I hate my new D100

after 4 days of random comments, now you have direct answers. i don't have much to add to what Simon and Moon already told you -- except that i wholeheartedly second their opinions/recommendations.

i would emphasize Moon's statements (and my earlier comment) re: matrix metering. its a great feature but EASILY misused. when you have very bright objects in frame on the D100 you have to switch to Spot metering or compensate in some other manner (fill flash, ++EV, etc.).

good luck. feel free to post your next round so we can check out the improvements! ...dav

Amy Roberts said:

Ok, I finally had time to set up a page for you to view my
photo's--Enjoy!!
Amy
http://www.pbase.com/amyr

Click to expand...

as previously noted, consider upgrading your lens to Nikon glass. its not causing the problems but, IMO, it is making it worse. even after adjusting my metering practices, i still had consistent 2/3 to 1 stop underexposures with the Tamron. i'm used to it now and can get consistent shots, but not as good as with my Nikkors. its also noticeably softer.

its a nice 3rd party lens considering size, weight, range, and average quality. but it doesn't perform on the D100 as well as on film bodies (N90s, F100, etc.)...dav

Thanks for the input...amy

Thanks for the input. The SB80 flash is on my wish list. I intend to learn the ins and outs of this camera. It's just been a little frustrating. Again thanks....Amy

Thanks for your input...Amy

We hear you on the frustration part--many people on this list (myself included) were frustrated when they first tried out their new D100. Especially folks coming from film and/or P&S digicams. You can go back and look at all the old posts here on exposure, sharpness, etc. issues. It wasn't pretty.

Now, many people have a better handle on how to set up the D100 and utilize its strengths, and work through its weaknesses (or "features" if you prefer). Your examples seem well composed wrt the subject--centered, straight, etc. That's a key skill to have, if you mess that up it doesn't matter how well exposed your shots are. Getting the exposure and sharpness right just takes some familiarity and practice (and sometimes luck).

You can look at it this way--experimenting and seeing improvements are the fun way to learn, and you can shoot to your heart's delight and it won't cost any more. Hint: if you're taking people shots like this where you can't necessarily go back and try again a week later and recreate the same circumstances (unlike landscape shots for instance), take lots of pictures and vary the settings. Either use the camera bracketing or change the settings manually--increase exposure compensation, change the aperature and shutter speed (i.e. with the variable Program mode), ISO, white balance, etc. It's easy and quick to change these settings and snap a couple of extra shots. Then you can go back and review the EXIF data for the ones you like--and see what difference the settings made. Again, this can be fun (if you don't have to do it for a living maybe...), and it's "free"!

Finally, no one was born an expert in anything, especially photography (even though some "experts" can sound like they were...)! Even Ansel Adams had a learning curve, I'm sure Stick with it and with some reading and practice you should be much happier with the outcome from your D100. I know I am with mine.

-doug

Amy Roberts said:

Thanks for the input. The SB80 flash is on my wish list. I intend
to learn the ins and outs of this camera. It's just been a little
frustrating. Again thanks....Amy

Click to expand...

Simon Lau said:

For starters, yes, it was rather dark. Secondly, the colour profile
was set to Adobe RGB. Generally this is the better format, but most
programs like internet explorer interpret it incorrectly and
display rather dull colours.

Click to expand...

Amy,

It's really important to have some understanding of color management as well as basic photography. Being able to shoot in Adobe rgb is a strong feature of the D100 that's only shared by pro camera bodies BUT if you're not using software that's color profile aware and properly configured, you won't be seeing the colors as they were captured. It's not the easiest subject at first, but if you're going to use a camera like the D100 it's essential.

Good luck,

DS

Wow...

I'm wondering if your name was Butch, or Bob, or Bill - would this thread have generated so many replies?

Amy, I too have an underexposure problem with my D100. I've had it now for 4 months, but have learned a great deal about the camera. I do know, and it has been surmised, that there are unfortunately many camera-to-camera inconsistencies. Some units have perfect exposure - right on, if you will, while others consistently underexpose by up to one full stop!!

I have learned to use custom tone curves using Nikon Capture. Luckily, I also have a Fuji S2 Pro which I tend to reach for more often than not. And even among Fuji there are unit-to-unit inconsistencies. But right now, my Fuji gives me absolutely superb exposures - especially with flash.

