Explain this to me...

[LuckySo-n-So]

Just fooling around with my kit lens (18-55mm), trying to "understand exposure," I aimed the camera at a 60 watt light bulb. I was in no-flash auto mode, which produced these readings: Shutter 1/640, Aperture f13, ISO 200. The lens was less than a foot away from a burning 60 watt lightbulb, but the picture is extremely dark.

I tried several modes...Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority etc. etc. and, unless I use the flash, or crank the ISO up to 1600 or HI 1, it's still pretty dark.

I don't understand why it is not blown out. If I use the flash, it comes out perfect. Is the camera overcompensating, or did it pick too small an aperture?? OR is this just a limitation of a "kit lens?"

W. T. F.???

(BTW, I have "Understanding Exposure" on order.)

I have always been led to believe that any photographer worth his or her respective salt doesn't need a flash unless they are in a completely light proof room--and ONLY if there isn't a match or cigarette lighter available.

BTW...it's a D40 camera.

 

[Chairman7w]

I have always been led to believe that any photographer worth his or her respective salt doesn't need a flash unless they are in a completely light proof room--and ONLY if there isn't a match or cigarette lighter available.

Huh? Now - seriously, how much sense does that make? Have you ever seen a "real" photo shoot? They got all KINDS of lights on stands and diffusers and reflectors. Does that mean they are poor photographers?

I'm sorry I can't help you with the technical stuff (you'll get plenty of response soon enough here, there's some VERY knowledgable people)

 

[Mgw189]

Just fooling around with my kit lens (18-55mm), trying to "understand exposure," I aimed the camera at a 60 watt light bulb. I was in no-flash auto mode, which produced these readings: Shutter 1/640, Aperture f13, ISO 200. The lens was less than a foot away from a burning 60 watt lightbulb, but the picture is extremely dark.

I tried several modes...Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority etc. etc. and, unless I use the flash, or crank the ISO up to 1600 or HI 1, it's still pretty dark.

I don't understand why it is not blown out. If I use the flash, it comes out perfect. Is the camera overcompensating, or did it pick too small an aperture?? OR is this just a limitation of a "kit lens?"

W. T. F.???

(BTW, I have "Understanding Exposure" on order.)

I have always been led to believe that any photographer worth his or her respective salt doesn't need a flash unless they are in a completely light proof room--and ONLY if there isn't a match or cigarette lighter available.

BTW...it's a D40 camera.

Whoever told you this crap should be taken and flogged within an inch of their life.

As for the reason the pics are coming out the way they are is the camera cant read the light situation as you have already mentioned.

 

[Ecas32]

when you have it in an auto mode, the camera will automatically set itself to produce an image with almost no blow outs. so thats why when you held it up to a bright lightbulb, it produced a dark image

 

[dxqcanada]

The light meter in your camera is designed to render the exposure to middle grey ... 18% grey.

The light bulb was rendered exactly as the camera was designed.

Understanding light metering very important.

What you should have done manually set the exposure to render the light bulb lighter than the calculated exposure.

 

[dxqcanada]

also, the camera's exposure meter is generally programmed to examine the entire scene to balance the exposure.

Since the light bulb only a foot away it covered much of the scene.
The normal metering pattern in these camera's are expecting a range of light that tends to work when balanced in the middle grey.

You need to read up on using a Light Meter and Exposure.

 

[bjorkfiend]

...

 

[dxqcanada]

Ahh, I missed that you already noted that you have the book on order.

Make sure to give it a good read when you get it.

Proper exposure is an extremely useful skill ... as you just found out that the camera is not perfect.

 

[LuckySo-n-So]

Thanks for your responses. Very informative, as usual.

 

[bdavis]

you pointed your camera at a light, which told the sensor that the scene was much brighter than it is, therefore it chose a fast shutter and your scene was dark.

 

[ksmattfish]

I have always been led to believe that any photographer worth his or her respective salt doesn't need a flash unless they are in a completely light proof room--and ONLY if there isn't a match or cigarette lighter available.

I've found that most photographers that espouse available light only do so because controlling light artificially is beyond their skill.

"Available light is any damn light that is available!" -W. Eugene Smith

W - Google Image Search. Eugene Smith

 

[Village Idiot]

I have always been led to believe that any photographer worth his or her respective salt doesn't need a flash unless they are in a completely light proof room--and ONLY if there isn't a match or cigarette lighter available.

Every single picture at that link has been done with flash. You'll see some amazing pictures and some not so good pictures as people are learning. Flash is a tool and you use your tools to get the photos you want.

Ever try to wash dishes without a dish rag? I'm sure there's ways around it, but it's doing things the hard way.

Flickr: The Strobist.com Pool

 

[mrodgers]

Ever try to wash dishes without a dish rag? I'm sure there's ways around it, but it's doing things the hard way.

Yup, we do it all the time. We load them in the dishwasher and hit the "Start" button. All without a dishrag and it's much easier and not the hard way :lmao:

 

[Slaphead]

Yup, we do it all the time. We load them in the dishwasher and hit the "Start" button. All without a dishrag and it's much easier and not the hard way :lmao:

Ha, dishwashers, I've never come across a dishwasher that can clean dishes as well as I can - plus they always leave the dishes smelling of some kind of purfume - YUCK

 

[Village Idiot]

Yup, we do it all the time. We load them in the dishwasher and hit the "Start" button. All without a dishrag and it's much easier and not the hard way :lmao:

And they come out looking like crap?