Is this underexposure?

[yovwmon]

I keep telling myself that my camera is okay but pictures like this tell me otherwise. This picture was taken without a flash @ f2.8, 400ISO, 1/200sec and I had a very serious amount of light on this white paper.

 

[Hodgjy]

Yes, but it's not because anything is malfunctioning. It's just the nature of light meters. Light meters measure reflected light, and they have a hard time with bright white objects filling the entire frame. Snow, ice, and a like setting are usually underexposed by up to 2 stops. The same with your paper. Open up two stops, or set your exp comp to +2, and it will come out properly.

 

[yovwmon]

Here are a few more shots, all taken at the same time with adjustments to the "EV" between each picture. The first picture is the same as shown above, the second was shot with EV +2, and the third with EV set at 0 (zero) but with flash. I want to make sure my camera doesn't need sent in for under exposure issues before it goes out of warranty. Based on these shots I would appreciate everyones opinion. The third picture looks to have pretty good exposure but probably shouldn't have required a flash with the amount of light on the paper.

Picture 1
Taken without a flash @ f2.8, 400ISO, 1/200sec



Picture 2
Taken without a flash @ f2.8, 400ISO, 1/50sec



Picture 3
Taken with on board flash @ f2.8, 400ISO, 1/200sec

 

[ledittmar]

Like the other reply said, the camera meter tries to turn white or black into 18% grey. Shoot a black,it turns grey shoot a white it turns grey.

 

[PatrikD]

I don't want to give you more headache, but the lens seems to be front focusing slightly...

PatrikD

 

[Scott M Miller]

I see you used AWB. Inside AWB is horrible. The only fault I find with the 400. Set a custom white balance and repeat the tests. You will see a huge difference int the output.
--
Have Fun,
Scott
http://www.pbase.com/millersm
Never test the depth of the water with both feet.'

 

[Hellashot]

Just like snow. Try a non mostly white subject without flash instead.

 

[Hodgjy]

I hadn't thought of that at first--but excellent point. Set your white balance to match the light source, and adjust the exp comp to about +1, and the picture will be perfect. Your camera is working fine and does not need to be repaired.

I see you used AWB. Inside AWB is horrible. The only fault I find
with the 400. Set a custom white balance and repeat the tests. You
will see a huge difference int the output.
--
Have Fun,
Scott
http://www.pbase.com/millersm
Never test the depth of the water with both feet.'

 

[vari001]

Agreed, that was my first idea looking at first the picture.

Compare 10 mm!

I don't want to give you more headache, but the lens seems to be
front focusing slightly...

PatrikD