Dawg Pics is learning new things in 2017.
- Thread starter Dawg Pics
- Start date
Dawg Pics
Senior Member
Something went terribly wrong. I was using the spot meter, I thought, on the car. Everything was way dark. Shutter speed way up there for a stationary subject. Probably because it was backlit.
Anyway, I thought this looked funny. I couldn't catch the small dog they had in the car. He kept bopping his head up to look out the back window.
Anyway, I thought this looked funny. I couldn't catch the small dog they had in the car. He kept bopping his head up to look out the back window.
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Give yourself and the camera some time you will eventually have the D500 shooting how you like to shoot. Congratulations I'm happy you picked the D500 as it is directly descended from the D300. I'm sure that once you get to know it you will be so glad you went the way you did.
Dawg Pics
Senior Member
Thanks a bunch.
I noticed I was under exposing pretty much off the bat. I admit I was a bit discouraged because I could be underexposing images for half of what I just spent.
I went through all of the menu items today and played with the tracking some. I really like the layout of the buttons and the great viewfinder. I also noticed it finds focus much easier than the D300.Thanks for the encouragement. I have yet another learning curve to climb.
Thanks a bunch.
I noticed I was under exposing pretty much off the bat. I admit I was a bit discouraged because I could be underexposing images for half of what I just spent.
Thanks for the encouragement. I have yet another learning curve to climb.
Were you also under exposing in Matrix metering or just in spot?
Spot metering should correctly expose only the part of the image where you set your focus point. So if you set it on a light part, like the white of the license plate, the overall shot will be under exposed.
Same way if you metered for a dark area of the car. The dark area will be correctly exposed, but the lighter areas will be over exposed.
I wouldn't use spot metering on a scene like that myself, unless I wanted to achieve something specific.
There is a whole lot more to spot metering, perhaps someone with more time and knowledge could chime in.
Horoscope Fish
Senior Member
When I look at the histogram of the shot above, I see pretty much exactly what I would expect knowing you used Spot metering. The shot was metered for middle grey based on what was immediately under the focus-point while entirely ignoring anything and everything else in the frame. Remember: It's not the job of the meter to give you the exposure you WANT; that's your job as the photographer. The job of the meter is to give you a consistent, baseline of exposure, based on middle grey, which you use a springboard to dial in the exact exposure you want. Learn to think in "middle grey", because that's how the meter "thinks" for every... single... shot... and in every metering mode (with the exception of Matrix which is a little more complicated). Once you learn to think like the meter does, (middle grey, middle grey, middle grey) your ability to expose a scene the way YOU want it exposed, will improve dramatically.Thanks a bunch.
I noticed I was under exposing pretty much off the bat. I admit I was a bit discouraged because I could be underexposing images for half of what I just spent.
Thanks for the encouragement. I have yet another learning curve to climb.
Thank you for chiming in with a much better explanation. I don't know all the technical stuff like some others here, I just go with my experience of what I have learned by doing and experimenting. I would hate to steer Miss Pics wrong.
Dawg Pics
Senior Member
[MENTION=13090]Horoscope Fish[/MENTION] @Blacktop
I tend to spot meter and try to land it on a mid tone of possible. I was a bit befuddled as to why it was as off as it was on the first couple shots of the car especially considering I had no trouble shooting a backlit fire hydrant. I adjusted exposure a few times, and I thought I was metering off of the yellow on the trunk, which was probably the wrong thing to do.
I need to go back and look at it. I played with the settings, so I am not sure what all I did at this point.
Usually, if I meter something and get a dark exposure, I will meter again in another spot, make an adjustment, and at least get it close, but this time it was way off.
Thanks for jumping in to help me out. I need to play with matrix metering. I think I tend to use spot because I more or less get that. Not that I don't royally screw things up now and then. Matrix is another story.
I tend to spot meter and try to land it on a mid tone of possible. I was a bit befuddled as to why it was as off as it was on the first couple shots of the car especially considering I had no trouble shooting a backlit fire hydrant. I adjusted exposure a few times, and I thought I was metering off of the yellow on the trunk, which was probably the wrong thing to do.
I need to go back and look at it. I played with the settings, so I am not sure what all I did at this point.
