Getting it right in camera/1ds

Hi all. I shoot all raw and don't mind pp and that, but i do find i have to push the exposure a good bit from my 1ds(mark 1). I read somewhere that canon tend to underexpose to keep detail in shadows. Would it be normal to have the exposure compensation set to +1/3 or 2/3 on this camera, or is there something I am missing. Thanks

Not uncommon to use that sort of EC for most shots. I use around +2/3 on my 40D most of the time

That makes no sense. The way to maximize shadow detail is to give the shadows as much exposure as is possible. If Canon is intentionally reducing exposure it is to reduce the chances of highlight clipping, which would have the side effect of reducing shadow detail. You maximize shadow detail by giving the shadows as much exposure as is possible which is done by raising overall exposure to the point where highlights are just short of clipping.

tzalman wrote in post #15027486
That makes no sense. The way to maximize shadow detail is to give the shadows as much exposure as is possible. If Canon is intentionally reducing exposure it is to reduce the chances of highlight clipping, which would have the side effect of reducing shadow detail. You maximize shadow detail by giving the shadows as much exposure as is possible which is done by raising overall exposure to the point where highlights are just short of clipping.

Ok, I got the terminology wrong, canon may underexpose by default to keep details in highlights.

Any other 1ds users that may advise on exposure settings please

I have a 1Ds2 and often have +1/3 exposure.

I think it's a carryover from the days of film, when Canon always seemed to err a little on the side of underexposure, which helped protect highlights in slide film from blowing out.

However with digital there is more "headroom" with the highlights (a highlight is a preponderance of data in digital, where it was clear film or "no data" in slides)... In this respect, digital is more like negative film. (But digital's dynamic range is more like slide film than negs.)

The reason to set a little + EC much of the time is simply that it's safer to err toward slight overexposure now with DSLRs, better to have to reduce exposure in post... Than it is to underexpose and have to increase exposure in post, which always increases image noise disproportionately. So underexposure is the last thing you want, whenever it can be avoided.

Using a pre-set level of EC is really sort of like putting a one-size-fits-all bandaid on the auto exposure process. Ideally you should be dialing in different amount of EC for each and every image, but that's simply not practical much of the time. Plus, just how much EC is needed is likely to vary from one model with one type of metering system to another with a different metering system,m though many people think it's "safe" to give Canon cameras in general 1/3 to 2/3 stop + EC.

There's also some subjectivity with exposure. What I like might be different from what you like. Or what works for one subject might be quite wrong for another subject.

I do a lot of equestrian photography and, when using any AE mode and time allows, I dial in a little more + EC for a white horse (as much as +1 or +1-1/3) and a little less for a really dark or black horse (-1/3 to +1/3)... In the middle tonality bays, roans, grays and most multicolored I tend to shoot with about +2/3 EC most of the time.

Works pretty well, much of the time. This is one of those "Yeah! Nailed it!" moments...

Thanks pilsburypie for the input, and thanks amfoto1 for the detailed explanation and example. Fab horse photo as well

jaomul wrote in post #15027268
Hi all. I shoot all raw and don't mind pp and that, but i do find i have to push the exposure a good bit from my 1ds(mark 1). I read somewhere that canon tend to underexpose to keep detail in shadows. Would it be normal to have the exposure compensation set to +1/3 or 2/3 on this camera, or is there something I am missing. Thanks

Underexposing does not increase shadow detail. It does the opposite.