Z5 exposure problems

[Robert_Damli]

Hi! I got my Z5 one week ago, and I am very happy with it except for the high noise in iso over 100 and somewhat weak flash. I live in Norway, and there´s a lot of snow here. I have tried to take som pictures mid day of a house just testing the camera. When I use multisegment metering, the image is underexposed. When I use center weighted, It´s a little better. Spot metering is best, I focused on the house and it seems thate exposure is a little better with spot. Anyway, I have to use +1 or +1 1/3 even with different metering (saying that less overexposure with spot).

Why does the camera underexposure? I have never had problems with my other cameraes as I can remember? I have had Canon A20, Canon G2, Canon A620, Nikon Coolpix 4100, Canon S1 IS. All of them was very good in metering and exposure. I am new to KM, and it seems that this is no point and shoot, but a tweak and shoot. I can live with some tweaks and overexposure, but if something comes in m cams way, i.e a fox or some rare bird or something, and I have to say: "Hey, wait a minute, I am going to check the exposure first". Let´s hope that fox does not appear!

Anyway, I also got some bluish pictures when photographing on bright winter day even with white balance set to sun or clouds. Actually I get better colours with auto setting outdoors(!). If I use custom wb, it´s too much reds.

Can someone post their Z5 winterpictures here with EXIF info for me to check?

Thanx!

 

[bugzie]

you have to get used to the camera.

my first 500 shots or so were pretty much duds.

while, my first shots with my first digicam, a little 2mp kodak were very pretty right out of the camera from the word go.

but i had no creative control. i bought a more sophisticated pentax digicam, then i got frustrated with not being able to control shutter speed and f-stop, and so decided on the Z6.

i don't know about your experience with photography, but i learnt photography on an all manual slr. so when my first shots with the Z6 were duds, i wasn't disappointed with the camera. if you want a point and shoot, there are much better options.

snow is always difficult 'cos it tricks the camera's metering.

i'm in australia and it's early autumn now and i've done a lot of bright summer sunlight shots. it tends to overexpose in bright sunlight. it also has a slight reddish cast in bright sunlight.

 

[Obelix UK]

Hi Robert,
The reason your camera is overexposing is because the meter is set to 18%
grey.

This means that in average light,if you photograph a white sheet of paper it will come out looking grey.

The reason for this is that camera manufactures assume that flesh tones are the most important element in a photograph and the average flesh tone is 18%.
Hope that makes sense

I have a Z5 and, under difficult lighting conditions I usually stick to c\w metering and under or over expose as appropriate.

Your circumstances, snow, I would use c\w and +1 as a starting point and experiment untill I was confident.

Bare in mind that if you have a dark subject in the center of the frame it will have the opposite effect and blow the highlights.

It's all a balancing game and the more practice you get the easier it will become to predict the results.

If I can find some time I will post some snow shots tonight with a bit more information.

Good luck,

Martin.

 

[Obelix UK]

The reason your camera is overexposing is because the meter is set
to 18%
grey.

Oops!

Should read underexposing

Martin.

 

[Robert_Damli]

Thanks for the information! Does anyone knows if there is a firmware upgrade to Z5? Looks like I need to overexposure with +1 and above. I can live with that! Think I will grow with this camera! I took some odd super macro shots of my zink and running water! Looked pretty cool!

 

[shaygold]

Hey there,

I'm really happy that you are starting to learn and like the camera, I had the same problems with my Z6, but only at start, no I really like it.

I live in Israel, were the sun is alway "high" (sorry for the poor english), so my photos were over exposed.

I was able to make the camera almost P&S in the following conditions:

1. Set the camera to P
2. ISO 50
3. Center weight
4. +1 sharpness
5. Color mode: vivid

and:

I use polorizer to reduce the sun light, but since you have snow, use the oposite polorizer; +0.5 EV ;-)

I will be happy to hear the results if you decide to try my favorite settings.

Cheers,
Shay

http://www.pbase.com/shaygold