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D80 overexposure problem

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Mets

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Has anyone else noticed that D80 is constantly overexposing ca 1 stop? I have taken multiple test shots of different scenes with exposure compensation set 0, -0,3, -0,7, -1 and even -1,7 and it seems that -1 is necessary almost always, sometimes -0,3 or -0,7 works but sometimes -1,7 is needed.

I am new to Nikon (sold my Canon gear for D80) and can’t say how normal this is. But I find it really annoying. Is it only my camera that is faulty or is it common problem and if so, what may be the solution?
 
I just got my D80 and I'm experiencing the same thing. With no exposure compensation, the camera blows the highlights in almost all scenes with good light, i.e. outdoors during the day. I've found -1 EV to fix it most of the time. Is this normal with Nikons?
 
fliegertiger said:
very unusual for Nikon though
Click to expand...
d50 is known to like -0.3 to -0.7EV.
not that unusual for nikon anymore ;)
fliegertiger said:
--
visit my albums at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fliegertiger/
Click to expand...
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin
.photoholic. - incurable -
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some pics: http://www.rootminus1.com/freepics/index.php?cat=10032
more pics: http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d58/theronfamily/
 
Post a sample, are you on spot or center metering? (not sure if D80 has spot but just trying to help) Also see what your in camera contrast/tone is set to - maybe you need to lower the contrast

Luke
 
I think he asked the question if others were having the same problem as he was having. Did you stop to think that maybe your camera was ok and his is not???

Apparently a second D80 user is having the same issue.
--
Scott Spencer
 
and the built in flash is actually usable now! you can make some truly awsome shots with the D80 pop-up flash. and the built in on my D50 is WAY too harsh. I'd say its probably a sample variation or maybe the lens isnt that accurate with its apiture? have you tried it out with different lenses?
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The past is just the future that already happened..... :)
 
on my D50 I had as standard setting -0,7EV Exposure compensation.

As the D80 has the metering system of the D50 I did not expect a different behaviour.
I could live with this on the D50 and will probably on the D80.

Josef
 
lukep said:
Post a sample, are you on spot or center metering? (not sure if
D80 has spot but just trying to help) Also see what your in camera
contrast/tone is set to - maybe you need to lower the contrast
Click to expand...
Mostly matrix metering (so the reason was not spot metering off dark area), auto WB, custom image settings were either on auto or normal. I can e-mail samples.
 
I've noticed the same thing. Particularly with very bright images to begin with (outside, full sun), using matrix metering. For me, a -0.3 fixes it. In normal circumstances the exposure is pretty accurate. When I used a D50 (I returned it to buy the D80), I noticed it as well, but with the D80 it seems a bit more consistent.
 
blik said:
Re: The photographer determines the correct exposure not the camera (nt)
Click to expand...
I agree. But I also think that if a 1000$ camera has exposure metering system it should work correctly and as advertised. At least all my previous cameras have worked so.
 
The D50 pictures are overexposed relative to D70 because people who migrated from P&S wanted to see pictures that 'pop.'

The D70 tended to reduce highlights.

People liked the brighter, more saturated colors from D50. Rather than the less bright/duller D70 pictures. However, the D70 pictures could be pp'ed to brighten up the details and make the picture not dull.

I am not surprised that Nikon has the D80 taking 'brighter' pictures with some parts of the photo being 'blown.'

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D 8 0, D 7 0, 1 8 - 7 0, 5 0 f 1.4, 1 0 5 mm V R,
S B 6 0 0, 1 8 - 2 0 0 V R, N V, N C, P S E 4
 
From the comments of others it seems that this may now be the way Nikon are setting up some of their cameras.
What would concertn me more though is the variablity you mention.

I can only suggest a series of test shots, with the shots posted here with EXIF, then perhaps the experts here can get a handle on what is going on with your camera.
Mets said:
Has anyone else noticed that D80 is constantly overexposing ca 1
stop? I have taken multiple test shots of different scenes with
exposure compensation set 0, -0,3, -0,7, -1 and even -1,7 and it
seems that -1 is necessary almost always, sometimes -0,3 or -0,7
works but sometimes -1,7 is needed.

I am new to Nikon (sold my Canon gear for D80) and can’t say how
normal this is. But I find it really annoying. Is it only my camera
that is faulty or is it common problem and if so, what may be the
solution?
Click to expand...
--
Regards,
DaveMart

'Just a wildebeast on the plain of life'
Please see profile for equipment
 
i meant the poster Kevin, sorry for the confusion

Looks like he was on matrix, take it back and try another - or at least try a few different scenes to see if it overexposes in them all.

Luke
TheronFamily said:
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin
.photoholic. - incurable -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
some pics: http://www.rootminus1.com/freepics/index.php?cat=10032
more pics: http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d58/theronfamily/
Click to expand...
 
David Martin said:
I can only suggest a series of test shots, with the shots posted
here with EXIF, then perhaps the experts here can get a handle on
what is going on with your camera.
Click to expand...
OK, temporary gallery is here http://www.pildid.ee/index.php?cat=19188 .

These are jpg's resized in PS, no more PP. Files are named according to EV setting and there should be EXIF data.

http://www.pildid.ee/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=19188&pos=4

http://www.pildid.ee/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=19188&pos=3

http://www.pildid.ee/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=19188&pos=2

http://www.pildid.ee/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=19188&pos=1

http://www.pildid.ee/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=19188&pos=0

http://www.pildid.ee/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=19188&pos=5

http://www.pildid.ee/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=19188&pos=6
 
I concur with the others that say this is a common problem.

The D50 usually over-exposes by just a tad, and needs either -0.3 or -0.7 compensation in order to fix (as reported in Phil's review).

The D70 on the other hand was well known for it's slightly under-exposed shots, and would need a +0.3 compensation to fix.

So I'd not be surprised if the D80's suffering from the same sort of image traits too.

Easily corrected and nothing to worry about.

Nick
 
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