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XTI 400d, exposure concerns, need expert advise, thanks!

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Czechmate

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Good morning all:

I wanted to get an ‘expert’ opinion on a question regarding the XTI, which I’ve purchased recently—my question is, the xti pics that I’ve shot just seem really underexposed, how can I determine if this is user error or the camera? I’m happy to admit it is user error, if that is really what it is!

In good light they seem about 2/3 of a stop underexposed (meaning I would have to dial in +2/3 in EC) to get the same exposure as what the xt did. This is, btw, just what I think, from experience with the xt, which I have sold, so I do not have a way to compare it back to back. In low light conditions, it seems that even past a full stop of compensation is needed to achieve proper compensation, but proper metering etc has more of a role here than in good daylight, so I’m concerned more about the former not the latter.

So here we are—what can I do to ensure that it is not me. The reason why this is SO important—I’ve done a lot of reading lately about photography, metering during morning / evening hours, on the beach, during snow etc. Having taken notes on that and learned, I would really hate to throw that info away, knowing I would need to add an addition + 2/3 comp. to everything. Does this make sense? I hope so, let me know if you have questions.

Thanks kindly,

Czechmate

--
Czechmate
Canon rebel XTI
Canon 18-55mm
Canon 50mm f/1.8
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8
Fesiol 3301 Legs/Bogen 486RC2 Head
little brain, big heart
 
Czechmate said:
The
reason why this is SO important—I’ve done a lot of reading lately
about photography, metering during morning / evening hours, on the
beach, during snow etc. Having taken notes on that and learned, I
would really hate to throw that info away, knowing I would need to
add an addition + 2/3 comp. to everything. Does this make sense?
Click to expand...
NO. You can add +2/3 EC and then leave it. You won't have to set it for each shot. After tjat make your exposure calculations as you would normally do. Think of it as calibrating your meter. Once you have it calibrated by adding +2/3 - it's "accurate".
 
In the Creative mode the 300D would underexpose by about 1/3rd stop while the 350D would overexpose.
--
Sure I've got a photographic memory...... just needs developing!

 
I only shoot RAW and use partial metering. Just for fun I dialed in an extra 2/3 stop in some shots I did of the city with the 17-40mm and those were all overexposed by that amount.
--

 
This only works if you live in a medium toned world. One, as always, will have to adjust EC depending on the tone of the subject for which you want to meter and expose properly. You add zero EC for an 18% gray card. You add about +1 EC for a white dress for example.

The EC is not a 'calibration' for your camera. You pretty much need to adjust it for every shot.

The question is really will a shot of an 18% gray card with zero EC yield an 18% gray card.

For some good explanations of metering, exposure, and the usage of EC, see "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson or pretty much any of John Shaw's books such as the Nature Photographer's Field Guide.

J.
bongo said:
NO. You can add +2/3 EC and then leave it. You won't have to set
it for each shot. After tjat make your exposure calculations as
you would normally do. Think of it as calibrating your meter.
Once you have it calibrated by adding +2/3 - it's "accurate".
Click to expand...
--
'Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please.' -
Mark Twain

(equip in profile)
 
I haven't noticed any unusual underexposure with my XTi compared with my XT. If anything, on some shots I've done -1/3.

I haven't had a lot of chance to take photos this weekend since having a XTi since Friday, but I've got some samples here:

http://www.pbase.com/pespen/400d

All my samples done with the 17-55 2.8 IS on the XTi. Is it possible that this is a kit lens issue on the XTi?
 
Especially John's informed comment, that's someone who knows his photography!

I will have to try out a graycard and see what i get. Probably like always, user error, although many dont want to admit it!

cheers
--
Czechmate
Canon rebel XTI
Canon 18-55mm
Canon 50mm f/1.8
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8
Fesiol 3301 Legs/Bogen 486RC2 Head
little brain, big heart
 
I got my XTi this Sudnay. Only did some shoots after work around my building. I mainly used 50/1.4, 24-70/2.8L and 70-200/2.8L IS. Comparing to my 5D and 1D-II and looking at the histgram, the XTi seems to be about 2/3 to 1 f-stop underexposed. I need to do more shooting this weekend under the sun to further verify. If this is true, it is real bad.

