Tweaking the Nikon D70

[Mike McCarty]

I've had this discussion with Garth before regarding the tendency of the digital Nikon's (Garth's D100, my D70) to under expose every single shot.

It's not a huge deal but it can be annoying when you have so many images to evaluate. In my software I have to lighten almost every shot by some eyeballing factor.

Marvin et al,

Have you encountered this and if so have you broke the code on how it might be adjusted away?

[Michele Rushworth]

I haven't had this happen at all. I'm very happy with the metering and especially the color I'm getting from my new D70.

[Marvin Mattelson]

Mike,

There is an option on the camera to adjust the EV setting to compensate for the underexposure by 1/3 increments. To me this is chancy because it's based on the assumption the meter in the camera is always naturally going to underexpose. The camera is set to underexpose since once highlights are blown out there is no way to retrieve the lost data. It errs on the side of caution.

Personally, I use the histogram to evaluate the tonal distribution of each image after I exposed it. While I'm shooting, I have the histogram set on my display so I can see it as soon as I've captured the image. I toggle back and forth between the histogram and the highlight warning to make sure I have the best possible distribution of tones. The highlight warning blinks in any area that contains no (or little) tonal data (blown out areas). Once I have my subject setup and I'm happy with the histogram I can fire away without worry.

If you're grab shooting in different lighting situations using these two controls will slightly inhibit your sense of spontaneity, in my opinion a small price to pay. If you were shooting film you'd have to wait to get the film processed to find out you've overexposed the image. You get very used to doing this and the piece of mind is well worth the extra effort.

Also, I shoot in raw format (NEF) to insure my image retains the most information. Raw is the most forgiving of any format. Image data that could be lost in another format can still be retrieved from raw which is referred to as a digital negative. So shadow detail that gets lost in a jpeg may not necessarily be lost if raw capture was chosen. The Nikon Capture software does a great job retrieving this data.

There is also the option of uploading a custom curve to the camera, through Nikon Capture, which will give you the ability to tweak whatever tonal info you want to maximize, be it highlights, midtones or darks. These curves can be incorporated prior to taking the image, or later in Nikon Capture or Photoshop.

For the price there isn't a camera that comes close to matching the flexibility and quality of the D70. I'm not easily impressed but the D70 has blown me away. I've read reviews that it even outperforms the new Canon 8 megapixel SLR.

There is a CD book, available online, called the "Complete Guide to the Nikon D70" by Thom Hogan. It's 500 pages packed with valuable information and suggestions on getting the most out of the D70. It costs about $30.00 and I think it's worth every penny. This guy knows his stuff.

I hope this helps.

[Mike McCarty]

The camera is set to underexpose since once highlights are blown out there is no way to retrieve the lost data. It errs on the side of caution.

Well now that makes sense. I didn't consider that they may have a rational. Thanks for the good information. I'll look into that histogram.

The D70 is the first and only digital camera I have ever owned and I agree it is an amazing piece of machinery. Sarasota is such a target rich environment I rarely leave the house without it. And most times, for fear it might be stolen from my car, I have it hanging around my neck.

[Marvin Mattelson]

Like an Albatross?

[Mike McCarty]

Like an Albatross?

Like a Saint Bernard, bounding through the surf. Bringing photographic relief to those weary wealthy patrons of the arts.

[Holly Snyder]

Marvin,

I didn't know that the camera was programmed to underexpose, that's interesting. That's certainly not a bad thing though, as you said Marvin you don't want to lose the light values.

Mike,

I set the camera for matrix metering and exposure bracketing during a photo shoot. I've found that trying to use center-weighted or spot metering, while far more accurate, is too time-consuming. Same with the histogram/highlight feature. I like being able to shoot as fast as possible, particularly with squirmy little kids. Their facial expressions change so fast, I hate to miss that perfect one. Many times with kids I have the camera on continuous shooting. Also with models, I like to try different positions and lighting setups, and being quick helps to keep the model interested and fresh looking.

I also shoot JPGs, as the raw format takes too long to write, and I prefer spontaneity over the difference in image quality. I then choose one or two of the images with the best exposures, and view them on my LCD monitor for painting, and can enlarge/lighten areas on the fly, so to speak.

Just my two cents...

Holly

[Mike McCarty]

Holly,

I think we have come to some of the same conclusions. There is more than one reasonable way to get to the post office from here. I take your point about the spontaneity.

But, in regards to the spot meter, I find that in certain lighting conditions the spot meter is the only thing that will render anything usable. The most common circumstance being the back lit scene, and certain other scenes when the light is extreme from light to dark. It does take a little more of a nimble hand when the view is wider and more inclusive, and you have to search to pinpoint that certain spot to expose.

This image has been cropped close to my liking, but when it was shot, much more light filled the scene. I don't think it could have been taken without spot metering.

[Holly Snyder]

Yep, the truth you speak. I'm looking forward to seeing the new models you find in Sarasota, hopefully they won't be wearing sweaters!

[Mike McCarty]

hopefully they won't be wearing sweaters

Once again, we've come to the same conclusion.