6d under exposure?

Imaging Resource, in their review of the 6d states "The Canon 6D tends to underexpose a bit, requiring higher than average exposure compensation. Here, even at +1.0 EV, our "Sunlit" portrait is a bit dim, while most cameras need +0.7 EV compensation for this shot."
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/can​on-6d/canon-6dA5.HTM

I just received mine the other day, and I tend to agree, based on the few shots I took. What do most people think of the underexposure statement about the 6d.

Probably true, that is how Canon set their cameras up. It is done to protect highlights from blowing out in some situations.

I believe my 5D3 is the same, from what I have read. I just am so used to setting exposure myself, or using histogram based EC in the semi auto modes, that I never really noticed that I may be giving a touch more +ve EC sometimes and a touch less -ve EC other times etc. I just set EC for the camera and the conditions. I have no exposure problems with the camera.

Camera meters are just to give a reading upon which you base your exposure decisions after judging the tones in a scene. Even on a camera which "under exposes" there will be many times that the scene still requires some -ve EC to "under expose" even more to get the correct exposure.

Cameras don't under or over expose, photographers do. The camera merely gives a meter reading based on an assumption that everything in front of it is a mid grey. Traditionally, meters were set to expose everything to 18% grey (so shoot a black target and a white target using the meter and they would come out identical at 18% grey) any scenes where the tones average out darker or lighter would need the meter to be compensated for.

I have heard that Canon now use a 12% grey setting, which probably explains the issue you describe. So long as you know how your camera meters though, just factor it in when deciding on exposure. It really isn't a problem.

I think you should set your EC to +2/3 like most of us do and call it a day. I've found with 6D raw files I can push or pull a shot a stop or more without seeing any image degradation, to me it's a non-issue.

Yes, agree. When I'm in AV I almost always compensate.

Here another thread about 6D underexposure in AV - https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1327082

sandpiper wrote in post #16809326
Cameras don't under or over expose, photographers do.

But, my stove did burn last night's stirfry.

EverydayGetaway wrote in post #16809371
I think you should set your EC to +2/3 like most of us do and call it a day. I've found with 6D raw files I can push or pull a shot a stop or more without seeing any image degradation, to me it's a non-issue.

Based on Imaging Resource and my 1 day of testing, I did set a +.67 EC.
Like I have been reading, this camera certainly meters' differently than my previous Canons. Overall, I do like the 6d, but was curious what others thought who had a 6d a lot longer than I have owned mine.

Thanks

marcheseg wrote in post #16809408
Based on Imaging Resource and my 1 day of testing, I did set a +.67 EC.
Like I have been reading, this camera certainly meters' differently than my previous Canons. Overall, I do like the 6d, but was curious what others thought who had a 6d a lot longer than I have owned mine.

Thanks

I didn't mean to come off harsh or anything, I was just saying it's not a big deal as long as you keep it's metering quirks in mind. I have mine set to Av, center weighed metering and +2/3 EC probably over 90% of the time I'm shooting. Even my X-E1 needs some +EC, same with my EOS M.

That is how Canon chose to implement their standard exposure settings, their trying to protect the bright parts of an image from being blown out.

It's really not a big deal, just adjust the levels in post OR adjust the exposure compensation on the scene.

I do find my 6D elects to under expose unless I shoot in manual.

Guys, sort of a dumb question. Regarding the 6D's histogram, its only available in live view, correct? There's no way to display it on the screen, similar to the horizontal level, but when using the viewfinder?

gnome chompski wrote in post #16810131
Guys, sort of a dumb question. Regarding the 6D's histogram, its only available in live view, correct? There's no way to display it on the screen, similar to the horizontal level, but when using the viewfinder?

Not when actually taking the shot, no there is no way to display it when using the viewfinder. However, it is easy to use by firing off a quick test shot and then viewing the image on the screen and looking at the histogram then, and using that to adjust your exposure (if necessary) before taking more shots.

Once you have your exposure, you can dial that in and shoot away at your leisure. If the light is consistent, then it is easy to shoot in manual, if the light is variable, due to patchy cloud, or parts of the action happening in full sun and others in the shade from a grandstand perhaps, then Av or Tv may be better, depending on how the tones in the scene fall. With no large areas of bright or dark tones to cause variations, then Av or Tv will be more consistent than manual in variable light. Exposure is easily adjusted with EC in those modes, based on the histogram and blinkies viewed from a test shot.

Going back to my XTi, it was said to do the same thing so it must be true that is how canon sets there camera's. I also upped my 60d's exposure compentsation.

Lightroom for me fixed it pretty much, as did adding exposure compensation or going manual as already mentioned.

One way to "visualize" your camera's exposure is to shoot a blank wall, with no Exposure Compensation. The camera will set the exposure to "medium grey".

However, if you then look at the histogram, you will see the exposure "spike" showing up somewhat to the left (darker than) the center of the histogram. This shows how the "metering" and exposure stuff can differ somewhat from the "readout" on a histogram.

So then, you can check out things, viewing the images and judging which "view" is best, that is, viewing the automatic exposure setting, or using Exposure Compensation to "improve" things...try boosting the exposure to where it actually "centers" the histogram and see how you like it (you can do this in software or with the camera)!

EverydayGetaway wrote in post #16809821
I didn't mean to come off harsh or anything, I was just saying it's not a big deal as long as you keep it's metering quirks in mind. I have mine set to Av, center weighed metering and +2/3 EC probably over 90% of the time I'm shooting. Even my X-E1 needs some +EC, same with my EOS M.

I never took your answer as harsh, I just want to be a sponge and absorb all this great info to shoot better photos.

Yep, its standard practice for Canons. I just did a test with my 5DIII and a grey card. Sunny 16 exposure was overexposed by 1 stop according to the needle. Back in Lightroom, after setting the white balance, the card shows ~62% for all channels so the spike is slightly to the right.

If I were to believe the camera's meter, I'd get a spike at 40% and it looks very underexposed. I guess that's great for protecting highlights, but it pretty much ensures that every shot needs an exposure boost in post. I've always exposed +2/3 above whatever the camera wants.