Steven
Czechmate said:
Good morning all:

I wanted to get an ‘expert’ opinion on a question regarding the
XTI, which I’ve purchased recently—my question is, the xti pics
that I’ve shot just seem really underexposed, how can I determine
if this is user error or the camera? I’m happy to admit it is user
error, if that is really what it is!

In good light they seem about 2/3 of a stop underexposed (meaning I
would have to dial in +2/3 in EC) to get the same exposure as what
the xt did. This is, btw, just what I think, from experience with
the xt, which I have sold, so I do not have a way to compare it
back to back. In low light conditions, it seems that even past a
full stop of compensation is needed to achieve proper compensation,
but proper metering etc has more of a role here than in good
daylight, so I’m concerned more about the former not the latter.

So here we are—what can I do to ensure that it is not me. The
reason why this is SO important—I’ve done a lot of reading lately
about photography, metering during morning / evening hours, on the
beach, during snow etc. Having taken notes on that and learned, I
would really hate to throw that info away, knowing I would need to
add an addition + 2/3 comp. to everything. Does this make sense?
I hope so, let me know if you have questions.

Thanks kindly,

Czechmate

--
Czechmate
Canon rebel XTI
Canon 18-55mm
Canon 50mm f/1.8
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8
Fesiol 3301 Legs/Bogen 486RC2 Head
little brain, big heart
Click to expand...
 
Steven-T said:
I got my XTi this Sudnay. Only did some shoots after work around
my building. I mainly used 50/1.4, 24-70/2.8L and 70-200/2.8L IS.
Comparing to my 5D and 1D-II and looking at the histgram, the XTi
seems to be about 2/3 to 1 f-stop underexposed. I need to do more
shooting this weekend under the sun to further verify. If this is
true, it is real bad.
Click to expand...
I think you should sell all your DSLRs and lenses. Use a camera phone or a compact digicam with live histogram.

-------------------------------------------
See the colors of my world in:
thw.smugmug.com
 
Steven-T said:
I got my XTi this Sudnay. Only did some shoots after work around
my building. I mainly used 50/1.4, 24-70/2.8L and 70-200/2.8L IS.
Comparing to my 5D and 1D-II and looking at the histgram, the XTi
seems to be about 2/3 to 1 f-stop underexposed. I need to do more
shooting this weekend under the sun to further verify. If this is
true, it is real bad.
Click to expand...
Can you please explain why I don't see this. My 400D gallery, so far has not had any shots where things have been "under exposed". In fact, many of my shots were done with exposure compensation turned down :

http://www.pbase.com/pespen/400d

This is the very first shot taken with my 400D, no flash. Only thing done to this was NR:

http://www.pbase.com/pespen/image/66587639/large.jpg
 
thw said:
thw said:
I got my XTi this Sudnay. Only did some shoots after work around
my building. I mainly used 50/1.4, 24-70/2.8L and 70-200/2.8L IS.
Comparing to my 5D and 1D-II and looking at the histgram, the XTi
seems to be about 2/3 to 1 f-stop underexposed. I need to do more
shooting this weekend under the sun to further verify. If this is
true, it is real bad.
Click to expand...
I think you should sell all your DSLRs and lenses. Use a camera
phone or a compact digicam with live histogram.

-------------------------------------------
See the colors of my world in:
thw.smugmug.com
-------------------------------------------
Click to expand...
 
jrynash said:
Steven-T said:
I got my XTi this Sudnay. Only did some shoots after work around
my building. I mainly used 50/1.4, 24-70/2.8L and 70-200/2.8L IS.
Comparing to my 5D and 1D-II and looking at the histgram, the XTi
seems to be about 2/3 to 1 f-stop underexposed. I need to do more
shooting this weekend under the sun to further verify. If this is
true, it is real bad.
Click to expand...
Can you please explain why I don't see this. My 400D gallery, so
far has not had any shots where things have been "under exposed".
In fact, many of my shots were done with exposure compensation
turned down :

http://www.pbase.com/pespen/400d

This is the very first shot taken with my 400D, no flash. Only
thing done to this was NR:

http://www.pbase.com/pespen/image/66587639/large.jpg
Click to expand...
 
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