Usually, if I meter something and get a dark exposure, I will meter again in another spot, make an adjustment, and at least get it close, but this time it was way off.
Thanks for jumping in to help me out. I need to play with matrix metering. I think I tend to use spot because I more or less get that. Not that I don't royally screw things up now and then. Matrix is another story.
Dawg Pics
Senior Member
When all is effed-up, try, try again.
I went back and gave it another go. I used both matrix and spot metering.
First attempt was just like the the other day, which was underexposed.
So, I metered in several different areas and made adjustments for what I thought exposure should be for that area. I was close on a few. It is just a matter of practice needed on my part. Can't learn if I don't try.
Resized only.
I went back and gave it another go. I used both matrix and spot metering.
First attempt was just like the the other day, which was underexposed.
So, I metered in several different areas and made adjustments for what I thought exposure should be for that area. I was close on a few. It is just a matter of practice needed on my part. Can't learn if I don't try.
Resized only.
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Dawg Pics
Senior Member
Well, I will probably shut down my 365 thread and start posting here. For whatever reason, I am not consistently getting what I think are satisfactory images. I am looking at some AF fine tuning software to see if maybe that is all I need to get the images sharp. I dunno. Since I haven't been feeling all that well, I haven't really tried to set-up a controlled test of my AF with each lens. I am hoping to have some time this week to set-up some comparison shots using a tripod.
Dawg Pics
Senior Member
A fine dog portrait!
Dawg Pics
Senior Member
Thank you very much, Needa. She is a good subject.
Horoscope Fish
Senior Member
Regarding getting sharp focus... Are you using Group-Area AF, by any chance? Have you tried turning of VR, assuming you do in fact use it, and lastly... Have you tried using Quiet Shutter Mode? I find using Quiet Shutter Mode really does make a difference in the overall sharpness of my shots.
Dawg Pics
Senior Member
@Horoscopefish
Thanks for responding.
No, I usually use single point, only because I never really experimented with group much.
None of my lenses have VR.
I played with quiet shutter the other day, but haven't done any comparisons, but now that you mention it, I think I will do that.
Thanks for responding.
No, I usually use single point, only because I never really experimented with group much.
None of my lenses have VR.
I played with quiet shutter the other day, but haven't done any comparisons, but now that you mention it, I think I will do that.
I just noticed you have acquired a D500, congratulations.
In regards to your focus challenge. Dropbox me an image ([email protected]) that you feel is almost there, but just seems shy of what you expect. I would like to take a look at it if you don't mind.
In regards to your focus challenge. Dropbox me an image ([email protected]) that you feel is almost there, but just seems shy of what you expect. I would like to take a look at it if you don't mind.
Dawg Pics
Senior Member
Thanks.
I really haven't put the camera through its paces yet, but I will look and see if I saved one that looks off to me, or I will shoot a few and send one to you.
I hope you're feeling better Miss Pics. Concerning your pooch shot, I noticed that the shutter speed was quite low. 120mm at 1/60th without VR. You could shoot it wide open at F/4 and bump the ISO to up that shutter speed.
In case you are interested, I am following a lady on 500PX who shoots mostly dogs. She is fantastic.
Shooting wide open shots like these really gives the images a beautiful feel.
https://500px.com/anne_geier
In case you are interested, I am following a lady on 500PX who shoots mostly dogs. She is fantastic.
Shooting wide open shots like these really gives the images a beautiful feel.
https://500px.com/anne_geier
Dawg Pics
Senior Member
@Blacktop
Thank you, I am feeling a little better than I was in the last week or so.
I agree. I usually have to go more than double the focal length to make sure I don't get shake if I am not on a tripod. Thanks for the tips on making some adjustments. I have to get used to going up some on ISO. It is much easier to do on the D500 since the button is near the shutter.
Wow, those doggie images are beautiful.
Thank you, I am feeling a little better than I was in the last week or so.
I agree. I usually have to go more than double the focal length to make sure I don't get shake if I am not on a tripod. Thanks for the tips on making some adjustments. I have to get used to going up some on ISO. It is much easier to do on the D500 since the button is near the shutter.
Wow, those doggie images are beautiful.
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