5d2 underexposing by 1 stop.. Common?

Hi all.. Just picked up a used 20k 5d2 for $1200..

Liking it so far, although the only lens I have to use atm is a 50 1.8

The autofocus is actually a lot better than I was expecting, especially after reading about all the negative reviews about the 5d2 AF. Plus I also came from a 550d so the AF seems a lot snappier (even when using the 50 1.8)

My concern is that when using Av or Tv modes, it seems to be underexposing by about 1 stop. Is this common in 5d2's? I dont mind compensating for the exposure, its not hard to do, but would just like to know if its user error or something in the menus that I can change. I mainly only use Av when in bright daylight but i rely on it as selecting correct shutter speed can be time consuming..

Ive done several tests against my 550d, and my 550d exposes perfectly every time. I use evaluative metering..

Any thoughts?

I have never used the Mark II, but I don't think that the metering system should be all that different. When you tested, did you ensure that both scenes were framed exactly the same? And when you say 'underexposed', are you basing this on the histograms?

Can you post a sample from each?

Is exposure compensation on -1 which would affect Av and Tv but I dont think it affects Auto?

Rule out the obvious first.

• 1. Do you have any exposure compensation dialled in?
  
• 2. Are you using a different metering mode?
  
• 3. Are the exposure settings the same between cameras or is there 1 stop difference in the 5D2?
  
• 4. Is the image only darker on the LCD display? Check display brightness setting.
  
• 5. Are you referring to the histogram at all?
• 6. Post sample pictures.

AbPho wrote in post #15359964

• 1. Do you have any exposure compensation dialled in?
  
• 2. Are you using a different metering mode?
  
• 3. Are the exposure settings the same between cameras or is there 1 stop difference in the 5D2?
  
• 4. Is the image only darker on the LCD display? Check display brightness setting.
  
• 5. Are you referring to the histogram at all?
• 6. Post sample pictures.

I've never seen items in both an ordered and unordered list at the same time. You mean business!

This happened to me when I bought mine. I went through every setting in the camera. Shot outside daylight, inside daylight, inside with strobes/flashes, etc. It was underexposing by about one stop right out of the box. I sent it in to Canon and they fixed it. Had it back in about a week. I'd contact them to see what they would suggest.

LucasCK wrote in post #15359674
The autofocus is actually a lot better than I was expecting, especially after reading about all the negative reviews about the 5d2 AF. Plus I also came from a 550d so the AF seems a lot snappier...

They are about on par, AF-wise. Which is what people complain about. Compare the sales price for a new 550D with a new 5D Mark II to see why.

frugivore wrote in post #15360087
I've never seen items in both an ordered and unordered list at the same time. You mean business!

lol

Okay. This is probably a bad example, but I just got home and its 10:30pm

ISO is 4000 (otherwise it would be way to dark)
f/1.8

and in using Av mode my camera decides to use 1/400 shutter speed?

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Spot meter a grey card and see where the histogram spikes. If youre only getting the phenomenon when using evaluative mode then i would assume its only poor exposure algorithms. Try updating the firmware if you havent yet.

Good advice from boerewors. Until you start to do some systematic, controlled testing, you really won't have a good idea of what's actually happening. Just shooting random shots and disagreeing with how the camera is setting the exposure is not a good way of determining whether there's a camera problem.

Also, make sure the factory focus screen is in the camera. I believe the EG-S screen will cause underexposure if the camera is not set to compensate for it.

I have noticed this problem with my 5D II in certain shooting situations, but i can't recall them right now. I use 2 cameras at the same time for my work, a 5d II and a 1d III and the 5D II just seems way off a lot of the times when shooting outdoors. It makes me want to throw it in a river. I am almost always using it with my 24-105mm. The only reason i have kept the 5D II is for the video, but i rarely ever use it and i'm considering selling it to get a 1Ds III used.

on my 5D i am using a focusing screen, i can't remember which one though. It is one with a few horizontal and vertical lines to help make sure everything is level. I never thought of sending it into canon to get looked at, i might have to do that.

I seem to recall having a similar discrepancy between my 1D IIs and 30Ds. The 30Ds were always under compared to the 1D IIs. I just shrugged it off as a cheaper model issue.

Mine does a lot, using matrix which is what I normally use if I'm not on M. Having the T1i, I would say the 5DII metering is much worse, I use M a lot more than I did with the T1i.

In fact, my personal opinion is that the 5DII metering is its weakest point, rather than the AF although the latter gets all the criticisms.

With the T1i I generally set EV to -1/3, with the 5DII is can be anything from 0 to +1.

I find the same with the flash metering, I usually have that at +1.

It's almost like they didn't compensate for the fact that the ISOs are 2/3 stop slower on the 5DII than T1i (e.g. ISO400 on the 5DII exposes the same as ISO250 on the T1i), but it's worse because the 5DII is not as consistent either.