I don't know what to tell you. If you have the patience and really want to learn to master your camera, then you will stay glued to this site and also to Nikonians.org where they specifically have a D100 forum. You will learn alot and also learn how to offset what the camera is doing [i.e. custom tone curves that you can actually upload into the camera].

Just hang in there girl...

Hmm - then what would you reccomend shooting in?

sRGB or Adobe RGB?

I was thinking about this also today..

Dom_S said:

Dom_S said:

For starters, yes, it was rather dark. Secondly, the colour profile
was set to Adobe RGB. Generally this is the better format, but most
programs like internet explorer interpret it incorrectly and
display rather dull colours.

Click to expand...

Amy,

It's really important to have some understanding of color
management as well as basic photography. Being able to shoot in
Adobe rgb is a strong feature of the D100 that's only shared by pro
camera bodies BUT if you're not using software that's color profile
aware and properly configured, you won't be seeing the colors as
they were captured. It's not the easiest subject at first, but if
you're going to use a camera like the D100 it's essential.

Good luck,

DS

Click to expand...

--
Brent Burzycki
http://www.blackdiamondproductions.net
D100 - 24-120mm etc etc

Man - you think thats hard - wait till you buy that flash...

The flash manual is longer than the D100 Manual

Amy Roberts said:

Thanks for the input. The SB80 flash is on my wish list. I intend
to learn the ins and outs of this camera. It's just been a little
frustrating. Again thanks....Amy

Click to expand...

--
Brent Burzycki
http://www.blackdiamondproductions.net
D100 - 24-120mm etc etc

Hi Amy,

Pardon me, but I couldn’t help but notice this photo seems to have been taken at 2.05pm not 1.00pm.



I think you took an excellent shot here, even with my limited Photoshop knowledge; this was easy to bring back to life.

As you have probably been told, using one of the custom curves helps a lot with underexposure.
Regards
Lee.

Amy Roberts said:

My husband bought me the D100 recently and I haven't been able to
get a good photo yet. Everything I shoot is dark and the color is
off. It is driving me crazy and I am about to go back to my film
camera. I shoot with a Tamron 28-200 f3.8 lens. Anybody have any
insight as to what the problem is? I have tried adjusting the
white balance, but the results were no better.

Click to expand...

Brent Burzycki said:

Hmm - then what would you reccomend shooting in?

sRGB or Adobe RGB?

I was thinking about this also today..

Click to expand...

Hi Brent,

I personally only shoot in Adobe RGB. The color rendition is the best of any D-SLR in it's class when it's in this mode IMO. Great saturation as well as accurate.

It's very important to get the color management right on your computer though, because if your photo app thinks it's looking at sRGB (default in most cases) the colors will appear pale and washed out. Nikon view for example isn't color aware. You need to view your images in Capture 3, Photoshop, or some other color aware app.

DS

Not from a composition point of view no... They're actually very well taken but we both know that if the camera decides to use ISO 1600 during the day it is going to affect noise and sharpness; so in terms of sharpness and noise, yes they are.

Pete

--
http://www.pbase.com/elterrible

F-Stop said:

Pete Perry said:

This is where you're wrong, I was actually talking to her last
night and the real problem is she's just overwhelmed with the
camera.

Click to expand...

Hi Pete,

You say that you have spoken to Amy and she does have a real
problem. In which case I unreservedly withdraw any iplications that
I made to her non existance and appoligise. Hopefully, now that you
have spoken to her she is well on the way to taking better pics.
BTW are the pics she sent you as bad as she implies ?. Although I
do not own a D100 (Due to the bank manager reminding me that the
nice fat number sitting there is a Debit not a Credit !) I follow a
lot of reviews and the pics that I have seen on the web supposedly
taken in auto mode look pretty good.

Steve.

Click to expand...

Dom,

She was using Nikon Capture 3, Nikon View 5 and Photoshop 7 so outside of those only IE is going to give her a real problem.

--
http://www.pbase.com/elterrible

Dom_S said:

Dom_S said:

For starters, yes, it was rather dark. Secondly, the colour profile
was set to Adobe RGB. Generally this is the better format, but most
programs like internet explorer interpret it incorrectly and
display rather dull colours.

Click to expand...

Amy,

It's really important to have some understanding of color
management as well as basic photography. Being able to shoot in
Adobe rgb is a strong feature of the D100 that's only shared by pro
camera bodies BUT if you're not using software that's color profile
aware and properly configured, you won't be seeing the colors as
they were captured. It's not the easiest subject at first, but if
you're going to use a camera like the D100 it's essential.

