Live view/review?

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Paul4paws

New member
Hi guys, new to the site, newbie wannabe photographer. Also new to the D7100. I'm struggling to understand why my shots look bright, with good exposure in-camera, but, to dark after uploading to computer. Is there any way to set in-camera/live-view to more replicate real life?
Thank you in advance for your input.
 
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nickt

Senior Member
You can brighten/darken your screen. BUT... Normally it is fine when left at the default 0. Tell us more about what exactly you are doing. If you are shooting live view, you may not be getting what you see. You can certainly take an underexposed shot that looked ok in live view as you took it. It would then be dark during image review and download to the computer because it is underexposed. Shoot in viewfinder mode and be sure the camera is 'happy' with the exposure. Also read up on how to read the histogram.
Learning How to Use Your Camera's Histogram from Nikon

On the other hand, if you play back the previously taken images in camera and they look good, then you might have something going on with your computer or monitor. My guess though (since you are a newbie) is that you are shooting in live view and not making sure your exposure is correct.
 
cwgrizz

cwgrizz

Senior Member
Challenge Team
Are you shooting in RAW or Jpeg? The live view shows a Jpeg with the settings you have set in your camera ie Sharpening, WB, etc.... If you are loading RAW files onto your computer, the camera presets will not be seen. We need more info to really answer or help with your question. Maybe even upload an image with Exif data.
 
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Moab Man

Senior Member
Welcome.

What you really need to learn is how to read the histogram in your camera. The review image is a processed jpeg image meaning the camera has edited the image the way it thinks is best and in conjunction with any in camera settings you have made. On your computer, a raw image in a photo editor will reflect in line with the histogram.

I know it's a lot to grasp. Learn how to read the histogram and don't put too much weight into the image shown by the camera.
 
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NIKONIAN_DREAMWEAVER

Senior Member
cwgrizz said:
Are you shooting in RAW or Jpeg? The live view shows a Jpeg with the settings you have set in your camera ie Sharpening, WB, etc.... If you are loading RAW files onto your computer, the camera presets will not be seen. We need more info to really answer or help with your question. Maybe even upload an image with Exif data.
Click to expand...

With regard to camera presets not showing up in raw, that all depends on which post-processing software you use. In Capture NX2 you do see all the camera presets when shooting in RAW. That's one of the major reasons that I use it.
 
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Paul4paws

New member
Hello everyone, sorry for long delay. Truly appreciate your in put. I jumped from a Panasonic Lumix FZ200, which I shot in M mode, to the D7100, think the transition would be an easy one. Boy, was I wrong. I'll try to post a pic later today or over the weekend. I am taking pictures of groups of dogs to share with clients on Facebook. I've been training for almost 25 years, and finding this photography thing much more complexed than any dog I've ever come across. :D One day I seem to be "Yes! I finally got it!" The next" You really have no clue at all!" Never consistent results. White dogs over exposed, black dogs perfect. The next, black dogs underexposed, white dogs near perfect. I struggled tremendously with blowing out,overexposing white dogs coats. But, since I can't really dictate whether we are in direct sunlight or not(back yard) and the blown out sky in the background, I've learned to live with some slight blowout on the white dogs. Other pics are taken in the woods with lots of contrasting background, with mixed sun and shade. I'm shooting in Raw, and just starting using Lightroom to fix my extreme blunders, something I couldn't do in ViewNX2. I also struggle with choosing the right matrix and metering. A single dog, I use Single, Spot, and portrait which works just fine, with crystal clear eyes. However, trying to get clear eyes and sharp images with every dog in the group shot has been difficult to say the least. I work with timid and some extremely fearful dogs, so their patience and self control is a work in progress, and they don't always remain perfectly still as a human would, or as still as some of the other dogs that have been with me for a while. Baby steps with lots of rewards. So, I attempt to use a fast shutter speed to stop motion, in return I get dark pictures. I then step iso and aperture one step at a time but can't find a happy medium, because then the black or dark dogs are under exposed. Am I expecting to much having to some times shoot in direct sunlight? Greatly appreciate you advice and input.
Thank you again!
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Paul4paws said:
Hello everyone, sorry for long delay. Truly appreciate your in put. I jumped from a Panasonic Lumix FZ200, which I shot in M mode, to the D7100, think the transition would be an easy one. Boy, was I wrong. I'll try to post a pic later today or over the weekend. I am taking pictures of groups of dogs to share with clients on Facebook. I've been training for almost 25 years, and finding this photography thing much more complexed than any dog I've ever come across. :D One day I seem to be "Yes! I finally got it!" The next" You really have no clue at all!" Never consistent results. White dogs over exposed, black dogs perfect. The next, black dogs underexposed, white dogs near perfect. I struggled tremendously with blowing out,overexposing white dogs coats. But, since I can't really dictate whether we are in direct sunlight or not(back yard) and the blown out sky in the background, I've learned to live with some slight blowout on the white dogs. Other pics are taken in the woods with lots of contrasting background, with mixed sun and shade. I'm shooting in Raw, and just starting using Lightroom to fix my extreme blunders, something I couldn't do in ViewNX2. I also struggle with choosing the right matrix and metering. A single dog, I use Single, Spot, and portrait which works just fine, with crystal clear eyes. However, trying to get clear eyes and sharp images with every dog in the group shot has been difficult to say the least. I work with timid and some extremely fearful dogs, so their patience and self control is a work in progress, and they don't always remain perfectly still as a human would, or as still as some of the other dogs that have been with me for a while. Baby steps with lots of rewards. So, I attempt to use a fast shutter speed to stop motion, in return I get dark pictures. I then step iso and aperture one step at a time but can't find a happy medium, because then the black or dark dogs are under exposed. Am I expecting to much having to some times shoot in direct sunlight? Greatly appreciate you advice and input.
Thank you again!
Click to expand...
Better understanding how the light meter in your camera works might help: Understanding Camera Metering.

Another really helpful tool for nailing exposure every time is the Histogram: Understanding Histograms.
 
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