advice needed regarding indoor lighting

it seems to me that when indoor, my photos are underexposed relative to what my eyes see.

why is this the case and how do i compensate for it??

thx

Have you set your WB? I've found that setting a custom WB helps out alot for me.What type of camera are you using? Using a flash will help. If you can post an example. Oh yea I make sure I check my in camera exposure meter and adjust from there.

Remember that your camera is only seeing the light for a fraction of a second, whereas your eyes get a continuous image, so lighting will always look better to you than it does to the camera.

You need to increase your exposure or use a flash.

flash makes the photo looks weird and i dont like it at all so i dont use it.
i got a 450d with a 18-55 kit lens (teh suxxor i know) its max aperture is f/3.5. with a fluorescent ceiling light i need 1/5 shutter speed for it to look ok @ iso400.

so i guess the lens is not for indoor??

I don't know about your camera's high iso capability but I always use iso 1000 or even 1600. The 24-105 is f/4.0 and it works very well, although my 35 f/1.4 is ideal for this application (but expensive). I also have the advantage most of the time of having good window light where I do most of my shooting. At night, a flash with a diffuser gives near-natural light. Simple bounce flash works pretty well too, depending on your environment. Fluorescent light varies tremendously in color temperature so is difficult to use as a predictable light source.

ayoyoayoyo wrote in post #9363265
flash makes the photo looks weird and i dont like it at all so i dont use it.
i got a 450d with a 18-55 kit lens (teh suxxor i know) its max aperture is f/3.5. with a fluorescent ceiling light i need 1/5 shutter speed for it to look ok @ iso400.

so i guess the lens is not for indoor??

Actually, your 18-55 IS lens is amazingly good for the price. It's quite sharp and the IS works well. But yes, it's not a low-light lens.

Try ISO 800 - that'll let you use 1/10 shutter under the same lighting. As long as your subject isn't moving, you should be able to handhold that just fine with the IS on.

-js

If the images are under exposed at those settings, the easiest way to improve them is more light.

And it doesnt have to be flash although flash done properly does work very well.

And dont be afraid of ISO 800+ - anything to get a good shot!

using iso800 gives me weird purple specks in the photo. i hate them so much.

Those weird purple specks can be removed using post processing software (DPP, PS, LR etc).

One thing to note is that the noise (the specks) doesnt look nearly as bad printed or when the image is resized (downwards for web use). It is only really horrible when viewed at 100% on a monitor imho.

ayoyoayoyo wrote in post #9363265
flash makes the photo looks weird and i dont like it at all so i dont use it.
i got a 450d with a 18-55 kit lens (teh suxxor i know) its max aperture is f/3.5. with a fluorescent ceiling light i need 1/5 shutter speed for it to look ok @ iso400.

so i guess the lens is not for indoor??

Is this guy for real or is he some sort of troll? I knew more than this when I was 8. When I decided to take up photography, I checked out a book from the library; maybe ayoyoayoyo needs to do the same!

ayoyoayoyo wrote in post #9363265
flash makes the photo looks weird and i dont like it at all so i dont use it.

Get a speedlite and bounce that flash off of a white wall or ceiling and you will become a believer. Start using off camera flash and it gets even better.

I think the OP probably using one of the auto modes. in those mode, once you have a side subject that is really bright, it'll tends to make the other part of the image underexposed.

Annie Social wrote in post #9379955
Is this guy for real or is he some sort of troll? I knew more than this when I was 8. When I decided to take up photography, I checked out a book from the library; maybe ayoyoayoyo needs to do the same!

Remind me to ignore you if you ever have a problem or maybe i will just refer you to your library!

ayoyoayoyo wrote in post #9369394
flash makes the photo looks weird and i dont like it at all so i dont use it.
i got a 450d with a 18-55 kit lens (teh suxxor i know) its max aperture is f/3.5. with a fluorescent ceiling light i need 1/5 shutter speed for it to look ok @ iso400.

First of all, it would be really helpful if you told us what your subject is?
Overhead fluorescents are probably the worst light sources that you can use. They're positioned to put shadows under the eyes, & are lacking in red tones.

Underexposed ISO 800 will not look as good as properly exposed ISO 1600, except that you'll always have problems with noise in the black areas. If you're shooting on Auto, think about setting a manual exposure:
Need an exposure crutch?
Why?
Post #47

Finally, if you insist on using only available darkness, then maybe you should consider getting a faster lens? The 50mm f/1.8 isn't all that expensive.