5D Consistent Underexposure… a problem?

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Andyman

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Andy Reed
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From experience I’ve come to accept that if I want to get nice bright images from my 5D without having to make post-process adjustments I need to over expose by a one-third stop. I don’t see it as much of a problem I’ve just come to accept that under normal conditions the 5D gives a slightly underexposed meter reading. If I meter using my hand-held Sekonic it’ll be perfect so I’ve always assumed it’s the less than perfect 5D metering. It has struck me as odd from time to time though.

Has anyone else noticed this with their 5D or is it just mine? I wondered whether there was an offset adjustment I could make to the metering internally.

Andy.
 
try MENU AEB if it's a Mk I
MENU2 Expo comp/AEB if it's a Mk II
 
oops :bonk:
on Mk II you can set exposure compensation separate to AEB
apologies
 
There is some debate (inconclusive?) about whether digital cameras are calibrated to 18% grey or 12% grey.

Maybe that's what you're getting, but anyone that can set their exposures to within 1/3rd of a stop every time is doing extremely well. I think it's more within the boundaries of personal preference rather than right or wrong.

Or it may just be that you've got the camera settings for Picture Styles (saturation and contrast etc) turned down. If you want your ideal images straight out of the box, I would have a good fiddle with those before adjusting the exposure.
 
A wedding/portrait tog mate of mine has been convinced his 5d underexposes, for some time. I used to think mine was fine but the last wedding I did made me think mine is underexposing a bit. It doesn't seem all that consistent though, so I'm not sure dialling in +1/3 EV is gonna be reliable enough to get the correct exposure i.e. I don't want to overexpose them!

Hmm...
 
Ok, thanks guys. I wasn't all that worried so I'll just carry on working as I have been. The results are good. Like everyone always says its all about knowing your equipment.

Cheers,
Andy.
 
I've been thinking the same thing with my Mk II. Pretty constantly getting underexposure by 1/3 to 1/2 a stop.

I've also found that the preview on the camera appears much brighter than when I import into Lightroom (and I use the Canon profiles on import into Lightroom)
 
DDP said:
A wedding/portrait tog mate of mine has been convinced his 5d underexposes, for some time. I used to think mine was fine but the last wedding I did made me think mine is underexposing a bit. It doesn't seem all that consistent though, so I'm not sure dialling in +1/3 EV is gonna be reliable enough to get the correct exposure i.e. I don't want to overexpose them!

Hmm...
Click to expand...
Its pretty consistent with mine. So for a well front lit subject shot in AV mode I'll usually have +1/3 exposure compensation on.

Andy.
 
I get the same on my 40D
I thought it was just canon's, just as Nikons seem to have greater/over contrast in colours when I see normal shots.

Having said that, I did some outdoor shots with a 5D many years ago, it was spot on.
 
I have just used a grey card to check my 1d mk11n. I've now set to +1/3 and exposures are better. I shoot in RAW to a certain amount of error can be corrected, but seems to need less correction now.
 
i KNOW ITS A DAFT ? BUT HOW DO YOU USE A GREY CARD ??:bonk:


natjag said:
I have just used a grey card to check my 1d mk11n. I've now set to +1/3 and exposures are better. I shoot in RAW to a certain amount of error can be corrected, but seems to need less correction now.
Click to expand...
 
omega63 said:
i KNOW ITS A DAFT ? BUT HOW DO YOU USE A GREY CARD ??:bonk:
Click to expand...

Instead of taking a meter reading off your subject, point the camera at the grey card and that will give you 'correct' exposure. Then lock these settings in manual.

It is effectively the same as taking an 'incident light' meter reading, as it measures the brightness of the light source, eg sun, and not the brightness of the light reflected back off the subject, which can vary a lot eg depending on whether people are wearing light or dark clothes.

Having said that, matrix metering is very clever these days and usually gets very close, sometimes in really quite difficult situations. That's because it's been programmed with data from thousands of photos and recognises difficult subjects, and adjusts accordingly.
 
I've never really noticed my 5D underexposing but I tend to prefer slightly underexposed RAW images anyway as it helps retain highlight detail.
 
I always "shoot to the right" with my 5D. 1/3 to 2/3 stops OE on the meter means nice crispy pics on my monitor :)
 
My 5D always underexposes indoors and also the auto white balance is useless as well. Both easily rectified PP though.
 
dkspook said:
I always "shoot to the right" with my 5D. 1/3 to 2/3 stops OE on the meter means nice crispy pics on my monitor :)
Click to expand...

Good point. There is 'correct' exposure, arguably an incident reading or from an 18% grey card, and there is 'optimum' exposure which is sometimes different. With digital, that is expose to the right (of the histogram).

There's a good tutorial on it at Luminous Landscape: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/expose-right.shtml If you really want to get the last drop of quality by maxing out the sensor, this is a good way. And it does make a difference :)
 
Andyman said:
Hi Mike,

Thanks for that but surely AEB is just going to give me 3 bracketed shots. I can't see how that helps exactly.

Andy.
Click to expand...

I still bracket (+/- 1/3 stop) after using trannie film for years.

It's a habit, I know, but then if your metering is slightly out - for whatever reason - you can still get a good result.

Hit the delete button later.....
 
omega63 said:
i KNOW ITS A DAFT ? BUT HOW DO YOU USE A GREY CARD ??:bonk:
Click to expand...

I used mine to see how my camera was exposing/metering. I set to AV and selected aperture, filled the grey card in the frame, took picture then looked at histogram. With the card I got, it showed where the exposure should be. From that I could see my camera was underexposing.
 
i have noticed this on my 30d

very annoying. dont have the knowledge just yet on how to adjust exposure compensation fpermenantly for every shot
 
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