Nikon D300 Dull Day

mant01

mant01

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John
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Ive noticed that since I moved over from Canon to Nikon and have started using a D300 that it seems to really struggle with dull conditions. Even compared to a second hand canon 400d the d300 seems to have to boost iso arund 500 just to get the shot. Im using a 18-55mm kit lens which I know is rubbish but Im really shocked at how underexposed the camera is just on a dull day. Is this normal for the camera? The canon only had a kit lens and performed much better.
 
When I had a D300 the exposure was always correct, so it looks like either you have a faulty meter on the camera, or (and I'm sure you have checked this first!!) that you have exposure compensation accidentally dialled in.

I think that pretty much any camera available now is capable of correct exposure, except in more extreme conditions where we would need to compensate, such as snow scenes and night scenes.


hth.
 
There should be no difference in terms of what iso is required for a given set of circumstances. i.e. if you needed 1/100, f/5.6 and iso 400 for a correctly exposed image on the Canon, then you'd need those settings on the Nikon.

It's hard to answer what the remedy is without knowing how you shoot, i.e. what method of metering, and what exposure mode you use on the camera. Is there any exposure compensation dialled in etc...

Do you have any example shots with exif data?

Do also bear in mind that you tweek the D300 exposure output but I would probably use a large grey card to do this rather than guessing it.
 
Yeah I dont have any compensation on and it is reading very underexposed. When I take a pic it comes out very dark unless I bump up the iso, so is the camera broken? I only got it just before xmas and it was the same when I got it. If so can it be fixed or will I just have to overcompensate all the time?
 
I'll just add I shoot on manual and use the exposure reading on the top screen.
 
mant01 said:
I'll just add I shoot on manual and use the exposure reading on the top screen.
Click to expand...

Evaluative metering, spot or centre weighted? Is this on all images or just certain conditions?

So on M mode, am I right in assuming that you pick an aperture and then adjust the shutter speed until the exposure gauge is central? And then the resulting shot is coming out dark? Does this happen in A and S exposure modes as well?

In the set up menus there is an option for fixed exposure compensation, different to shot by shot compensation and will not show on the meter. Check that nothing daft has been dialled in.
 
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Bumping up the iso does not alter the amount of light required by the sensor for a correct exposure unless you are shooting in manual and have the settings too low - if you bump up the iso you will get the same level of exposure, just at different settings.

For example, if your camera exposure reads 1/125 at f8 at iso 200, then if you change to iso 800 your camera will need an exposure of 1/500 at f8, or 1/125 at f16, or variations thereof.

Try setting the camera to iso 200, Aperture priority mode, f8 in cloudy daylight and see what you shutter speed you get, and whether the exposure is correct.

Remember also that the camera meter is trying to give you an exposure where, if all the light shades and colours were added together, would be a mid-grey scene. If there is a lot of very bright areas in the frame, you would need to add some exposure to compensate.
 
mant01 said:
I'll just add I shoot on manual and use the exposure reading on the top screen.
Click to expand...

The exposure on the top screen is the same as the one you see through the viewfinder, but it is possible that when you look at the top screen, that the lens is not looking at the scene you will photograph.

It is also possible that if you are looking at the top screen, that there is light entering the sensor through the eye-piece, which also may affect the reading.
 
gad-westy said:
Evaluative metering, spot or centre weighted? Is this on all images or just certain conditions?

So on M mode, am I right in assuming that you pick an aperture and then adjust the shutter speed until the exposure gauge is central? And then the resulting shot is coming out dark? Does this happen in A and S exposure modes as well?

In the set up menus there is an option for fixed exposure compensation, different to shot by shot compensation and will not show on the meter. Check that nothing daft has been dialled in.
Click to expand...

I tried to use each spot, weighted etc. and it didnt make a difference. I didnt use A or S though.
Thanks for all the advice Im new to the camera and its probably me rather than it. I guess I just need to get out more shooting and trying different settings.
 
mant01 said:
I'll just add I shoot on manual and use the exposure reading on the top screen.
Click to expand...

Try using the meter in the viewfinder rather than the one on the top screen, see if it makes a difference.

To read the meter on the top of the screen you have to take your eye away from the viewfinder, this will allow light to enter through the viewfinder eyepiece and fool the meter.
 
Is there a filter attached to the front of the lens? If so, remove it.

My mate had the same problem with a Nikon d40x he bought off ebay. I removed the screw-on filters and everything was fine.

Also, if there's a reset button somewhere in the menu, i'd reset it back to factory settings.
 
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