What settings to apply in order to take low ISO photos in low light with D3200?

[Marcel]

I believe that I have a little bit longer exposure with D3200 than with the other camera. The question is what am I doing wrong? Is it that I am expecting something that is not based on a proper conclusion or is it a lens, sensor, settings or something else that causes the difference. Eventually /more theoretically than practically now, but anyway/ will a higher class body like D5100 or D7000 provide faster exposure with this lens?

I have done something wrong with one of the Pentax photos and it doesn't show EXIF data properly. The rest should be OK - exposure time is just below DateTimeOriginal in the EXIF table /but may be on different place depending on the viewer, anyway it should be somewhere in the EXIF as I just checked and I can see it/. If it is still unreadable I can upload them somewhere else because the raw files are around 12 megabytes.

Another higher level body should not give you a different exposure with the same lens unless there is something wrong with your camera. It could happen you know. I've been trying to tell you to go outside in sunlight and take a picture in manual mode, iso 100, f8 @ 1/500. then look at the picture. If you really want to, you could take the same picture with your pentax under the same conditions and then see what if so different.

Taking 6 pictures with 2 cameras under (this is where we can't help) undetermined light source will not give us any clue as how we can help.

Good luck.

 

[D3200]

OK, so you've disabled AUTO ISO.


NOW

Go outside, and shoot a picture of a fence/car/something static on a tripod. Use manual mode, and use ISO 800, F3.5 and whatever shutter speed it tells you is correct to make the exposure proper.

THEN

Do the same exact same shot with your Pentax.

Then we can tell if your lens has a problem, or which body has a problem, or if it's operator error.

EDIT: please take a photo not of hats.

It was raining today, I'll try to do the photo tomorrow.

Edit: I was thinking of putting a hat on the fence but your last line ruined it all. Now I have to find another subject.

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As for the claim of another member of the forum that the other camera's aperture is 3.5 and D3200's - 8 I will quote myself:

"Below are the images with exif from aperture 3.5 at 100, 800 and 1600 ISO and from aperture 8 at 100, 800 and 1600 ISO from Nikon and the other camera /Please ignore the first photo from the other camera as it doen't have proper EXIF/"

In my mind this means 6 photos from D3200 from which 3 are at aperture 3.5, respectivelly with ISO 100,800 and 1600 and 3 are at aperture 8, respectivelly with ISO 100,800 and 1600 and there are 6 more from the other camera from which 3 are at aperture 3.5, respectivelly with ISO 100,800 and 1600 and 3 are at aperture 8, respectivelly with ISO 100,800 and 1600 and there's one extra with wrong EXIF.

---------------------------------------------

Another higher level body should not give you a different exposure with the same lens unless there is something wrong with your camera. It could happen you know. I've been trying to tell you to go outside in sunlight and take a picture in manual mode, iso 100, f8 @ 1/500. then look at the picture. If you really want to, you could take the same picture with your pentax under the same conditions and then see what if so different.

Taking 6 pictures with 2 cameras under (this is where we can't help) undetermined light source will not give us any clue as how we can help.

Good luck.

Well,
the problem is that there has't been a sunny day recently as long as I remember. I will try to catch some tomorrow and if the weather is merciful I will post the result. Please be patient and allow me some time to do so as I can not control the weather.

 

[D3200]

OK, so you've disabled AUTO ISO.


NOW

Go outside, and shoot a picture of a fence/car/something static on a tripod. Use manual mode, and use ISO 800, F3.5 and whatever shutter speed it tells you is correct to make the exposure proper.

THEN

Do the same exact same shot with your Pentax.

Then we can tell if your lens has a problem, or which body has a problem, or if it's operator error.

EDIT: please take a photo not of hats.

OK,
here are the photos.

 

[Marcel]

View attachment 22334View attachment 22335

OK,
here are the photos.

I can't see the settings for the Pentax shot. What are they? Is there a big difference?

 

[D3200]

I can't see the settings for the Pentax shot. What are they? Is there a big difference?

