Another Picture Control Question...

John Retsal wrote:

I've asked a couple questions here and got, for the most part, some good replies. I've also been reading many other threads and I think I've just about closed in on what I need to to.

I want to run this by you folks first though.

OK, so, I'm not a heavy post-processing guy. I've got a couple custom Picture Controls that I like and would likely be applying to 90+% of the raw images I shoot. My question is this...

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.

Does that make sense?

Flat picture control preserves details over a wide tone range from highlights to shadows. It is best for the photographs that will later to be extensively processed  or retouched.

Neutral picture control has minimal processing. Chose it for photographs that will be later processed or retouched.

So both of the PCs you mentioned are for the images that will be later post processed what you want to be minimal.

Exposure has to be right no matter what PC you use. And you can evaluate it based on histogram. If you shoot RAW you can recover highlights and/or shadows which might look clipped.