DPReview.com is closing April 10th - Find out more

Canon Powershot SX40 HS washing out shots

Started Feb 3, 2012 | Discussions thread
ijsmith Contributing Member • Posts: 654
Re: Canon Powershot SX40 HS washing out shots

TAM63 wrote:

I'll apologize in advance for not having all pertinant information possibly - this is my friend's camera, in another state, so I can't try it out myself. But basically, it's a brand new camera and she's having quite a bit of trouble with it often taking pretty bad shots.

Often, usually in a situation with sunlight, it really washes out the photos, overexposed, and completely blows the highlights. I've seen it happen from 18mm to 150mm, so it's not just at the far end of the zoom. These are so bad they can't really even be fixed in PP. All the detail is gone, and they aren't even sharp.

Looking at exif data, I often see something like this:

Shutter 1/2004 sec.
Lens aperture F/5.8
Focal length 150mm
F-number F/5.8
Exposure Time 1/2000 sec
ISO Speed ISO-1600
Metering Mode Pattern
Exposure Comp +0.3 step

For starters this comp should be -0.3 or even -0.6

I agree with other poster that she should reset it

I suggest the following settings:
iContrast on Auto
Continuous IS
Auto ISO
Ev at -0.3
Set it on 'P' mode

Hope this helps, i.j.

Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum PPrevious NNext WNext unread UUpvote SSubscribe RReply QQuote BBookmark MMy threads
Color scheme? Blue / Yellow