May I ask what viewer are you using?
There is difference in speed 1/2500 compared to 1/4000.
Below's the EXIF data:

Filename - IMGP7312.jpg
Make - PENTAX
Model - PENTAX K-r
Orientation - Top left
XResolution - 72
YResolution - 72
ResolutionUnit - Inch
Software - K-r Ver 1.12
DateTime - 2012:12:15 11:01:37
Artist - 0
WhitePoint - 0.00
PrimaryChromaticities - 0.00
YCbCrCoefficients - 0.00
YCbCrPositioning -
ReferenceBlackWhite - 0.00
Copyright - ö
ExifOffset - 392
ExposureTime - 1/4000 seconds
FNumber - 3.50
ExposureProgram - Aperture priority
ISOSpeedRatings - 800
ExifVersion - 0210
DateTimeOriginal - 2012:12:15 11:01:37
DateTimeDigitized - 2012:12:15 11:01:37
CompressedBitsPerPixel - 0.00 (bits/pixel)
ShutterSpeedValue - 1/1 seconds
ApertureValue - F 1.00
BrightnessValue - 0.00
ExposureBiasValue - 0.00
MaxApertureValue - F 1.00
SubjectDistance - 0.00 m
MeteringMode - Center weighted average
LightSource - Auto
Flash - Flash not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 18.00 mm
ColorSpace - Uncalibrated/Unknown (0)
ExifImageWidth - 1024
ExifImageHeight - 680
FocalPlaneXResolution - 0.00
FocalPlaneYResolution - 0.00
FocalPlaneResolutionUnit - No unit
ExposureIndex - 0.00
SensingMethod - One-chip color area sensor
FileSource - Other
SceneType - Other

 

[Marcel]

I'm using the apple picture viewer and the pentax exif doesn't state the exposure.

From what I'm seeing, you have a different exposure and so does the picture shows (the pentax one IS darker).

So, I don't see the problem.

 

[D3200]

I'm using the apple picture viewer and the pentax exif doesn't state the exposure.

From what I'm seeing, you have a different exposure and so does the picture shows (the pentax one IS darker).

So, I don't see the problem.

Perhaps you can see the EXIF with IrfanView of FarStone Image Viewer /both free for home use/.

The problem is the different exposure time.

Please ignore the darkness of the the other camera photo as the other camera takes darker pictures by default as far as I know.

 

[pedroj]

Perhaps you can see the EXIF with IrfanView of FarStone Image Viewer /both free for home use/.

The problem is the different exposure time.

Please ignore the darkness of the the other camera photo as the other camera takes darker pictures by default as far as I know.

It will if you use faster shutter speeds....Nikon 1/2500...Pentax 1/4000...

You tell us what you think is wrong with either image

 

[Marcel]

Perhaps you can see the EXIF with IrfanView of FarStone Image Viewer /both free for home use/.

The problem is the different exposure time.

Please ignore the darkness of the the other camera photo as the other camera takes darker pictures by default as far as I know.

Different exposure time = Darker pictures.

 

[D3200]

Different exposure time = Darker pictures.

The thing is that I am in Aperture priority mode in both cameras and have no control over the exposure time as the ISO is the same.

 

[Marcel]

The thing is that I am in Aperture priority mode in both cameras and have no control over the exposure time as the ISO is the same.

What I am trying, desperately, trying to make you understand is that if you take the pictures with both cameras with the same shutter speed, aperture and iso, they will look exactly the same. To me, it seems that your pentax has always under-exposed your images and you got used to that. If you want, you can adjust your Nikon meter to under-expose by about the same amount to get the same look as you did before.

You should try to read or google exposure triangle. Maybe you'll understand better what I might not be explaining well enough.

But from the shots you sent so far, I don't see a problem with your camera.

 

[pedroj]

My 12 year old Granddaughter understands faster shutter speeds darker images..

 

[pistnbroke]

I have not read all the other answers as it only a one liner for the answer ....P set auto iso for 100-6400 and shutter speed to 1/30 min exposure to 1/2 stop under ( pull it up in lightroom etc) ..thats it works fine when you can only just see to read...end of..do it every week in 13th century churches lit with 5W low energy bulbs.......(also good for D7000)
Remember you have another unique setting A (aperture ) you can have different settings on this one eg 100-800 iso and F8 min 1/30 then leave it to the camera and you will get more depth of field.

What you must remember is that if you make an adjustment (say iso) in P this does not affect all the others A, S etc you must do each individually.

 

[D3200]

What I am trying, desperately, trying to make you understand is that if you take the pictures with both cameras with the same shutter speed, aperture and iso, they will look exactly the same. To me, it seems that your pentax has always under-exposed your images and you got used to that. If you want, you can adjust your Nikon meter to under-expose by about the same amount to get the same look as you did before.

You should try to read or google exposure triangle. Maybe you'll understand better what I might not be explaining well enough.

But from the shots you sent so far, I don't see a problem with your camera.

The above seems to explain the issue for me.
Thank you for your help. Your efforts deserve admiration.

 

[eurotrash]

If your camera is overexposing compared to your old one, just bump the exposure compensation settings around until it looks right to YOU.

(I think the light meter in the Nikon is more bang-on than the Pentax, to be frank..)

This way, you don't lose so much sleep over it, you'll have exposures that you are comfortable with and used to.