40D histogram and shooting to the right

arkphotos wrote in post #5871037
What metering mode do you experience the underexposure in?
For me - shots with snow seem to dominate the exposure (evaluative) - so I either need to dial in ~1.5 to 2 EC, or spot meter & use manual.

This is entirely normal.

That's o.k. if you happen to like grey snow.

That's why they made CS3. You can't just shoot digital and not do some processing to it.

canonloader wrote in post #5871557
That's why they made CS3. You can't just shoot digital and not do some processing to it.

There are some limits to what CS3 can do (gasp!) A properly exposed image will always be a better starting point for post-processing.

Oh yes you can, if you care about the image when you shoot it just as much as you would have done, if you had positive color slide film in your camera.

Perhaps a camera that has been stored for a long time has some kind of mechanical problem, causing bad exposure? So that it needs to "get going" again, before it works?

But that shouldn't apply to a new camera, so it doesn't fully explain what you've seen. It's probably you getting more skilled.

True, but exposure compensation isn't the answer. Using custom white balance is. In the end, AWB and fixing the grey in CS3 is faster for me.

On the other hand, if there is something CS3 can't do, I can't find it. Other than doing my dishes for me.

And how long do you think a "brand new" 40D sits in the box from the factory to your desk?

I routinely shoot at +2/3 stops exposure compensation on my 40D. There are even times when +2 stops isn't enough. I think Canon dropped the ball on the meter on the 40D.

canonloader wrote in post #5871616
And how long do you think a "brand new" 40D sits in the box from the factory to your desk?

Not for years, at least.

One of the most educational things you can do is buy an good incidence meter and learn to use it. No more compensation needed, unless you choose to do so for some aesthetic reason.

Canon cameras tend to under-expose slightly. A lot of people think it's by design, a precaution against blown out highlights that Canon engineers design into the camera.

Has anybody sent their 40d body in to Canon for calibration? I'm wondering if these bodies come from the factory out of calibration.

tzalman wrote in post #4741346
.....the camera meters to 13% grey - not 18%, that's an urban myth.

The 18% thing still perpetuates even to this day. The truly "correct" figure seems to be open to a bit of debate though, varying between 12 and 13% depending on what you read and to whom you talk. And it's dependent upon whether a given manufacturer adheres to the ANSI standard value or the popular 18% myth.

I normally ETTR by 1/3rd if using an AE mode with my 40D, notwithstanding any scene-specific compensation.

I have noticed the same thing on my new 40D. To get the proper exposure, I have had to add +1 EV. I would not be surprised if this was intentional to avoid blowouts, especially in the red channel.

I have the same question / concern as my 1 month old 40D appears to be underexposing. I just want to really understand is it as is discussed "a feature" or should i consider returning to Canon for a repair as with all of us we spend a lot of cash on our camera's and I feel that if we have to make all shots +1/3 EV then surely there is an issue.
In a nut shell I don't want to send it back and be without it for two weeks only to find that there is nothing wrong.

Any advice and help?

Sensor Breakin is looking better and better.

When I first got my 40D I was concerned about the need to bump up the exposure until I took a photo of something all grey. It was right where it should be on the histogram so this tells me that the camrea is metering the scene correctly.