D70s and the challenge of correct exposure!?

Shoit · 23 Apr 2006 at 09:51

I've had a D70s since January and am having great fun taking lots of shots. I'm really pleased with some of the results that I am getting. However, I'm finding that my shots lack consistency when it comes to exposure and contrast. At times the images seem underexposed and when printed via a online gallery seem to come back darker than I would have liked. I use the camera a lot in full manual and would like to be able to take shots that are ready for printing without much post processing.

I've read quite a lot about the D70s and there does seem to be discussion about how the camera exposes. What I really need is some advice from people that are actually using the camera and ways they get consistent exposure.

Any advice please?

Kev

The Asgard · 23 Apr 2006 at 10:23

Hi there,
I'm a 20D user but I would get to grips with the histogram. Will help a lot with exposure.

MichaelG · 23 Apr 2006 at 10:43

I shoot with a D70, not often in fully manual. Don't find too many problems with the exposure.

I do find that when I get shots printed they are inconsistent. I've had several prints made of some photos, all of which look very different despite the same image being sent off. The contrast seems to vary more than anything else. Not much I can do about that I guess.

Shoit · 23 Apr 2006 at 12:44

The Asgard said:
Hi there,
I would get to grips with the histogram. Will help a lot with exposure.

Thanks for the advice, Im sure that the histogram is one of the crucial elements, what should i be aiming for when reviewing a histogram? I know there is lots of information out there but find it difficult to relate that to the different photographs that i take. i.e what the histogram represents?

Kev

evilowl · 23 Apr 2006 at 15:28

The D70 doesn't have an RGB histogram, it only displays the green channel so isn't a whole lot of use. It was one of the reasons I upgraded to the D200.

Couple of good histogram writeups here:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/understanding-histograms.shtml

and

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/yrgb.htm

Might also be worth your while reading up about bracketing

http://www.photoxels.com/tutorial_exposureBracketing.html

Joe T · 23 Apr 2006 at 16:45

Is the online gallery you have been using for printing photobox btw? Quite a few people find their prints from their come out too dark, myself included. You should calibrate your monitor to solve this.

Shoit · 23 Apr 2006 at 18:07

Joe T said:
Is the online gallery you have been using for printing photobox btw? Quite a few people find their prints from their come out too dark, myself included. You should calibrate your monitor to solve this.

Nah it was another gallery - is there any surefire way of calibrating the monitor?

The D70 doesn't have an RGB histogram, it only displays the green channel so isn't a whole lot of use. It was one of the reasons I upgraded to the D200.

Didnt realise that!

Kev

i know nothing · 23 Apr 2006 at 18:27

I would be very interested as well in how you callibrate a monitor.

glitch · 23 Apr 2006 at 19:33

Shoit said:
Nah it was another gallery - is there any surefire way of calibrating the monitor?

i know nothing said:
I would be very interested as well in how you callibrate a monitor.

Invest in a hardware calibration unit. It's the only reliable method.

Cheap: Pantone Huey @ £70

Mid-range: ColorVision Spyder 2 @ £140

Top-end: Gretag-MacBeth Eye-One Display 2 @ £180

These are only for calibrating monitors though, once you get into wanting to calibrate your home printer the expense can rise very steeply.

i know nothing · 23 Apr 2006 at 20:44

glitch said:
Invest in a hardware calibration unit. It's the only reliable method.

Cheap: Pantone Huey @ £70

Mid-range: ColorVision Spyder 2 @ £140

Top-end: Gretag-MacBeth Eye-One Display 2 @ £180

These are only for calibrating monitors though, once you get into wanting to calibrate your home printer the expense can rise very steeply.

Very useful post thanks Glitch, I've just ordered one of those!

i know nothing · 11 Jun 2006 at 17:18

Having played with my GretagMacbeth Eyeone2 for a few weeks now I can honestly say it is the best PC investment I have actually made. I actually get to see on the monitor what I'll get from the printers, for Illustrator CS2 stuff it's fantastic (especially Pantone).

Cheers Glitch!