaim using manual. Unlike my T1i which usually needed a -ve EC, my 5DII almost always needs a +ve EC.

Even worse is that it is not as consistent as my T1i and can change with minor compositional changes in the same light.

Personally I think this is the worst aspect of the 5DII, more so than the AF.

On the other hand, if it is underexposing a lot (more than 1 stop) with the same ISO, shutter speed and aperture, it would seem something is wrong. I did however find that mine underexposes by 2/3 stop compared with my T1i at the exact same settings.