Good luck,

DS

Click to expand...

Pete Perry said:

Dom,

She was using Nikon Capture 3, Nikon View 5 and Photoshop 7 so
outside of those only IE is going to give her a real problem.

Click to expand...

Hi Pete,

Yeah, but I'd lay odds she's not configured right !

;-)

DS

Right on I see your spy satallite is working correctally..

Lee H said:

I think you took an excellent shot here, even with my limited
Photoshop knowledge; this was easy to bring back to life.
As you have probably been told, using one of the custom curves
helps a lot with underexposure.
Regards
Lee.

Amy Roberts said:

My husband bought me the D100 recently and I haven't been able to
get a good photo yet. Everything I shoot is dark and the color is
off. It is driving me crazy and I am about to go back to my film
camera. I shoot with a Tamron 28-200 f3.8 lens. Anybody have any
insight as to what the problem is? I have tried adjusting the
white balance, but the results were no better.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Brent Burzycki
http://www.blackdiamondproductions.net
D100 - 24-120mm etc etc

I always try to pay attention to detail.
Regards
Lee.

Brent Burzycki said:

Lee H said:

I think you took an excellent shot here, even with my limited
Photoshop knowledge; this was easy to bring back to life.
As you have probably been told, using one of the custom curves
helps a lot with underexposure.
Regards
Lee.

Amy Roberts said:

My husband bought me the D100 recently and I haven't been able to
get a good photo yet. Everything I shoot is dark and the color is
off. It is driving me crazy and I am about to go back to my film
camera. I shoot with a Tamron 28-200 f3.8 lens. Anybody have any
insight as to what the problem is? I have tried adjusting the
white balance, but the results were no better.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Brent Burzycki
http://www.blackdiamondproductions.net
D100 - 24-120mm etc etc

Click to expand...

Amy Roberts said:

Ok, I finally had time to set up a page for you to view my
photo's--Enjoy!!
Amy
http://www.pbase.com/amyr

Click to expand...

Please bear with me as I don't have a D100 and so am unfamiliar with the workings of the camera, but I have tried to check on Phil's review.

It appears that the camera has a full program mode. The shots you took were all down as program. Is that what you were using without any modification, Amy?

Because if so your camera seems to underexpose. You could get a good shot in a number of ways. Just up the exposure compensation and that would do it. It's also an easy fix in Photoshop, as others have demonstrated.

But I can't understand why you would need to if it is being used in full program mode.
Perhaps those who use the camera could answer this question.

As for the blurry shots, that's just a problem in using it, at least for the really blurry one. I can't remember if it was at full telephoto, but of course as you know the longer the zoom the more important it is to keep the camera still.

I believe that the Nikon also chooses to make shots on the soft side, please correct me if I am wrong, and possibly it is advisable to use some sharpening on most shots.

I think we need to seeif it is your camera at fault, every make has the occasional defective camera.
Best regards,
--
DaveMart

Amy Roberts said:

My husband bought me the D100 recently and I haven't been able to
get a good photo yet. Everything I shoot is dark and the color is
off. It is driving me crazy and I am about to go back to my film
camera. I shoot with a Tamron 28-200 f3.8 lens. Anybody have any
insight as to what the problem is? I have tried adjusting the
white balance, but the results were no better.

Click to expand...

Have your husband return the D100 and get a Fuji S2--you won't be disapointed--incredible flesh tones straight out of the camera!

I love mine. I did have a few first rough days but it is an excellent camera.

Amy Roberts said:

My husband bought me the D100 recently and I haven't been able to
get a good photo yet. Everything I shoot is dark and the color is
off. It is driving me crazy and I am about to go back to my film
camera. I shoot with a Tamron 28-200 f3.8 lens. Anybody have any
insight as to what the problem is? I have tried adjusting the
white balance, but the results were no better.

Click to expand...

--
If you don't snap it, nobody will snap it for you ...
Kafrifelle (Yves P.)
Nikon D-100 with
AF 18-35 ED Nikkor
Sigma AF 15-30 D
AF 80-400 ED VR Nikkor
AF 35-70 Nikkor
AF 60 Micro ED Nikkor
Kenko Tube ext
SB29s and SB 22 flashes.
Sony DSC-S50 (2.1 MP that is working great)

http://www.pbase.com/kafrifelle