Washed out shots outside-HELP!

Posted this in the 70D thread but thought it best to let those guys run about their cameras and give it a thread of its own, if y'all don't mind.

{Reposted}

Please forgive me but I have to ask a newbie-type question here.

All of my outside photos are very washed out and too bright. They lack vibrancy, contrast and color, for lack of a better way to describe it.

I see SOME just like mine in this thread but most are not. I keep buying cameras trying to solve this problem. Just got my 70D yesterday and haven't even taken it out of the box yet.

I think I've had an epiphany. I'm starting to think this is all related to you guys using polarizing filters! I've haven't used one since the old days when I used to shoot film with an AE-1 and an A-1. I don't know why it never occurred to me until I started reading this thread because I used to DEPEND on them shooting landscapes in the film days!

I always shoot in JPG. I'm too lazy to do post but maybe that's where this whole thing is headed. Is this something I can fix in RAW or is it once it's gone, it's gone? I'm starting to think a lot more of you guys are shooting with polarizing filters than you are letting on. Is this what you guys are doing or are you fixing these BEAUTIFUL outside shots in post. Is there a way to effectively "polarize" in PP?

I'm about tired of throwing good money at a bad problem but hey, I got a nice upgrade to my 60D, right?

Harsh sunlight does that with any camera, and no, the 60d is probably a better camera because of the 70d and it's problematic focusin system.

a) What mode do you use? M, Av, Tv, Green Box

b) What picture style do you use?

c) Are you sure that the exposure compensation is at 0? You'll find it in the Q menu

WilsonFlyer wrote in post #16975766
I always shoot in JPG. I'm too lazy to do post but maybe that's where this whole thing is headed. Is this something I can fix in RAW or is it once it's gone, it's gone? I'm starting to think a lot more of you guys are shooting with polarizing filters than you are letting on. Is this what you guys are doing or are you fixing these BEAUTIFUL outside shots in post. Is there a way to effectively "polarize" in PP?

A polarizing filter might help, but a lot depends upon the angle of sun relative to your subject. You can't "polarize" in PP, per se, but you can deal with highlights and shadows. Toning down highlights works a LOT better in RAW. I'd recommend you start there, rather than buying new gear.

I very rarely use a polarizing or ND filter in mid-day sun except if I do want more saturation or longer exposure (for shutter speed). It's hard to tell you what to do without knowing what mode or metering you're using.

RAW can make things easier to try to recover blown highlights after you take the image: it has a larger dynamic range then jpeg. Jpeg is limited to the same contrast range as your monitor (IE 8bpc). The camera RAW could have as much as 14bpc.

If you're consistently getting overexposures, then you could bump down exposure compensation. But I'd recommend learning more about exposure in general. It could be that you're shooting in situations with strong backlight. In those situations, you can use flash to cut down on dark shadows and meter in partial meter.

A picture with full Exif is worth a thousand words! Please post an example photo.

Frodge wrote in post #16975776
Harsh sunlight does that with any camera, and no, the 60d is probably a better camera because of the 70d and it's problematic focusin system.

The OP does not need a comment like this at this stage of development. The 70D may have some issues, but they likely aren't universal to all 70D's, or Canon would have likely fixed it by now.

Thanks guys. I'll throw a couple up tomorrow and we'll see where it takes us.

John from PA wrote in post #16975833
The OP does not need a comment like this at this stage of development. The 70D may have some issues, but they likely aren't universal to all 70D's, or Canon would have likely fixed it by now.

I Read all about it before I bought mine and haven't even done the test yet. That's how little I'm concerned about it at this point. I'm not saying it doesn't exist, but if mine exibits the behavior, it's going to be Best Buy's problem in very short order. Can you say, "Next!"

John from PA wrote in post #16975833
The OP does not need a comment like this at this stage of development. The 70D may have some issues, but they likely aren't universal to all 70D's, or Canon would have likely fixed it by now.

+1 on this. I have the 60D and the 70D and have no focusing issues that can't be attributed to user error

To the OP's question, I've never used a polarizing filter, but as MakisM1 pointed out, it will be helpful once you post up some shots with the exif. Look forward to seeing them tomorrow!

Awaiting the sample photos.

First at all post a picture strait out of the camera without filters( jpg SOOC is fine, we are not here to PP your pics but to see what's going on and see your exif ! )

After seeing your pics we can speak, until that it will be just speculative answers

The 70D is a fantastic camera. I own it and the 6D, using each for various types of shooting. Like others have said, washed out is subjective until sample photos are posted. Lots of factors involved in outdoor shoots that affect image quality outside of gear impact. Polarizing filter typically allows a few extra stops, but lighting can still be harsh, in particular in the Northern Hemisphere this time of year most hours of the day.

In these days of very powerful post processing I would venture a guess that more pictures are taken without a CPL than with. Just my opinion/guess but no reason to rush off and buy the CPL expecting resolution to the problem.

I'm going to try this. Never tried to post a pic so we'll see.

This is pretty typical though many are worse than this. Can this be fixed?

BTW and for what it's worth, I used to shoot exclusively in JPG but just bought a 70D and have vowed to shoot in RAW+JPG from now on. Maybe at least that will give me something better to work with.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/nKtL​RJ