D850 Colors feel unsaturated and pastel-like

larswright · Feb 28, 2019

Im far from an expert in anything that would inspire a confident opinion on this matter however I have noticed this since purchasing a D850. I came from a Nikon DF and loved the camera. Ultimately the AF system was just too poor for me and the D850's Af system has been nothing short of miraculous. Again I want to couch this as very subjective but I've noticed that while shooting with the D850 certain colors just look off and are very hard to recover in processing. Oranges look pink and pastel like. Everything looks thin and de-saturated. I'm perfectly happy to chalk this up to poor lighting and skillsets but I never noticed anything like it with the DF. Has anyone else noticed similar subjective feelings about the D850?

Old Greenlander · Feb 28, 2019

Pictures?

IainD · Feb 28, 2019

I have had no problems like that with my D850. I import my RAW files into LR Classic CC or Capture One Pro 11, they look great and that is it!

Are you perhaps using a preset on importing that flattens colours? Which RAW converter are you using?

It would be very helpful to see some images if you can post them>

I promise that the D850 is not a dud!

Iain

Mark S Abeln · Feb 28, 2019

Avoid overexposure, as this will make colors look pale. Check your histograms and maybe dial in some negative exposure compensation if one or more channels are clipping. Clipped color channels, unless you are shooting raw, can't be recovered.
Boost the saturation setting on the camera. You can make the colors as vivid as you desire. You may also want to boost contrast as well, to make the midtones 'pop'.

This color problem is common in many advanced cameras. Your D850 has a 'Vivid' mode which might help.

NatureFiles · Feb 28, 2019

Show us examples...

RMcL · Feb 28, 2019

Are you shooting RAW or jpeg? Most of my RAW images look pretty uninspiring when I first import them into Lightroom. Lightroom just applies the default Adobe Color profile and can look dull and some colors are just downright off, especially indoors shots under artificial lighting. One thing at a time I suppose, but you may want to do some research in to color management, get a color checker card to make custom profiles, etc.

nuclearjock69 · Feb 28, 2019

Ever heard of Photoshop and Adobe Camera Raw???? Believe me, it's not your camera. If you need your jpegs to look a certain way then read the manual and tweak your picture control settings accordingly.

jshen808 · Feb 28, 2019

..hmmm, not sure what's going on with your D850 camera..

..here, take a look at a recent post I did, showing straight out of camera jpeg pictures from my D850 camera (see the below link)..

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4369711

..again, it would be helpful if you could post a sample picture, and also let us know what settings you are using, and what post processings you are doing.. this way we can help you find out what's going on.. otherwise we would just be guessing..

..happy shooting my friend,

..Cheers..

Wahrsager · Feb 28, 2019

https://nps.nikonimaging.com/technical_solutions/d850_tips/d-movie/picture_quality/

ToxicTabasco · Mar 1, 2019

It could be the monitor or computer system you view them from. AdobeRGB or SRGB can make a difference depending on your monitor and computer.

NotASpeckOfCereal · Mar 1, 2019

In addition to what other folk are saying about what can cause the results you're seeing:

You do not list the workflow you use. What are the steps between pressing the shutter release and putting the image on your screen?

To wit: is it possible that your setup has different presets for the D850 vs. the DF?

This is especially germane if you're using Adobe products. PS and LR will not necessarily honor the Nikon Picture Control settings of your camera, but the D850 shots WILL AND CAN look very much like the DF shots if you manage the presets properly.

For that matter (as I think someone else said), it could simply be a difference of in-camera Picture Control settings (just looking at JPG output with no post-processing).

Look in the menus for both cameras and compare -- is the DF set for 'Vivid' while the D850 is set for 'Standard' (or some other difference)?

This really is just a few of the possible reasons for the differences you are seeing, but as others have said, it is most definitely not "the camera".

Chris

Schrodingers_cat · Mar 1, 2019

Using ACR at it's default settings, I found the OOC D850 colors less appealing than some of my other cameras. "Less appealing" relates, of course, to nothing more than my own personal preference. YMMV.

Having said that, using a camera such as the D850 at the default settings is probably not how the majority of users prefer to employ the camera.

Investigate the Passport Color Checker, make a custom profile for your specific body, experiment with PP to develop your preferred color, and press on. It's not the camera.

On the other hand, if you use the D850 exclusively to produce OOC jpegs, I've never don that and have no information in that regard.

Osvaldo Cristo · Mar 1, 2019

Some people set camera to generate files using Adobe RGB but their monitor are sRGB and they use non-profiled applications. Typically Adobe RGB profiled files will look something pale and wield on that situation.

Check the profile you choose in the camera.

Regards,

larswright · Mar 1, 2019

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I will look for a raw file that exemplifies this. My flow is usually the following. Shoot Raw -> import to Lightroom -> tweak photo. All using default settings on both camera and lightroom.

larswright · Mar 1, 2019

Here's an example:

Sunset – Google Drive

drive.google.com

Wish I had a comparison with another camera for that shot but I would say the sky looked far more orange and rich. Maybe i'm just tripping out I don't know.

jshen808 · Mar 1, 2019

..Thanks for the uploaded example..

..do this "test" with your D850 camera..

..take some pictures outdoors in good daylight..

..use the rear LCD display for viewings..

..take a picture using Auto White Balance (AWB1), then do a Preset Manual (PRE) and take another picture.. do the two pictures look similar, or do they look drastically different? ..is the picture taken with the Preset Manual (PRE) looks way better?

.."if" the Preset Manual (PRE) looks noticeably better, then you will need to send in your D850 camera for servicing..

..from the D850 pdf manual..

..from the D850 pdf manual..

..thanks for sharing, and happy shooting my friend,

..Cheers..

xPhoenix · Mar 1, 2019

In LR, go the the 'camera calibration' section at the bottom of the right-hand sidecar. It's probably on Adobe Standard, which looks pretty bland. Try changing it to 'camera standard' or even 'vivd' if you're feeling brave.

In LR, my default import settings are to use the Camera Standard profile, and vibrance starts at +15, saturation is at +5. After tweaking, I almost always raise vibrance to at least +25. If I still want more pop in certain colors, I'll use the individual saturation sliders.

jshen808 · Mar 1, 2019

..did you get chance to look at the raw file the OP uploaded?

46c9acb33b2941abac4baa9d53fa0bbd.jpg.png

..thanks for sharing, happy shooting my friend,

..Cheers..

xPhoenix · Mar 1, 2019

Nah, I'll have to take a peek at home. It looks a bit overexposed maybe?

jshen808 · Mar 1, 2019

..Yes, could very well be..

..the OP needs to do more testings..

..happy shooting my friend,

..Cheers..

D850 Colors feel unsaturated and pastel-like

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