Another Picture Control Question...

John Retsal wrote:

As I understand it, using a neutral or better, flat, Picture Control set in the camera, would allow me to better see whether or not, at the time of taking the shot, I need to adjust exposure. If I were to use a different one, say Standard or Auto, I may see in the EVF an image that I might think I need to bump the exposure on whereas in reality it didn't need that but rather it was the Picture Control that was using too much contrast and making it look that way.

Is this accurate?

Well. Regarding Electronic Viewfinders yes, I see differences in the EVF when I change exposure compensation plus or minus --  but when I bracket the exposures and then look at the RAW files after the shoot, what I thought looked better in the EVF isn't always what looks better in post.  It hasn't mattered much how I set picture control.

What I have found works nicely is setting picture control at all the neutral settings, shooting RAW, and use Nikon NXStudio as a RAW processor.  Then I can add or subtract the picture control choices via the software to see what changes they make in my leisure after the shoot.

I suspect if you are mainly shooting JPEG, this is a good way to figure out how to set picture control.  But when shooting RAW in difficult lighting situations, I find the answer is to bracket.