D750 JPEGSs showing as over exposed

scamartist · 5 Jan 2017 at 13:05

I bought a D750 just before Christmas to replace my GX7 which got damaged.

When I take an image using the matrix metering and then review the image on the LCD you can see that the highlights are blown. I have noticed this with other metering types as well.

Is this purely down to the fact the previews shown on camera are JPEG and don't contain all the information available in the RAW file?

If that is the case is there a way to set up the JPEG's so that they do not show the over exposure?

avatar12m · 5 Jan 2017 at 14:00

is this what you mean ?

http://masteryournikon.com/2014/09/14/understanding-nikon-playback-display-options/

scamartist · 5 Jan 2017 at 14:29

It is the RGB highlights which flash when the preview JPEG is shown.

D.P. · 5 Jan 2017 at 14:45

Post some examples. Under certain conditions it is perfect ly possible for any metering mode to over exposure, which is why there is a an EC control. Matrix metering is still weighted by your focus point, just not to the extent of spot metering. If the scene has high contrast then it will be physically impossible to have a single correct exposure.

scamartist · 5 Jan 2017 at 14:54

Will try and post some examples when I get home after work.

D.P. · 5 Jan 2017 at 16:35

Something else to check is that within the camera menus it is possible to have a fixed exposure compensation offset, e.g. you can force your camera to always under or over exposure by 1/3rd or more stops. It is possible you accidentally made some changes.

If the images looks reasonably well exposed but the highlights are clipped then that is perfectly normal and is just a manifestation of the physical world we live in where natural dynamic range exceeds what can be captured digitally. With the D750 you can get away with under exposing and then bringing up shadows in post bye at least 3 or more stops. that can help protect highlights.

niko · 5 Jan 2017 at 16:49

is it just on the small camera lcd screen or are downloaded jpegs also blown

scamartist · 5 Jan 2017 at 18:18

I've checked the settings and there is no exposure compensation set.

If matrix metering would I be best to select a focus point in the brightest section, lock exposure and then recompose?

D.P. · 5 Jan 2017 at 18:20

scamartist said:
I've checked the settings and there is no exposure compensation set.

If matrix metering would I be best to select a focus point in the brightest section, lock exposure and then recompose?

No, that is a terrible idea and will lead to miss-focused images without solving exposure issues.

Matrix metering works 99% of the time for me, the exceptions are obvious back-lit or high contrast scenarios.

scamartist · 5 Jan 2017 at 19:48

So is the best option to check the histogram after taking the image then using exposure compensation?

Any suggestions are welcome.

D.P. · 5 Jan 2017 at 21:50

Check the histogram but beware the histogram is based on the embedded JPEG so if your white balance is out then so will the RGB histogram.

I rarely touch EC, matrix metering on nikon DSLR is extremely effective IMO.

scamartist · 6 Jan 2017 at 08:46

Will just need to get out as much as possible and use the camera to better understand the results I can expect.

Too used to my old camera's EVF which removes the need to ever review anything like this as the exposure is known at the time the image was taken.