Proper exposure with 10D

I seem to keep getting underexposed images from my 10D. I usually use my light meter (sekonic L358) but whether I use that or the internal I still get underexposed shots. Does anyone else get this or is it just me. Now I understand its not a major deal to correct in PS but still would be nice if it were closer. Any suggestions would be appreciated

Its just you.....

Unless I compensate most of my pics are OVERexposed. Your post is the first I've heard of unserexposure.

Any chance you have spun the rear dial and made a conpensation? Easy to do if the dial is turned on.

-Pete

Pete, my bad I meant overexposed. So your saying you compensate, how much compensation do you use.

I've noticed that also. I usually compensate by setting the exposure 1/3-1/2 stop under. In really bright light though, sometimes I have to set it under a full stop. It also depends strongly, on what metering method you're using.

I hate to say this, but I think the 10D sucks at metering. I keep hearing everyone say that it's pretty good, for in camera metering, but that doesn't really reflect my experiences. Honestly, my G2 meters better than this camera I'm not ruling out user error of course, since the camera is rather new to me

On a trip to Florida earlier this year, I thought I had taken some great sand dune pics ... until I downloaded them to my laptop and noticed that they were all overexposed ... next day, I did a couple of test shots and ended up underexposing by a full stop .... since then, I haven't changed that setting (guess I just forgot about it at first) and have been satisfied with results ...
jim

Jimtfoto, your sand dunes shots... did you have a chance to review the histogram right after the shots?

When I get in a big hurry, that is the first thing that I forget to do.

How badly was the exposure off?

When I am shooting something important with my Canon film camera on Velvia, I often bracket the exposure by a half-stop up and down.

But with the Canon digital, I generally don't bother to bracket, and I hope the histogram looks decent.

---Bob Gross---

I'm underexposed ...

Yea,...

I've had the problem of my 10D consistently underexposing images.
I've tried all three different metering modes, and all images come out anywhere from 1/2 stop to sometimes over a full stop underexposed.

I always shoot in RAW format, and adjusting in PS is always necessary. I could keep on doing that, but I feel that the 10D should (and could) do a better job of exposure and save me a step in the conversion process.

So, I've sent in my 10D to Canon hoping that they can adjust it so that it exposes more shots closer to "correct" (the term "correct" being a totally subjective experience - I have a friend who's a professional sports photographer. All of his shots come out, to me, underexposed. But, to him, they seem fine) ....

I fully expect to have to adjust some shots for exposure, but I've had to adjust 99% percent of all shots I've taken so far with the 10D. And I just feel that's way over what a probability of "mis-exposed" shots would be .....

I should know if Canon is up to the challenge in a couple of weeks .....

Bob ... as I recall I didn't check the histogram right away ... only later did I do that in Photoshop when I spotted blown (not blowing) areas in the dunes... but you're right, if I had checked it after the first shot I probably would have compensated and not wasted the next few frames ...
jim

I have similar problems with the 10D's metering. I am glad someone posted about this subject. I always thought it was me and not the camera. My 10D wants to overexpose. I find myself compensating by 1/2 to a full stop in many situations. It's not that my camera is getting fooled by taking pictures of a white subject or dark subject. I understand the concept of exposure compensation when taking a photo of a subject that is not a medium tone. My camera goofs up most often when taking a photo of a medium tone subject.

If underexposure is consistently a half stop or so, then is it practical to set a half stop of correction into your RAW-to-TIF conversion. I would think so.

My D60 generally underexposes, but not consistently, and not enough that I can't correct it in the editor. By the way, I edit in Corel PhotoPaint, and the correction is generally "Adjust Intensity +10%" and sometimes twice that. That is still far less than a stop.

---Bob Gross---

I consistently get good exposures from my 10D when shooting available light. I always check the review image, and then the histogram if the exposure looks off. But for about 95% of my shots, the exposure is either right on or close enough to be used without image quality degradation.

The E-TTL flash metering is another situation altogether, of course. I won't get into that since we've beaten that issue to death on here!

Mike

The best answer is: "Whatever it takes." During overcast days 1/2 is usually enough but twhen the sun shines sometimes 1/2 is enough, smetime 1 or 1 1/2 is needed. Just check that histogram often.

I'll add another meterinf story. I can take 2 pics of the same subject in the same light in the same location, but the camera will pick 2 different exposures! Sheesh! Usually one is overexposed so I'll toss that one.

-Pete

That's why we should all purchase Minolta's they have considerably better metering than all Canon cameras, the honeycomb metering pattern is the best availible and isn't easily fooled, I miss it!

I use my Sekonic L358 often but at times when busy shooting dont notice the sun going behind the cloud or coming back out. So on some days depending on what I am shooting have to count on camera meter. I agree 100% on the fact that the metering on 2 pics shot with in seconds can be off. Thank goodness for digital and large CF Cards. Nice to have as many as possible come right out though.

I use histogram almost all the time to adjust the exposure of my 10D - it's my most efficient tool to determine proper exposure for tricky lightings conditions. For most conditions with flat lighting my 10D determines the exposure quite good.